Breakdown of Libertas grata est, sed salus quoque servanda est.
esse
to be
sed
but
quoque
also
servandus
to be preserved
Questions & Answers about Libertas grata est, sed salus quoque servanda est.
What case are libertas and salus?
Both are nominative singular. They are the subjects of their clauses:
- Libertas grata est = Freedom is welcome / pleasing
- salus quoque servanda est = safety too must be preserved
Both nouns are feminine, third-declension nouns.
Why is it grata est and not gratus est or gratum est?
Because grata agrees with libertas.
In Latin, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in:
- gender
- number
- case
Libertas is feminine singular nominative, so the adjective must also be feminine singular nominative: grata.
Does grata est mean is grateful?
No. Here grata means something like welcome, pleasing, or dear.
That can confuse English speakers because gratus, grata, gratum is related to the idea of pleasing or thankful, but in a sentence like this:
- Libertas grata est
the meaning is Freedom is welcome / dear / pleasing, not Freedom is grateful.