Log inSign up

Magister dicit nuntium verum esse.

Magister dicit nuntium verum esse.
The teacher says that the message is true.

Breakdown of Magister dicit nuntium verum esse.

esse
to be
magister
the teacher
dicere
to say
verus
true
nuntius
the message
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Latin grammar and vocabulary.

Start learning Latin now

Questions & Answers about Magister dicit nuntium verum esse.

Why is nuntium in the accusative (nuntium) instead of the nominative (nuntius)?

Because this sentence uses an indirect statement (also called accusative + infinitive). After verbs of saying/thinking/knowing (like dicit), Latin typically puts the subject of the reported statement in the accusative.

  • Direct statement: Nuntius verus est. = the messenger is true (or: the news is true, depending on the noun)
  • Reported/indirect: Magister dicit nuntium verum esse. = the teacher says that the messenger/news is true So nuntium is the subject of esse, but it’s in the accusative because it’s inside an indirect statement.
Why does Latin use esse (an infinitive) instead of est (a finite verb)?

In an indirect statement, Latin normally uses an infinitive to express the verb of the reported clause.

  • est would make it a standalone, direct statement.
  • esse marks it as something being reported after dicit. So dicit … esse is the standard Latin pattern for “says that … is …”.
What role does verum play here?

Verum is a predicate adjective (or predicate complement) inside the indirect statement. It describes the accusative subject nuntium:

  • nuntium = the subject (in accusative because indirect statement)
  • verum = “true” said about nuntium
  • esse = “to be” linking them
Why is verum neuter singular—shouldn’t it match nuntium?

It does match. Nuntium is accusative singular, and its gender depends on what noun you’re using:

  • If it’s nuntius, -ī (messenger), accusative is nuntium (masculine), so you might expect verum to be masculine accusative verum—and that’s exactly what it is (masculine accusative singular and neuter nominative/accusative singular look the same: verum).
  • If it’s nuntium, -ī (message/news), it’s neuter, and verum is also neuter accusative singular verum. So the form verum can fit either analysis; context decides whether nuntium means messenger or message/news.
How do I know nuntium is the subject of esse and not the object of dicit?

Because dico usually takes as its complement an indirect statement rather than a simple direct object when you’re reporting content. The structure is:

  • Magister dicit = “The teacher says”
  • nuntium verum esse = “that the messenger/message is true” Within that reported clause, nuntium behaves like a subject (it’s what esse is “about”), and verum is the predicate describing it.
What tense is the reported statement—does esse mean “is” or “was”?

The infinitive in an indirect statement shows relative time (time relative to the main verb), not absolute time.

  • present infinitive (esse) = the being-true is simultaneous with dicit So with dicit (present), esse is naturally “is.” If the main verb were past (dixit), then nuntium verum esse would often be translated “was true” (still simultaneous relative to “said”).
Why is the word order Magister dicit nuntium verum esse—could it be rearranged?

Yes. Latin word order is flexible, but this is a common and clear arrangement:

  • main clause first (Magister dicit)
  • then the indirect statement (nuntium verum esse) You could also see:
  • Magister nuntium verum esse dicit.
  • Nuntium verum esse magister dicit. The meaning stays basically the same; changes mostly affect emphasis.
How would Latin negate the indirect statement (“…says that the message is not true”)?

You normally negate the infinitive clause with non:

  • Magister dicit nuntium non verum esse. You can place non before verum (very common) or before esse:
  • Magister dicit nuntium verum non esse. Both mean “says that the message/messenger is not true.”
How would this look as a direct quote instead of an indirect statement?

Direct statement would use a finite verb (est) and nominative subject:

  • Magister dicit: nuntius verus est. (if “messenger”)
  • Magister dicit: nuntium verum est. (if “message/news,” neuter) In indirect statement, Latin switches to accusative + infinitive:
  • … nuntium verum esse.
Is there an alternative to accusative + infinitive (like using “that”)?

Yes—later/less classical Latin (and sometimes even earlier in certain contexts) can use quod or quia clauses, closer to English “that”:

  • Magister dicit quod nuntius verus est. But the classic, most standard construction after dicit is accusative + infinitive:
  • Magister dicit nuntium verum esse.
What case is magister and why?

Magister is nominative singular, the subject of the main verb dicit:

  • magister = “the teacher”
  • dicit = “says” So the main clause is simply Magister dicit.
Could verum be a noun meaning “the truth” here?

In this specific structure, verum is functioning as an adjective/predicate complement (“true”), not as the noun verum (“a true thing / truth”). If Latin meant “the teacher says the truth,” you’d expect something like:

  • Magister verum dicit. = “The teacher tells the truth.” That’s a different construction: verum as the direct object of dicit, with no infinitive clause.