Learn Hardcore Latin: Pater magistro consilium dat. - The father gives advice to the teacher.

In Latin, the nominative case typically marks the subject of a sentence. Pater is a 3rd-declension noun (pater, patris) and its nominative singular form is pater. Since dat is a 3rd-person singular verb (he gives), pater naturally matches it as the subject: The father gives....

What case is magistro, and why isn’t it the subject?

Magistro is dative singular of magister, magistrī (2nd declension). The -ō ending here signals either dative or ablative singular, but the verb dare (to give) commonly takes a dative for the indirect object (the person to/for whom something is given). So magistro means to/for the teacher, not the teacher as subject.

What case is consilium, and what job does it do in the sentence?

Consilium is accusative singular (and also identical to nominative singular) of consilium, consiliī (2nd declension neuter). With dat (gives), the thing being given is the direct object, which is typically in the accusative. So consilium is the direct object: advice / a plan.

How can consilium be nominative or accusative—doesn’t that cause confusion?

Many Latin neuter nouns have the same form in the nominative and accusative. Context resolves it. Here, the verb dat needs:

a subject (nominative): pater
an optional indirect object (dative): magistro
a direct object (accusative): consilium

Since pater already fits as subject and magistro fits as indirect object, consilium is read as the direct object even though its form could also be nominative.

Why is the word order Pater magistro consilium dat—could it be rearranged?

Yes. Latin word order is flexible because endings show grammatical roles. This order is common and slightly emphasizes the recipient before the thing given. You could also see:

Pater consilium magistro dat (more neutral: father → advice → to the teacher)
Consilium pater magistro dat (emphasizes consilium)
Magistro pater consilium dat (emphasizes magistro)

The meaning stays basically the same as long as the case endings remain unchanged.

Is dat present tense, and how do I know who is doing the action?

Dat is present active indicative, 3rd person singular of dare (to give). The ending -t signals he/she/it. Latin often omits subject pronouns, but here the subject noun pater is present, so it’s clearly he (the father) gives.

Does magistro mean “to the teacher” or “for the teacher”? Which is better?

The dative can often be translated as either to or for depending on context. With give, English usually prefers to: The father gives advice to the teacher. But for the teacher can work if the idea is “for the teacher’s benefit” rather than literal direction. Latin just uses the dative; English chooses what sounds most natural.

Why isn’t there a word for “the” or “a” in the Latin sentence?

Classical Latin has no definite or indefinite articles like the or a/an. You supply them from context in translation. So pater can be the father or a father, and magister can be the teacher or a teacher, depending on the situation.

Could consilium mean “plan” instead of “advice”?

Yes. Consilium can mean plan, decision, counsel, advice. Latin often relies on context to pick the best English word. Grammatically nothing changes; only the most fitting English gloss does.

Why is magister in the dative magistro and not something like magistrī?

Because magister is 2nd declension masculine:

nominative sg: magister
genitive sg: magistrī
dative sg: magistrō
accusative sg: magistrum

So magistrī would mean of the teacher (genitive), not to/for the teacher (dative).

Could this sentence mean “The father gives the teacher advice” (without to)?

Yes. English can express the indirect object without to: The father gives the teacher advice. Latin expresses that relationship with the dative (magistro). Both English versions match the same Latin structure.

What declensions are the nouns in, and why does that matter?

pater, patris = 3rd declension (nominative sg pater)
magister, magistrī = 2nd declension (dative sg magistrō)
consilium, consiliī = 2nd declension neuter (accusative sg consilium)

Declension tells you the pattern of endings, which is how you identify case and therefore each word’s grammatical role.

Is there any chance magistro is ablative (“by/with/from the teacher”) instead of dative?

In form, magistro could be either dative or ablative singular. But with dat (gives), the expected construction is dative + accusative (give to someone something). An ablative reading would be unusual here and would normally need a different verb or added context to make sense.