Breakdown of Avia respondet lanam utilem esse, quia ex lana tunicam texere potest.
esse
to be
utilis
useful
posse
to be able
quia
because
Questions & Answers about Avia respondet lanam utilem esse, quia ex lana tunicam texere potest.
Why is lanam in the accusative? Shouldn’t it be nominative lana if it means wool is useful?
Because after a verb of speaking/thinking like respondet, Latin commonly uses indirect statement: accusative + infinitive (often called ACI).
So Avia respondet lanam utilem esse literally means Grandmother replies wool to be useful, i.e. Grandmother replies that wool is useful.
In an ACI, the “subject” of the infinitive (esse) goes into the accusative, so lana becomes lanam.
Why is it utilem esse instead of utilis est?
For the same reason: it’s an indirect statement. Latin prefers:
- direct: Lana utilis est = Wool is useful
- indirect after respondet: lanam utilem esse = that wool is useful
Also notice agreement: lanam is feminine accusative singular, so the adjective must match: utilem (fem. acc. sg.).
What exactly is respondet doing here? Does it take a direct object?
Respondet means she answers / replies. In Latin it often introduces either:
- a reply to someone with a dative (e.g., puero respondet = she replies to the boy), and/or