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Servus statim ex atrio exit et ianuam claudit.

Servus statim ex atrio exit et ianuam claudit.
The servant immediately goes out of the atrium and closes the door.
FromLesson 12inHardcore Latin
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Questions & Answers about Servus statim ex atrio exit et ianuam claudit.

Why does servus mean the slave/servant if there’s no word for the?
Latin has no definite or indefinite articles (the / a). Whether servus is a slave or the slave depends on context. In a story, if the slave has already been introduced, servus will often be translated the slave.
What case is servus, and how do I know it’s the subject?
Servus is nominative singular, which is the usual case for the subject of a finite verb. Here it matches the singular verbs exit and claudit, so servus is doing both actions.
How can one subject do two verbs? Do I need to repeat servus?

No. Latin (like English) can use one subject for multiple verbs joined by et:
servus … exit et … claudit = the slave goes out and shuts (the door).
The subject is understood with both verbs.

What does statim do in the sentence, and where can it go?
Statim is an adverb meaning immediately / at once. It modifies the action and is flexible in position. You’ll often see it near the beginning for emphasis, but it could also appear later without changing the basic meaning.
Why is it ex atrio and not e atrio? What’s the difference between ex and e?

Both ex and e mean out of / from and take the ablative.
They’re just variant forms; ex is more common before vowels or for clarity, but both occur. Here atrio begins with a vowel sound, so ex atrio is very normal.

What case is atrio, and why?
Atrio is ablative singular of atrium. The preposition ex requires the ablative because it expresses motion out of/from a place.
What is an atrium in Roman context?
An atrium is the main central hall of a Roman house (often an open-roofed space with a basin). Knowing this helps the scene: the slave goes out from the atrium and then closes the door.
Why is the verb exit and not exiit?

Exit is present tense: (he) goes out / is going out.
Exiit would be perfect tense: (he) went out / has gone out.
Many Latin stories use the present for vivid narration (historic present), but here it’s simply present unless context suggests otherwise.

What person and number are exit and claudit?

Both are 3rd person singular present indicative active:

  • exit = he/she/it goes out
  • claudit = he/she/it shuts/closes
    They agree with servus (singular subject).
Why doesn’t Latin say he? How do we know who is acting?
The verb ending already contains the subject information. -t in exit and claudit signals he/she/it (3rd singular). Latin often omits personal pronouns unless they are emphatic or contrastive.
What case is ianuam, and why is it not ianua?

Ianuam is accusative singular of ianua (door). It’s the direct object of claudit—the thing being shut/closed.
Ianua would be nominative (subject form), which would not fit here.

Does claudit mean locks the door or just closes it?
Claudere primarily means to close/shut. It can imply shut up or close off, but lock is more specifically obserare (bolt) or clavem adhibere (use a key), depending on context. So default: closes/shuts.
Why is the word order Servus statim ex atrio exit et ianuam claudit? Could it be different?

Latin word order is flexible because endings show grammatical roles. This order is very readable:

  • subject first (Servus)
  • adverb early (statim)
  • prepositional phrase (ex atrio)
  • verb (exit)
  • connector (et)
  • object (ianuam)
  • verb (claudit)
    Other orders are possible, often for emphasis (e.g., Ianuam claudit could be moved earlier to stress the door).
Do I translate et as and every time? Could it mean something else here?
Here et is the straightforward coordinator and, linking two actions. In other contexts, et can also mean even or be part of et…et (both…and), but not in this sentence.
Is there any hidden “to” or “from” idea in exit itself, since we also have ex atrio?
Yes. Exire already means to go out (it contains ex-, “out”). The phrase ex atrio adds from where he goes out: out (from) the atrium. Latin often uses both: a motion verb + a prepositional phrase specifying the place.
What are the dictionary forms I should learn from this sentence?
  • servus, -ī (m.) = slave/servant
  • statim (adv.) = immediately
  • atrium, -ī (n.) = atrium
  • exeō, exīre, exiī/exīvī, exitum = go out
  • et = and
  • iānua, -ae (f.) = door
  • claudō, claudere, clausī, clausum = close/shut