Vaccae in prato pascuntur, dum vitulus prope arborem stat.

Because vaccae is nominative plural, the case used for the subject of the sentence.

• vaccae = the cows as the ones doing the action
• vaccas would be accusative plural, which would usually make them a direct object

Here, the cows are the ones grazing, so Latin uses vaccae.

It agrees with vaccae, which is plural.

• vacca = one cow
• vaccae = more than one cow

Since the subject is plural, the verb must also be plural:

• pascitur = she/it grazes
• pascuntur = they graze

Because pascor, pasci is a deponent verb.

Deponent verbs:

• have passive forms
• but usually have active meanings

So pascuntur literally looks like are being fed, but in normal Latin usage it means graze or feed themselves.

That is very common with deponent verbs, and it is something English speakers often have to get used to.

Here it means are grazing or are feeding in the pasture/field.

Depending on context, pascor can mean things like:

• graze
• feed
• browse
• sometimes feed on

With vaccae, the natural meaning is the cows are grazing.

Because in takes different cases depending on the idea being expressed.

• in + ablative = in/on a place, showing location
• in + accusative = into/onto a place, showing movement toward

Here the sentence says where the cows are grazing:

• in prato = in the meadow / in the field

If they were moving into the meadow, you might expect in pratum.

Prato is ablative singular of pratum.

It is ablative because it follows in in the sense of location:

• in prato = in the meadow

So the structure is:

• in
  • ablative for place where something is happening

Dum often means while, especially when two actions are happening at the same time.

In this sentence:

• Vaccae in prato pascuntur = the cows are grazing in the meadow
• dum vitulus prope arborem stat = while the calf stands near the tree

So dum connects the two actions and shows they are simultaneous.

Because stat is more specific than est.

• est = is
• stat = stands

Latin often prefers a more vivid, physical verb where English might simply say is.

So vitulus prope arborem stat gives a clearer image:

• the calf is not just existing near the tree
• it is standing there

Because prope is a preposition that takes the accusative.

So:

• prope arborem = near the tree

Even though English speakers may think of near as a simple adverb or preposition without case changes, in Latin prope normally governs the accusative.

Vitulus is nominative singular.

It is the subject of stat:

• vitulus = the calf
• stat = stands

Since there is only one calf here, the noun and verb are singular.

Because Latin has no articles.

English uses:

• the
• a/an

Latin usually does not.

So:

• vaccae can mean cows or the cows
• vitulus can mean a calf or the calf
• arborem can mean a tree or the tree

The exact sense depends on context.

The word order is meaningful, but not as fixed as in English.

Latin relies mainly on case endings, not position, to show grammatical roles. So the sentence could be rearranged without changing the basic meaning very much.

Still, the given order is natural:

• Vaccae in prato pascuntur first gives the main scene
• dum vitulus prope arborem stat then adds what is happening at the same time

So the order helps with flow and emphasis, even though the endings carry the grammar.

Yes, depending on context.

The most direct translation is:

• near the tree

But in natural English, you might also say:

• by the tree
• close to the tree

All of those are reasonable ways to express prope arborem.

Because Latin often uses dum + present indicative to describe an action going on while something else happens.

Here both verbs are present:

• pascuntur = are grazing
• stat = stands / is standing

This gives the sense of two actions happening at the same time. English often uses progressive forms like are grazing or is standing, but Latin commonly just uses the simple present.

In this sentence, are grazing is usually the best natural English translation, because it describes an action in progress.

Latin present tense can cover both:

• they graze
• they are grazing

The choice in English depends on context. Since the sentence paints a scene with another simultaneous action introduced by dum, are grazing sounds especially natural.