Haec sepes densior est quam illa, et hortum melius tegit.

Because sepes is a feminine noun in Latin.

• hic = this (masculine)
• haec = this (feminine)
• hoc = this (neuter)

So haec sepes means this hedge, with the demonstrative agreeing with sepes in gender, number, and case.

Both are nominative singular feminine.

They are nominative because they form the subject of the sentence:

• Haec sepes = this hedge

Latin often shows the job of a word through its ending rather than through word order, so the nominative tells you who or what is doing the action or being described.

Sepes is a third-declension feminine noun meaning hedge or fence.

In this sentence it is:

• nominative singular: sepes

That can be useful to notice because beginners often expect feminine nouns to be first declension, but many feminine nouns are not. Sepes is one of those.

Densior is the comparative form of densus, meaning denser, thicker, or more dense.

Here it agrees with sepes:

• sepes = feminine singular nominative
• densior = feminine singular nominative comparative adjective

So:

• Haec sepes densior est = This hedge is denser

Comparative adjectives in Latin often look the same for masculine and feminine in the nominative singular, so densior can be masculine or feminine depending on the noun it goes with.

Because densior is being used with a form of to be:

• densior est = is denser

Latin often uses sum, esse just like English uses to be with predicate adjectives. So the structure is straightforward:

• Haec sepes densior est = This hedge is denser

Quam means than in comparisons, and illa means that one here.

So:

• densior est quam illa = is denser than that one

The word illa is feminine singular nominative, standing in for illa sepes = that hedge. Latin often leaves out a noun when it is obvious from context.

So the full idea is:

• Haec sepes densior est quam illa sepes

but Latin naturally shortens that to:

• Haec sepes densior est quam illa

Because it refers back to sepes, which is feminine.

Even though English that one does not show gender, Latin does. So illa must match the implied noun:

• illa (sepes) = that hedge

If the implied noun were masculine, you would expect ille; if neuter, illud.

Because melius is an adverb, while melior is an adjective.

Here the word is modifying the verb tegit:

• tegit = covers
• melius tegit = covers better

So Latin needs the comparative adverb melius = better.

Compare:

• melior sepes = a better hedge → adjective, describing a noun
• melius tegit = covers better → adverb, modifying a verb

This is a very common point of confusion for English speakers.

Hortum is the accusative singular of hortus, meaning garden.

It is accusative because it is the direct object of tegit:

• the hedge covers what?
• hortum = the garden

So:

• et hortum melius tegit = and it covers the garden better

Because Latin usually does not need an expressed subject pronoun when the verb ending already tells you the subject.

• tegit = he/she/it covers

Since the subject haec sepes has already been given, Latin does not need to add ea or another word for it. The verb form itself is enough.

So tegit naturally means it covers here.

Tegit is:

• third person singular
• present tense
• active voice
• indicative mood

from the verb tego, tegere, meaning to cover.

So tegit means:

• he covers
• she covers
• it covers

In this sentence, the subject is this hedge, so the natural translation is it covers.

In a sense, yes: it is the comparative idea of well.

The basic adverb is:

• bene = well

Its comparative is:

• melius = better

So melius tegit means covers better, not just covers well.

Because Latin often lets a demonstrative stand by itself when the noun is understood.

So illa can mean:

• that one
• that woman
• that thing
• that hedge

depending on context.

Here it clearly means that hedge, because sepes is the noun being compared. English often uses one in this kind of sentence, but Latin usually does not need an extra word.

Not very strictly. Latin word order is more flexible than English word order because the endings show the grammatical relationships.

This sentence is arranged quite naturally:

• Haec sepes = the topic
• densior est quam illa = the comparison
• et hortum melius tegit = the added statement

You could rearrange some parts without changing the basic meaning, though some orders would sound more marked or emphatic.

For example, Latin could also say:

• Haec sepes quam illa densior est
• Haec sepes et hortum melius tegit

The endings keep the grammar clear.

It can often be understood as denser, thicker, or more closely grown, depending on context.

With a hedge, English might naturally say:

• denser
• thicker
• more compact

So the Latin adjective densior is grammatically comparative, but the best English wording may vary depending on the situation.

It has two linked parts:

1. Haec sepes densior est quam illa
   = This hedge is denser than that one

2. et hortum melius tegit
   = and covers the garden better

The second part keeps the same subject, this hedge, even though the noun is not repeated.

So the full logic is:

• This hedge is denser than that hedge, and this hedge covers the garden better.

Latin simply avoids repeating what is already clear.