Breakdown of Post cenam serva omnia de mensa tollit.
mensa
the table
post
after
cena
the dinner
tollere
to pick up
Questions & Answers about Post cenam serva omnia de mensa tollit.
Why is cenam in the accusative after post?
Because post is a preposition that takes the accusative case when it means after.
- cena = dinner, meal
- cenam = dinner in the accusative singular
So:
- post cenam = after dinner
This is something you just learn with the preposition: post + accusative.
Is serva the subject of the sentence?
Yes. Serva is the subject.
It is the nominative singular form of serva, meaning female slave or maidservant. Since the verb tollit is third person singular, the subject must be singular too, and serva fits perfectly.
So the basic structure is:
- serva = the female slave / maidservant
- tollit = removes / lifts / takes away
Why does Latin use serva without a word for the or a?
Latin does not have definite or indefinite articles.
So serva can mean:
- a female slave
- the female slave
Which one is best depends on context. English has to choose, but Latin does not.