Questions & Answers about Hoc exercitium difficilius est quam illud.
Why is it hoc exercitium and not hic exercitium?
Because exercitium is a neuter noun.
The demonstrative hic, haec, hoc changes form to match the noun it goes with in gender, number, and case. Since exercitium is:
- neuter
- singular
- nominative (the subject of the sentence)
the correct form is hoc.
So:
- hic = masculine nominative singular
- haec = feminine nominative singular
- hoc = neuter nominative singular
Because exercitium is neuter, Latin uses hoc exercitium = this exercise.
What case is exercitium, and how can I tell?
Exercitium is nominative singular.
You can tell from its role in the sentence: it is the thing being described as more difficult. In English, it is the subject: this exercise.
The verb is est = is, so the basic structure is:
- Hoc exercitium = subject
- difficilius = predicate adjective
- est = verb
- quam illud = comparison phrase
Also, exercitium is a second-declension neuter noun, and its nominative singular ends in -um.