Breakdown of In foro statua imperatoris alta est, et multi eam spectant.
esse
to be
in
in
et
and
multus
many
Questions & Answers about In foro statua imperatoris alta est, et multi eam spectant.
Why does in foro mean in the forum (location) rather than into the forum?
Because in + ablative expresses location (in/at/on), while in + accusative expresses motion into/onto.
- foro is ablative singular of forum, so in foro = in the forum (where something is).
If it were motion, you’d expect in forum (accusative).
What case is foro, and why is it that form?
Foro is ablative singular of the 2nd-declension neuter noun forum, forī.
The ablative singular ending for many 2nd-declension nouns is -ō, so forō = in the forum / in the marketplace.
Why is statua in the nominative, and how do I know it’s the subject?
Statua is nominative singular, and it agrees with the verb est (is). In Latin, the subject of a clause with sum (to be) is typically nominative.
So statua ... est = the statue is ....
What is the role of imperatoris? Does it mean “the emperor” or “of the emperor”?