Breakdown of Pater consilium matris probat, quia pueris prodest.
puer
the boy
pater
the father
mater
the mother
quia
because
Questions & Answers about Pater consilium matris probat, quia pueris prodest.
How do I know who is doing the action in Pater consilium matris probat?
The subject is pater because it is in the nominative case: pater = father.
The verb probat means approves or approves of. Its ending -t shows it is third person singular: he/she/it approves.
So:
- pater = the father
- probat = approves
That tells you the father is the one doing the approving.
What case is consilium, and what is it doing in the sentence?
Consilium is the direct object of probat, so it is in the accusative case.
It answers the question: What does the father approve?
Answer: consilium = the plan / advice / decision
A useful detail: consilium is a neuter noun of the second declension, and in many neuter nouns, the nominative singular and accusative singular look the same. So here consilium could be either nominative or accusative in form, but its job in the sentence shows it is accusative.
Why is it matris and not mater?