Questions & Answers about Haec fenestra fragilior est quam illa.
Why is haec used here instead of hic or hoc?
Because fenestra is a feminine singular noun, and the demonstrative adjective must agree with it in gender, number, and case.
- hic = masculine singular nominative
- haec = feminine singular nominative
- hoc = neuter singular nominative
So:
- haec fenestra = this window
Latin agreement is very strict: if the noun is feminine singular nominative, the word meaning this must also be feminine singular nominative.
Why is fenestra in this form?
Fenestra is the nominative singular form, because it is the subject of the sentence.
In this sentence, the thing being described is this window, so Latin uses the nominative:
- haec fenestra = the subject
The verb est means is, so the basic structure is:
- Haec fenestra ... est
- This window ... is
Why is it fragilior instead of the basic adjective meaning fragile?
Because the sentence is making a comparison: this window is more fragile than that one.