Breakdown of Magistra discipulos hortatur ut codices secum ferant.
discipulus
the student
magistra
the female teacher
ut
so that
ferre
to carry
Questions & Answers about Magistra discipulos hortatur ut codices secum ferant.
Why is magistra in the nominative case?
Because magistra is the subject of the main verb hortatur. In Latin, the subject of a finite verb is normally in the nominative case.
So here:
- magistra = the teacher
- hortatur = encourages / urges
The teacher is the one doing the urging, so magistra is nominative.
Why is discipulos accusative?
Because hortor / hortari takes a direct object in the accusative. The person being encouraged is put in the accusative case.
So:
- discipulos = the students
- the teacher is urging the students
This is a common pattern with hortor:
- aliquem hortari = to encourage someone
Why does the verb appear as hortatur instead of something like an active form?
Because hortatur comes from hortor, hortari, hortatus sum, which is a deponent verb.
A deponent verb:
- has passive-looking forms
- but an active meaning
So hortatur looks passive in form, but it means she encourages, not she is encouraged.