Hoc scamnum sella vetere commodius est, itaque duae discipulae ibi libenter sedent.

Hoc is the nominative neuter singular form of hic, haec, hoc meaning this.

It is used because it goes with scamnum, which is a neuter singular noun. Since hoc scamnum is the subject of est, the nominative case is needed.

So:

• hoc = this
• scamnum = a neuter singular noun
• therefore hoc scamnum = this bench/stool

They are two different kinds of seat.

• scamnum usually means something like a bench, stool, or seat without a back
• sella usually means a chair

So the sentence is comparing this bench/stool with an old chair, not using two different Latin words for the same exact object.

Commodius is the neuter singular nominative form of the comparative adjective commodior, commodius.

It agrees with scamnum, which is neuter singular. Since the sentence says that this bench is more comfortable / more convenient, the comparative adjective must match scamnum.

So:

• masculine/feminine comparative: commodior
• neuter comparative: commodius

Because scamnum is neuter, Latin uses commodius.

Because sella vetere is in the ablative singular.

After a comparative like commodius, Latin can put the thing compared in the ablative instead of using a separate word for than. This is called the ablative of comparison.

So:

• sella becomes ablative singular sella
• vetus changes to ablative singular vetere

That is why Latin says sella vetere = than an old chair.

Latin has two common ways to make a comparison.

1. Use quam:

   • Hoc scamnum commodius est quam sella vetus.

2. Use the ablative of comparison:

   • Hoc scamnum sella vetere commodius est.

This sentence uses the second pattern. So sella vetere by itself already means than an old chair.

Itaque means and so, therefore, or so.

It introduces the result of the first clause:

• the bench is more comfortable,
• therefore the two students like to sit there.

So it connects the two ideas logically.

Because discipulae is feminine, and the numeral two must agree with it.

Latin has different forms for two:

• masculine: duo
• feminine: duae
• neuter: duo

Since discipula means female student, the plural discipulae is feminine, so the correct form is duae.

Ibi is an adverb meaning there or in that place.

It does not change its form for case, number, or gender. It simply tells you where the action happens.

Here it means the two students sit there, that is, on that bench / in that place.

Libenter is an adverb meaning gladly, willingly, or with pleasure.

It modifies sedent and tells you how they sit there:

• not just they sit there
• but they gladly sit there

So it adds the idea that they do this happily or with enjoyment.

Sedent is the third person plural present active indicative of sedeo, sedere, meaning to sit.

So sedent means:

• they sit
• or in smoother English, sometimes they are sitting

It is plural because the subject is duae discipulae.

Because the two clauses have different subjects.

First clause:

• Hoc scamnum ... commodius est
• subject: hoc scamnum = singular
• so the verb is est = is

Second clause:

• duae discipulae ibi libenter sedent
• subject: duae discipulae = plural
• so the verb is sedent = sit

Each clause has its own subject-verb agreement.

Latin word order is much more flexible than English word order because the endings show how the words function.

English usually depends heavily on order:

• subject + verb + object/complement

Latin can move words around more freely for emphasis or style. In this sentence:

• Hoc scamnum comes first to set the topic
• sella vetere is placed near commodius to complete the comparison
• ibi libenter comes before sedent to emphasize where and how the students sit

So the word order may feel unusual to an English speaker, but the endings make the grammar clear.