Si ullus amicus apud nos manet, ei semper lectus paratus est, et intra domum tutus erit.

to be

Breakdown of Si ullus amicus apud nos manet, ei semper lectus paratus est, et intra domum tutus erit.

• domus: the house
• amicus: the friend
• et: and

Questions & Answers about Si ullus amicus apud nos manet, ei semper lectus paratus est, et intra domum tutus erit.

Why is manet in the indicative after si? Shouldn’t a conditional use the subjunctive?

Not necessarily. Latin uses the indicative in ordinary, straightforward conditions.

So si ullus amicus apud nos manet means something like if any friend stays with us or if any friend is staying with us. It presents the condition as a real possibility, not as hypothetical, contrary to fact, or doubtful in a special way.

The subjunctive would suggest a different kind of condition or nuance. Here, the indicative is the normal choice.

Why is ullus used here? What does it add?

Ullus means any or any at all.

In English, any is very common after words like if, not, and in questions. Latin often does something similar: words like ullus are especially natural in conditional contexts.

So:

• ullus amicus = any friend
• with a slight force of any at all

It helps make the sentence general: this is not about one specific friend, but about any friend who may stay with us.

What case is amicus, and how do I know?

Amicus is nominative singular masculine.

You can tell because it is the subject of manet:

• amicus manet =