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Nos in bibliotheca tacemus, ut veritatem facilius audire possimus.

Nos in bibliotheca tacemus, ut veritatem facilius audire possimus.
We are silent in the library, so that we can hear the truth more easily.
FromLesson 12inHardcore Latin
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Questions & Answers about Nos in bibliotheca tacemus, ut veritatem facilius audire possimus.

Why does the sentence start with Nos? Isn’t the subject already in tacemus?

Yes—tacemus already means we are silent / we keep quiet, so the subject we is built into the verb ending -mus.
Putting Nos first adds emphasis or contrast, like As for us, we… or We (in particular)…. It can also make the subject extra clear if the surrounding context has multiple people.

Why is it in bibliotheca and not in bibliothecam?

With in, Latin chooses case based on meaning:

  • in + ablative = location (in the library): in bibliothecā
  • in + accusative = motion toward (into the library): in bibliothecam

Here it’s about where you are being quiet, so in bibliothecā (ablative).

What case is bibliotheca, and why?

bibliothecā is ablative singular, used after in to show place where.
It’s first-declension, so:

  • nominative: bibliotheca
  • ablative: bibliothecā (often shown with a macron in learning materials)
What exactly does tacemus mean—does it mean we literally don’t speak?

tacēre means to be silent / to keep quiet, often with the idea of not speaking (or refraining from speaking). It can be literal silence or deliberate quiet.
A related verb is silēre, which is more like to be quiet / still (even non-human things can silēre). tacēre is especially common for people not talking.

Why is there a comma before ut?
Because ut veritatem facilius audire possimus is a subordinate clause (a purpose clause). Latin often separates such clauses with punctuation in edited texts, and English does too.
What does ut mean here, and what kind of clause is it introducing?

Here ut means in order that / so that, introducing a purpose clause:
We are quiet in the library, so that we can hear the truth more easily.

A key sign is that the verb in the ut-clause is in the subjunctive: possīmus.

Why is possīmus in the subjunctive?

Because after ut meaning so that / in order that, Latin uses the subjunctive mood to express purpose (intended result).
So possīmus is present subjunctive of posse = we may be able / we can (in the sense of purpose: so that we can).

Why is it present subjunctive (possīmus) and not imperfect subjunctive?

Tense in Latin purpose clauses usually follows sequence of tenses:

  • Main verb present/future → purpose clause uses present subjunctive
  • Main verb past → purpose clause uses imperfect subjunctive

Here the main verb tacemus is present, so the purpose clause uses present subjunctive: possīmus.

Why does Latin say audire possimus instead of just possumus audire?

In a purpose clause, the verb must be subjunctive, so it can’t be possumus (indicative). It must be possīmus (subjunctive).
Also, Latin word order is flexible: audīre possīmus keeps audīre closely connected to possīmus and often sounds natural at the end of the clause.

What is veritatem doing grammatically?

veritātem is accusative singular, the direct object of audīre (to hear).
So literally: to hear the truth.

What part of speech is facilius, and why is it comparative?

facilius is a comparative adverb meaning more easily.
It modifies audīre (the action of hearing): to hear more easily.

It’s the adverbial comparative formed from facilis (easy):

  • adjective: facilis (easy), comparative: facilior
  • adverb: facile (easily), comparative: facilius

Often the comparison is implied: more easily (than otherwise / than if we weren’t quiet).

Could Latin have used quo instead of ut because there’s a comparative (facilius)?

Yes, often when a purpose clause contains a comparative (-ior, magis, minus, facilius, etc.), Latin can use quō meaning so that (by which) … the more:

  • tacēmus, quō veritātem facilius audīre possīmus

But ut is also acceptable and very common, especially in simpler sentences. Both convey the purpose clearly.

Does the sentence imply “we are quiet because we can hear the truth,” or “we are quiet in order to hear the truth”?

It’s in order to, not because. The key is ut + subjunctive (ut … possīmus), which signals purpose.
If it were giving a reason, Latin would more likely use something like quod/quia with the indicative, or another construction for cause.