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Discipulus eam in foro exspectat, quia epistulam accipere vult.

Discipulus eam in foro exspectat, quia epistulam accipere vult.
The student waits for her in the forum, because he wants to receive a letter.
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Questions & Answers about Discipulus eam in foro exspectat, quia epistulam accipere vult.

Why is discipulus in the nominative case?
Because discipulus is the subject of the main verb exspectat (waits for). In Latin, the subject is typically in the nominative: discipulus = the student (as the doer of the action).
What case is eam, and why is it used here?
Eam is accusative singular feminine of is, ea, id. It’s used because exspectare (to wait for) takes a direct object in the accusative: exspectat eam = he waits for her.
How do I know who eam refers to?
From grammar alone, you only know eam means her (accusative feminine singular). Who exactly she is depends on context from earlier sentences (a previously mentioned woman/girl). Latin often uses pronouns like this when the person is already known.
Why is it in foro and not something like in forum?

With in meaning in/inside, Latin uses:

  • in + ablative for location (where?) → in foro = in the forum
  • in + accusative for motion toward (where to?) → in forum = into the forum

Here it’s location (he is waiting there), so ablative: foro.

What is foro exactly (declension/case/meaning)?

Forum, forī is a 2nd declension neuter noun meaning forum/marketplace/public square.
Foro is ablative singular, required by in for location.

Why is the word order Discipulus eam in foro exspectat—could it be different?

Yes. Latin word order is flexible because endings show the roles. This order is common and clear:

  • Discipulus (subject)
  • eam (object)
  • in foro (place)
  • exspectat (verb, often near the end)

You could also see Discipulus in foro eam exspectat with basically the same meaning; placement often changes emphasis.

What tense and person is exspectat?

Exspectat is 3rd person singular present indicative active of exspectāre: he/she waits (for).
The subject discipulus makes it he in context.

Why does Latin use quia here, and what mood follows it?
Quia means because and usually introduces a clause with the indicative when giving a straightforward, factual reason. Here vult is indicative: the reason is presented as a real fact.
Why is epistulam in the accusative?

Because accipere (to receive) takes a direct object: the thing received is in the accusative.
So epistulam = a letter (direct object of accipere).

What is the form accipere, and why isn’t it accipit?

Accipere is the present active infinitive (to receive). It’s used because vult (wants) commonly takes an infinitive to complete its meaning:

  • epistulam accipere vult = he wants to receive a letter

If you used accipit, that would be a separate finite verb (he receives) and would change the structure and meaning.

Why is the infinitive phrase epistulam accipere placed before vult?

Latin often places an infinitive and its object before the verb that governs it, especially with verbs like vult, potest, debet.
So epistulam accipere vult is a very natural Latin pattern, though vult epistulam accipere is also possible.

What tense and person is vult, and what verb is it from?

Vult is 3rd person singular present indicative of velle (to want).
So vult = he/she wants.

Why does Latin use ea, eam instead of something like illa?

Is, ea, id (including eam) is a very common basic pronoun meaning he/she/it, this/that depending on context—often just he/she when English would use a personal pronoun.
Illa is more strongly that (one) and can feel more emphatic or contrastive. Here the plain object pronoun eam is the normal choice for her.