Breakdown of Mater et pater adsunt, sed ceteri adhuc absunt.
et
and
pater
the father
mater
the mother
sed
but
Questions & Answers about Mater et pater adsunt, sed ceteri adhuc absunt.
Why is adsunt plural when mater and pater are each singular words?
Because mater et pater together form a compound subject: mother and father. In Latin, just as in English, two singular nouns joined by et (and) normally take a plural verb.
So:
- mater adest = mother is present
- pater adest = father is present
- mater et pater adsunt = mother and father are present
The singular form would be adest; the plural form is adsunt.
What is adsunt? Is it related to sunt?
Yes. adsunt is related to sunt.
It comes from:
- ad- = to, near, at
- sunt = they are
Together, adsunt means something like they are here / they are present / they are at hand.
The dictionary form is adsum, adesse. This is a compound of sum (I am) with the prefix ad-.
So you can think of it like this:
- sum = I am
- sunt = they are
- adsunt = they are present