Questions & Answers about Quadrigae et bigae ad carceres paratae sunt.
How do I know that quadrigae et bigae is the subject of the sentence?
Because quadrigae and bigae are in the nominative form and they match the predicate paratae sunt in number and gender. In other words, they are the things being described as ready. The phrase ad carceres cannot be the subject, because it is a prepositional phrase introduced by ad.
Why do quadrigae and bigae both end in -ae?
Here -ae is the nominative plural ending of first-declension feminine nouns. So both words are being treated as feminine plural forms in this sentence. That is why the adjective also appears as paratae, not some other form.
Are quadrigae and bigae unusual nouns?
Yes, a little. Words like bigae and quadrigae are often used in the plural in Latin, even when English might use a singular expression such as a two-horse chariot or a four-horse chariot. So a learner may notice that Latin uses plural-looking forms for something that can be thought of as a single racing team or vehicle.
Why is the adjective paratae feminine plural?
Because it agrees with quadrigae et bigae. Both nouns are feminine, and together they form a plural subject, so the adjective must also be feminine plural: paratae. If the subject were masculine plural, you would expect instead.