Foramen in fistula est.

to be

Breakdown of Foramen in fistula est.

• in: in
• fistula: the water pipe
• foramen: the opening; hole

Questions & Answers about Foramen in fistula est.

How do I know that foramen is the subject?

Because foramen is in the nominative singular, which is the normal case for the subject of a sentence.

Also, in fistula is a prepositional phrase, so it is giving location, not acting as the subject. The verb est is singular, so it fits a singular subject: foramen.

What case is fistula here?

Here fistula is ablative singular.

That is because it follows the preposition in, and with the meaning in / on / inside, in normally takes the ablative.

So:

• in fistula = in the tube / pipe / passage

Why does in take the ablative in this sentence?

Because this sentence describes location, not motion.

A very common Latin pattern is:

• in + ablative = in / on somewhere
• in + accusative = into / onto somewhere

So in Foramen in fistula est, the meaning is the opening is in the tube, so Latin uses in + ablative: in fistula.

Could in ever take a different case?