Vera virtus ex bonis moribus nascitur.

Because it agrees with virtus.

In Latin, adjectives must match the nouns they describe in gender, number, and case. Here:

• virtus = feminine, singular, nominative
• vera = feminine, singular, nominative

So vera virtus means true virtue.

No. The ending -us does not always mean a noun is masculine.

Virtus is a third-declension feminine noun. Its dictionary form is:

• virtus, virtutis = virtue

So even though it ends in -us, it is feminine, which is why the adjective is vera, not verus.

Virtus is in the nominative singular because it is the subject of the sentence.

The verb is nascitur = is born / arises / springs forth, and the thing doing that is virtus. So virtus is the subject:

• Vera virtus ... nascitur = True virtue ... is born

Because ex takes the ablative case.

So after ex (from, out of), both the noun and its adjective must be ablative:

• bonis = ablative plural of bonus
• moribus = ablative plural of mos, moris

So:

• ex bonis moribus = from good morals / from good character / from good habits

It comes from mos, moris, a noun that can mean custom, habit, way, character, and in the plural often morals or conduct.

Its forms are a bit irregular-looking to English speakers:

• singular: mos
• plural nominative/accusative: mores
• plural dative/ablative: moribus

So here moribus is the ablative plural after ex.

Because the sentence is expressing source or origin, not a direct object.

• bonos mores would be accusative plural, which would usually be used as a direct object.
• But here Latin wants from good morals/habits, so it uses:
  • the preposition ex
  • plus the ablative: bonis moribus

So the grammar shows that true virtue arises from good morals.

Because nascitur is from a deponent verb.

The verb is:

• nascor, nasci, natus sum = to be born, arise

Deponent verbs use passive forms but have active meanings. So:

• nascitur literally looks like a passive form
• but it means is born, comes into being, or arises

This is very common in Latin and often confuses beginners at first.

Nascitur is:

• third person
• singular
• present tense
• indicative mood

So it means:

• he/she/it is born
• or more naturally here, it arises / it is born

Since the subject is virtus (virtue), the verb is singular: virtue arises.

Because that is a very common Latin word order.

Latin word order is more flexible than English because the endings show each word's function. A verb often comes at or near the end, especially in straightforward prose.

So this order is perfectly normal:

• Vera virtus ex bonis moribus nascitur.

The same basic meaning could still be expressed with different word orders, such as:

• Ex bonis moribus vera virtus nascitur.

But the given order is elegant and standard.

Not always exactly.

Virtus can mean virtue, but in Latin it often has a broader sense such as:

• moral excellence
• strength of character
• courage
• worth
• excellence

So in a sentence like this, virtus is not just one isolated moral quality; it suggests genuine moral excellence or true character.

Because ex is a very natural way to express coming out of or arising from a source.

Here the idea is that true virtue springs from good morals. Ex fits that sense of origin very well.

• ex = out of, from
• de can also mean from, but often with slightly different uses or nuances

In this sentence, ex is the most direct and idiomatic choice for arising from.

They are:

• vera → from verus, vera, verum = true
• virtus → virtus, virtutis = virtue
• ex = from, out of (takes the ablative)
• bonis → from bonus, bona, bonum = good
• moribus → from mos, moris = custom, habit, morals
• nascitur → from nascor, nasci, natus sum = to be born, arise

Knowing the dictionary forms helps you see why the words have the endings they do.