Hoc opus mihi grave est, sed id finire volo.

to be

Breakdown of Hoc opus mihi grave est, sed id finire volo.

• sed: but
• velle: to want
• mihi: me

Questions & Answers about Hoc opus mihi grave est, sed id finire volo.

Why is it hoc opus and not hic opus?

Because opus is a neuter noun. The demonstrative hic, haec, hoc must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case.

• opus = neuter singular nominative
• so this work / this task = hoc opus

If the noun were masculine, you would expect hic; if feminine, haec.

What case is opus here?

Opus is nominative singular here, because it is the subject of est.

The basic structure is:

• Hoc opus = the subject
• grave = predicate adjective
• est = is

So literally the clause is something like This work is burdensome.

Why is grave used instead of gravis?

Because grave must agree with opus, which is neuter singular.

The adjective gravis, grave has these nominative singular forms:

• masculine/feminine: gravis
• neuter: grave

Since opus is neuter, Latin uses grave.