Questions & Answers about Puer fessus est, tamen libros legit.
Why is puer the subject of the sentence?
Puer is in the nominative singular, which is the case normally used for the subject of a clause. It means boy, and it is the person doing or being described in both parts of the sentence.
In this sentence:
- puer fessus est = the boy is tired
- libros legit = he reads books
Latin often leaves out a separate word for he, because the verb ending already shows the subject.
Why is it fessus and not some other form like fessum?
Fessus is an adjective and it must agree with puer.
Since puer is:
- masculine
- singular
- nominative
the adjective must also be:
- masculine
- singular
- nominative
So we get fessus.
If the subject were feminine, you would expect fessa. If it were plural masculine, you would expect fessi.
Why do we need est here?
Est is the 3rd person singular present of esse, meaning to be.
So literally means , or more naturally, .