Breakdown of Subito puer clamat et matri veritatem dicit.
puer
the boy
et
and
mater
to the mother
clamare
to shout
Questions & Answers about Subito puer clamat et matri veritatem dicit.
Why does the sentence start with Subito? Does word order change the meaning?
Latin word order is flexible. Subito (suddenly) is placed first for emphasis: it sets the scene before anything happens. The core meaning stays the same even if you move it (e.g., puer subito clamat), but the focus changes: starting with Subito highlights the suddenness.
What case is puer, and how do I know it’s the subject?
puer is nominative singular, which is the standard case for the subject. Also, the verbs clamat and dicit are 3rd person singular, matching puer as he/the boy.
Why is matri used instead of mater?
Because matri is dative singular of mater, matris (f.), meaning to/for the mother. mater would be nominative (the mother as subject), which would not fit the meaning tells (something) to his mother.
How can I tell that matri means “to the mother” and not something else?
The dative commonly expresses an indirect object: the person receiving something (here, the truth). With a verb like dicit (says/tells), Latin often uses: