Praeco clara voce loquitur, ut a multis civibus audiri possit.

Praeco is nominative singular, and it is the subject of loquitur.

A learner may expect a nominative singular noun to end in -us or -a, but praeco is a third-declension noun. Its genitive is praeconis, which shows the stem.

So here:

• praeco = the herald
• case: nominative
• number: singular
• function: subject

Because loquitur comes from loquor, loqui, locutus sum, which is a deponent verb.

A deponent verb:

• has passive forms
• but an active meaning

So loquitur is literally a passive-looking form, but it means he speaks, not he is spoken.

Grammatically, loquitur is:

• 3rd person singular
• present tense
• indicative mood

Clara voce is in the ablative, and it expresses the manner or means by which the herald speaks: with a clear voice or in a clear voice.

Latin often uses the ablative without a preposition in expressions like this. With an adjective present, Latin very often omits cum.

So instead of something like cum clara voce, Latin commonly prefers simply:

• clara voce

This is a very common pattern.

Voce is ablative singular of vox, vocis.

It is ablative because the phrase clara voce tells us how the herald speaks. That is a standard use of the ablative.

So:

• vox = voice
• voce = by/with/in a voice

And clara agrees with it:

• clara = ablative singular feminine
• voce = ablative singular feminine

Here ut introduces a purpose clause.

That means it tells us the purpose or goal of the action in the main clause. The herald speaks in a clear voice so that something may happen.

In this sentence, ut means:

• so that
• in order that

It does not mean as, when, or that in a simple statement here. The presence of the subjunctive helps show that it is a purpose clause.

Because after ut in a purpose clause, Latin normally uses the subjunctive.

So:

• potest = indicative, he is able
• possit = subjunctive, he may be able

Since the clause expresses purpose, Latin requires the subjunctive:

• ut ... possit = so that ... may be able

This is one of the most important things to recognize about ut clauses.

It is in the present subjunctive because the main verb is also in a primary tense:

• loquitur = present indicative

In Latin sequence of tenses, a present main verb is normally followed by a present subjunctive in a purpose clause when the action is viewed as happening at the same time or as still relevant.

So:

• main clause: loquitur
• purpose clause: possit

This is the expected sequence.

This is a very common Latin construction:

• possum
  • infinitive = to be able
    • infinitive

Here the infinitive is audiri, which is the present passive infinitive of audio.

So:

• audiri = to be heard
• possit = may be able

Together:

• audiri possit = may be able to be heard

In smoother English, we often just say may be heard or can be heard.

Because the herald is not doing the hearing; he is the one being heard.

If Latin used an active infinitive here, it would mean that the herald is hearing someone else. But the point is that many citizens are hearing him.

So the passive infinitive is exactly what Latin needs:

• audire = to hear
• audiri = to be heard

A multis civibus gives the personal agent with the passive idea in audiri.

Since the verb is passive in sense, Latin uses:

• a/ab
  • ablative

to show by whom the action is done.

So:

• a multis civibus = by many citizens

This tells us who is doing the hearing.

Both a and ab can be used before consonants, though ab is required before vowels and often before h.

Since multis begins with a consonant, Latin can say either:

• a multis civibus
• ab multis civibus

Here a is perfectly normal.

It is ablative plural.

That is because it depends on a, which takes the ablative. Also, multis agrees with civibus.

So:

• cives, civium = citizens
• civibus = ablative plural
• multis = ablative plural of multi, agreeing with civibus

Together they mean by many citizens.

The understood subject is the same person as in the main clause: praeco.

In other words, the sentence means that the herald speaks in a clear voice so that the herald may be heard by many citizens.

Latin does not need to repeat the subject here, because it is clear from context.

That is the normal and most straightforward order.

Latin often gives:

1. the main action first
2. then the purpose

So here:

• Praeco clara voce loquitur
• ut a multis civibus audiri possit

This is very natural Latin word order, even though Latin word order is more flexible than English.

It is somewhat flexible, but the order here is natural and helpful.

Latin places:

• a multis civibus before audiri
• and ends with possit

Ending a subordinate clause with the finite verb, especially a subjunctive like possit, is very common.

Also, placing a multis civibus before audiri makes it easy to understand the passive idea: be heard by many citizens.

Yes. Depending on context, clarus can suggest not only clear but also loud, distinct, or easy to hear.

So clara voce loquitur can suggest that the herald speaks:

• clearly
• distinctly
• loudly enough to carry

That fits well with the purpose clause ut a multis civibus audiri possit. The two parts support each other.

Yes. This sentence combines several very common Latin patterns:

• deponent verb: loquitur
• ablative of manner/means: clara voce
• purpose clause with ut + subjunctive: ut ... possit
• possum + infinitive: audiri possit
• passive infinitive: audiri
• personal agent with a/ab + ablative: a multis civibus

If a learner can recognize those patterns, this sentence becomes much easier to read.