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Servus ei clavem portat.

Servus ei clavem portat.
The servant carries the key to him.
FromLesson 11inHardcore Latin

Breakdown of Servus ei clavem portat.

servus
the servant
portare
to carry
clavis
the key
ei
her
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Questions & Answers about Servus ei clavem portat.

Why is servus the subject (and not ei)?

Servus is in the nominative singular, which is the normal case for the subject of a finite verb.
Ei is in the dative singular, which typically marks the indirect object (to/for someone), not the subject. So servus is doing the action.

What case is ei, and what does it mean here?
Ei is dative singular of the pronoun is, ea, id. In this sentence it means to him / to her / to it (the context tells you which). The dative is used because portare can take an indirect object indicating the recipient: he carries a key to/for someone.
Why does ei sometimes mean he and sometimes to him?

Because is, ea, id changes form by case.

  • is = he (nominative singular masculine)
  • ei = to him / to her / to it (dative singular, any gender)
    So the role comes from the ending/form, not just the dictionary meaning.
What case is clavem, and how do I know it’s the direct object?
Clavem is accusative singular of clavis (key). The accusative commonly marks the direct object of the verb—what is being carried. So clavem = a/the key being carried.
Why is it clavem and not clavis?
Because clavis is the nominative form, used for the subject or dictionary headword. When it becomes the direct object, it goes into the accusative singular, which for this noun is clavem.
What does portat tell me—tense, person, number?
Portat is 3rd person singular present indicative active of portare. It means he/she/it carries (or is carrying, depending on context). The -t ending signals he/she/it.
Could Latin omit servus and still make sense?
Often, yes. Latin verbs carry the subject information in their endings, so portat already implies he/she/it carries. The noun servus is added for clarity, emphasis, or to specify which person is doing it.
Does Latin word order matter here? Why this order: Servus ei clavem portat?

Latin word order is flexible because the cases show grammatical roles. This order is a common, straightforward pattern: subject – indirect object – direct object – verb.
You could also see Servus clavem ei portat or Clavem servus ei portat, with slightly different emphasis.

What’s the difference between ei and sibi?

Both can be dative, but they refer differently:

  • ei = to him/her/it (someone else, not necessarily the subject)
  • sibi = to himself/herself/itself (reflexive, referring back to the subject)
    So if the slave is carrying the key for himself, Latin would normally use sibi, not ei.
Does servus mean slave or servant?
Servus most literally means slave in Roman contexts, though it’s sometimes translated servant in smoother English. The best choice depends on the cultural/historical setting of your text.
How would I make it plural (servants / keys / them)?

Examples (you’d choose what you want pluralized):

  • Servi ei clavem portant = The slaves carry the key to him/her (plural subject)
  • Servus ei claves portat = The slave carries the keys to him/her (plural direct object)
  • Servus eis clavem portat = The slave carries the key to them (plural indirect object; eis can also appear as iis)