Breakdown of Cum magistra intrat, omnes tacent.
intrare
to enter
magistra
the teacher
tacere
to be silent
cum
when
Questions & Answers about Cum magistra intrat, omnes tacent.
Why does cum mean when here? I thought cum meant with.
Cum can mean two different things:
- with when it is a preposition:
- cum magistra = with the teacher
- when when it is a conjunction introducing a clause:
- cum magistra intrat = when the teacher enters
In this sentence, cum is followed by a full clause (magistra intrat), so it means when, not with.
Why is magistra in the nominative case?
Because magistra is the subject of intrat.
- magistra = the teacher
- intrat = enters
So magistra intrat literally means the teacher enters.
Subjects of finite verbs normally go in the nominative case, so magistra is nominative singular.
Why isn’t it cum magistram intrat?
Because magistram would be accusative singular, which is usually used for a direct object, not a subject.