Licet vox Marci parva sit, magistra eum clare respondere audit.

to be

Breakdown of Licet vox Marci parva sit, magistra eum clare respondere audit.

• parvus: small
• magistra: the female teacher
• Marcus: Marcus

Questions & Answers about Licet vox Marci parva sit, magistra eum clare respondere audit.

What does licet mean here? I thought it meant it is permitted.

That is a very common question, because licet often does mean it is permitted.

But in this sentence, licet is being used in a different way: as a conjunction meaning although, even though, or granted that.

So here:

• Licet vox Marci parva sit = Although Marcus's voice is quiet/small

A useful rule of thumb:

• licet + dative + infinitive = it is permitted
• licet + subjunctive clause = although / even though

In this sentence, it is followed by vox Marci parva sit, and that tells you it is the concessive licet meaning although.

Why is it sit and not est?

Because after concessive licet meaning although, Latin normally uses the subjunctive.

So:

• sit = present subjunctive of esse
• not est, which would be indicative

The clause:

• Licet vox Marci parva sit

literally has the pattern:

• Although Marcus's voice may be small

In smoother English, we usually just say:

• Although Marcus's voice is small/quiet

So sit is there because the grammar after this kind of licet requires the subjunctive, not because the meaning is especially doubtful.

Why is it vox Marci? What case is ?