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Mercator a foro ad villam ambulat.

Mercator a foro ad villam ambulat.
The merchant walks from the forum to the villa.
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Questions & Answers about Mercator a foro ad villam ambulat.

How do I know which word is the subject in Mercator a foro ad villam ambulat?
Mercator is the subject because it is in the nominative singular (the default case for the subject of a finite verb). The verb ambulat is 3rd person singular, which matches mercator (the merchant).
What case is mercator, and what declension is it?
Mercator is nominative singular of mercātor, mercātōris (a 3rd-declension masculine noun). Its base meaning is merchant.
Why is it a foro and not a forum?

Because the preposition a/ab (from) takes the ablative case.

  • forum = nominative/accusative singular
  • forō = ablative singular
    So a forō means from the forum/marketplace.
Why is it ad villam and not ad villa?

Because ad (to, toward) takes the accusative case.

  • villa = nominative singular
  • villam = accusative singular
    So ad villam means to/toward the house/estate.
What do a/ab and ad “do” in the sentence?

They mark movement and tell you which cases to use:

  • a/ab + ablative = motion away from (from)
  • ad + accusative = motion toward (to/toward)
    So the sentence gives a clear path: from the forum → to the villa.
Why is it a and not ab?

Both mean from and both take the ablative. A common guideline is:

  • a before a consonant sound
  • ab before a vowel sound (and sometimes before certain consonants for clarity)
    Since forō begins with f-, a forō is typical.
What tense and form is ambulat?
Ambulat is present tense, active voice, indicative mood, 3rd person singular of ambulāre (to walk). It literally means (he/she/it) walks (often translated as is walking depending on context).
Do I have to say mercator, or could Latin just say a foro ad villam ambulat?

Latin can often omit an explicit subject because the verb ending already shows the person/number. Ambulat already implies he/she (singular).
Including mercator makes the subject explicit and can add emphasis/clarity: The merchant (not someone else) is walking.

Is the word order fixed here? Why is the verb at the end?

Latin word order is flexible because cases show grammatical roles. A very common “neutral” pattern is Subject – (other info) – Verb, so ending with ambulat is typical.
You could reorder for emphasis, for example:

  • Mercator ambulat a foro ad villam (brings the walking forward)
  • A foro mercator ad villam ambulat (foregrounds from the forum)
What is forum in terms of gender and declension, and how does forō relate to it?

Forum is a 2nd-declension neuter noun: forum, forī.
Its case forms include:

  • forum (nom./acc. sg.)
  • forō (abl. sg.)
    So forō is simply the ablative form required by a/ab.
What is villa in terms of declension, and how does villam relate to it?

Villa is a 1st-declension feminine noun: villa, villae.
Its case forms include:

  • villa (nom. sg.)
  • villam (acc. sg.)
    So villam is the accusative form required by ad.
Could Latin use another preposition than a/ab for “from,” like dē?

Sometimes, but the nuance differs:

  • a/ab = from, away from (neutral source/origin)
  • dē = often down from (physical “down/off of”) or about/concerning in other contexts
    With forum, a forō is the straightforward choice for from the forum.