Breakdown of Quamvis comitia longa sint, sunt qui usque ad vesperum manere velint, ut suffragium ferant.
Questions & Answers about Quamvis comitia longa sint, sunt qui usque ad vesperum manere velint, ut suffragium ferant.
Because quamvis meaning although or however much normally introduces a concessive clause with the subjunctive in classical Latin.
So:
- Quamvis comitia longa sint = Although the elections/assembly may be long
- not indicative sunt
The subjunctive here does not necessarily make the idea doubtful in English. It is simply the standard grammar after quamvis in this kind of sentence.
Comitia is a neuter plural noun. It refers to a public assembly, especially for elections or voting. Even when it may sound singular in English, in Latin it is grammatically plural.
That is why:
- comitia = nominative neuter plural
- longa = nominative neuter plural adjective agreeing with comitia
So comitia longa means the elections/assembly are long.
If the noun were feminine plural, then longae would make sense, but comitia is not feminine.