Magistra discipulis rationem clare explicat.

The teacher explains the reason clearly to the students.

Breakdown of Magistra discipulis rationem clare explicat.

• discipulus: the student
• magistra: the female teacher
• clare: clearly
• explicare: to explain

Questions & Answers about Magistra discipulis rationem clare explicat.

Why is magistra the subject of the sentence?

Because magistra is in the nominative singular, the case normally used for the subject.

• magistra = female teacher
• nominative singular ending: -a for this first-declension noun

So magistra is the teacher who is doing the action of explaining.

Also, magistra is specifically feminine. A male teacher would be magister.

Why is discipulis in the dative case?

Discipulis is in the dative plural because it shows the indirect object: the people to whom something is explained.

Here the teacher explains something to the students, so Latin uses the dative:

• discipulis = to the students / for the students

This is very common with verbs of giving, telling, showing, and explaining.

Why is rationem in the accusative case?

Because rationem is the direct object: it is the thing being explained.

• ratio, rationis is a third-declension noun
• rationem is its accusative singular form

So:

• magistra = the subject, the one doing the action