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Hic locus prope pontem tutus est.

Hic locus prope pontem tutus est.
This place near the bridge is safe.

Breakdown of Hic locus prope pontem tutus est.

esse
to be
prope
near
hic
this
pons
the bridge
tutus
safe
locus
the place
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Questions & Answers about Hic locus prope pontem tutus est.

Why is hic spelled this way, and what form is it?

Hic is the masculine nominative singular form of the demonstrative hic, haec, hoc (this). It’s masculine nominative singular because it agrees with locus, which is masculine and (here) nominative singular.

How do I know locus is the subject?

Because locus is in the nominative case, and est (is) needs a nominative subject: locus … est = the place is …. Latin often signals the subject by case ending more than by word order.

What declension is locus, and what’s its dictionary form?

Locus is a 2nd-declension masculine noun.
Dictionary form: locus, -ī (m.) = place.

What case is pontem, and why is it not pons?

Pontem is accusative singular of pons, pontis (m.) = bridge. It’s accusative because the preposition prope (near) normally takes the accusative: prope pontem = near the bridge.

Does prope always take the accusative?

In standard prose, yes: prope + accusative is the normal pattern. (You may occasionally see other constructions in poetry or later/less standard usage, but as a learner, treat prope as accusative-governing.)

Why is tutus nominative, and what role does it play?

Tutus is a predicate adjective: it describes the subject locus through the linking verb est. Predicate adjectives agree with their subjects in case, number, and gender, so tutus is masculine nominative singular to match locus.

Could it be tute or tuto instead of tutus?

Not if you mean the place is safe. You need an adjective agreeing with locus → tutus.

  • tute/tuto would function as an adverb meaning safely, which would fit a verb of action (e.g., hic ambulas tute = you walk safely here), not est with a noun subject.
Why is est at the end? Is that required?

It’s very common in Latin for the verb (especially est) to come late, but it’s not required. Word order is flexible because case endings carry the grammar. For example, Hic locus tutus est prope pontem is still understandable, though the original order is more natural.

Could the sentence omit est?

Sometimes, especially in poetry or informal/telegraphic style, est can be omitted (a “zero copula”), but in straightforward prose learners usually include it: tutus est.

What’s the difference between hic and is/ille?
  • hic, haec, hoc = this (near the speaker / “this one here”)
  • ille, illa, illud = that (often distant, sometimes emphatic: “that famous…”)
  • is, ea, id = a weaker that/he/she/it, often just a pronoun referring back to something already mentioned
If I wanted to say “near this bridge,” what would change?

You’d make bridge demonstrative too, in the accusative to match prope:
Hic locus prope hunc pontem tutus est.
Here hunc is masculine accusative singular agreeing with pontem.

Are there other common ways to say “near” besides prope, and do they take the same case?

Yes, for example:

  • iuxta + accusative = next to / near (very similar in use to prope)
  • ad + accusative = to / toward / at (often implies movement or reaching a point)
  • apud + accusative = at / among / in the presence of (often “at someone’s place” or “among a group”)