Breakdown of Legatus mandatum populi senatui proponit.
populus
the people
senatus
the senate
mandatum
the commission
legatus
the envoy
Questions & Answers about Legatus mandatum populi senatui proponit.
How do I know which word is the subject?
The subject is legatus, because it is in the nominative singular form and it matches the verb proponit, which is third person singular: he/she/it puts forward.
So here:
- legatus = the envoy / ambassador / lieutenant → subject
- proponit = he puts forward / presents
That gives you the basic frame: The envoy presents ...
What case is mandatum, and what is it doing in the sentence?
Mandatum is accusative singular, so it is the direct object of proponit.
In other words, it is the thing being presented or put forward.
Breakdown:
- mandatum = order, command, commission, instruction
- accusative = the thing directly affected by the verb
So the envoy is presenting the command/instruction.
Why is populi in the genitive?
Populi is genitive singular of populus, meaning of the people.
The genitive often shows possession or association, so mandatum populi means:
- the command of the people