Quamquam plaustrum tardius it quam equus currit, mater dicit id utilius esse ad frumentum portandum.

Quamquam means although or even though. It introduces a concessive clause: a clause that gives a fact that contrasts with the main idea.

So here:

• Quamquam plaustrum tardius it quam equus currit = Although the wagon goes more slowly than the horse runs

Latin commonly uses quamquam with the indicative, especially when the speaker is treating the statement as a real fact.

Because tardius here is being used as an adverb, not an adjective.

• tardior = slower as an adjective
• tardius = more slowly as an adverb

It modifies it (goes), not plaustrum (wagon).

So the sense is:

• not the slower wagon
• but the wagon goes more slowly

A useful pattern to remember:

• clarus = clear

• clarius = more clearly

• tardus = slow
• tardius = more slowly

Because Latin often uses comparative + quam to mean more/less ... than.

So:

• tardius ... quam = more slowly than

In this sentence:

• plaustrum tardius it quam equus currit
• the wagon goes more slowly than the horse runs

This is a very common comparison pattern in Latin.

Because Latin, like English, can choose different verbs that fit different subjects naturally.

• it from ire = goes
• currit from currere = runs

A wagon naturally goes; a horse naturally runs. Latin does not need to use the exact same verb on both sides of the comparison.

So this is perfectly natural:

• the wagon goes more slowly than the horse runs

This is an example of indirect statement, one of the most important Latin constructions.

After a verb like dicit (says), Latin often uses:

• accusative subject + infinitive

So here:

• dicit = says
• id = it, in the accusative
• esse = to be

Literally, Latin says something like:

• mother says it to be more useful

Natural English:

• mother says that it is more useful

So instead of using that + finite verb, Latin uses an accusative and infinitive construction.

Id refers back to plaustrum (wagon).

Since plaustrum is neuter singular, the pronoun referring to it must also be neuter singular:

• plaustrum = neuter
• id = it, neuter singular

Also, because this is an indirect statement, the subject of esse appears in the accusative. For id, the nominative and accusative neuter singular happen to look the same, so the form is still id.

Because dicit triggers an indirect statement.

Compare:

• Id utilius est = It is more useful
• Mater dicit id utilius esse = Mother says that it is more useful

After dicit, Latin changes the second verb into an infinitive:

• est becomes esse

So utilius esse means to be more useful.

Latin often leaves the second part of a comparison understood if the context makes it obvious.

Here, utilius probably means something like:

• more useful than the horse
• or more useful for this purpose

The comparison is implied by the earlier contrast between the wagon and the horse. Latin does not always spell out the second half if it is easy to infer.

So even without another quam phrase, utilius still means more useful in comparison with something understood from context.

This phrase expresses purpose: for carrying grain.

It consists of:

• ad
  • accusative = often shows purpose
• frumentum = grain
• portandum = carrying, from portare

So:

• ad frumentum portandum = for carrying grain

This is a very common Latin way to express for the purpose of ...

This is a classic Latin preference.

When a verbal noun would take a direct object, Latin often prefers a gerundive construction instead of a plain gerund.

So instead of:

• ad portandum frumentum = for carrying grain

Latin often prefers:

• ad frumentum portandum

In this construction:

• frumentum is the noun being carried
• portandum agrees with it

This is usually called the gerundive of purpose or the gerundive replacing a gerund with an object.

So the sentence is using a very standard, idiomatic Latin pattern.

Because frumentum is often used as a mass noun, like English grain.

It does not have to mean one grain. It can mean grain in general, grain as a substance, or a supply of grain.

So the singular is perfectly normal here:

• frumentum = grain

Just like English can say grain without making it plural, Latin can use the singular here naturally.

The sentence has three main parts:

1. Quamquam plaustrum tardius it quam equus currit

   • concessive clause
   • Although the wagon goes more slowly than the horse runs

2. mater dicit

   • main clause
   • mother says

3. id utilius esse ad frumentum portandum

   • indirect statement
   • that it is more useful for carrying grain

So the overall structure is:

• Although X, mother says that Y.

Latin word order is flexible, but the order here is quite clear and natural:

• contrast first,
• main statement next,
• then the reported idea,
• with the purpose phrase at the end.