Non est tibi ullus timor, si mater tecum est.

to be

Breakdown of Non est tibi ullus timor, si mater tecum est.

• mater: the mother
• non: not
• si: if

Questions & Answers about Non est tibi ullus timor, si mater tecum est.

Why does Latin say Non est tibi ullus timor instead of using a verb meaning you have?

Latin very often expresses possession with sum (to be) plus a dative of the possessor.

So instead of saying you have no fear, Latin literally says something like:

No fear is to you.

Here:

• timor = fear
• est = is
• tibi = to you / for you

This is a very common Latin pattern. English usually prefers have, but Latin often prefers be in this kind of sentence.

Why is tibi in the dative case?

Because tibi is the dative singular of tu, and here it marks the person who possesses something.

In other words, tibi means to you or for you, and in this construction that becomes you have in natural English.

So:

• est tibi timor = you have fear / literally fear is to you
• non est tibi ullus timor = you have no fear

This is often called the dative of possession.

Why is timor nominative, not accusative?

Because timor is the of .