Puer minus diligens est; ideo idem mendum iterum describit nec statim corrigit.

The boy is less diligent; therefore he copies the same mistake again and does not correct it at once.

Breakdown of Puer minus diligens est; ideo idem mendum iterum describit nec statim corrigit.

• esse: to be
• puer: the boy
• iterum: again
• statim: at once

Questions & Answers about Puer minus diligens est; ideo idem mendum iterum describit nec statim corrigit.

What is the grammatical structure of Puer minus diligens est?

It is a very basic clause:

• Puer = the boy; nominative singular, the subject.
• est = is.
• diligens = careful / diligent, used as a predicate adjective.
• minus = less, modifying diligens.

So the structure is subject + form of esse + predicate adjective:
The boy is less careful/diligent.

Why does Latin say minus diligens instead of using a comparative adjective like diligentior?

Latin can express comparison in more than one way.

• diligentior = more diligent
• minus diligens = less diligent

So minus + adjective is an analytic way to make a comparison, much like English less careful. It is perfectly normal Latin.

In this sentence, minus diligens means less careful or not so careful. A form like diligentior would mean the opposite direction: more careful.

What form is diligens, and why does it not look masculine?

Diligens is a third-declension adjective. In the nominative singular, it has the same form for masculine and feminine.