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🏛️elementary latin review

Bonus puer

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

The term 'bonus puer' translates to 'good boy' in Latin. This phrase showcases the use of a first declension adjective 'bonus', which modifies the second declension noun 'puer'. In Latin, adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe in gender, number, and case, making this term an excellent example of how these grammatical rules function together.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. 'Bonus' is an irregular first declension adjective, meaning it has unique forms that do not follow the standard patterns of first declension adjectives.
  2. 'Puer' is a second declension noun and is in the nominative case here, which indicates that it is the subject of the sentence.
  3. In Latin, the adjective typically precedes the noun, so 'bonus puer' follows this common structure.
  4. To use 'bonus' with other nouns, you must change its ending according to the gender and number of the noun it modifies.
  5. This phrase illustrates the importance of understanding both adjective and noun declensions for proper sentence construction in Latin.

Review Questions

  • How does the term 'bonus puer' illustrate the concept of adjective agreement in Latin?
    • 'Bonus puer' demonstrates adjective agreement as 'bonus' must match 'puer' in gender, number, and case. Since 'puer' is a masculine singular noun in the nominative case, 'bonus' also takes the masculine singular nominative form. This agreement is essential for clarity and correctness in Latin sentences.
  • What are some variations you might see when using the adjective 'bonus' with different nouns?
    • 'Bonus' can change its form based on the gender and number of the nouns it modifies. For instance, if you were to describe a feminine noun like 'puella' (girl), you would use 'bona puella'. If referring to plural nouns like 'pueri' (boys), it would become 'boni pueri'. Understanding these variations is crucial for correctly using adjectives in various contexts.
  • Evaluate the significance of understanding both first and second declension forms when translating Latin phrases like 'bonus puer'.
    • Understanding both first and second declension forms is vital for accurate translations of Latin phrases like 'bonus puer'. Each declension has its own set of endings that convey important grammatical information such as subject or object status. This knowledge allows you to construct meaningful sentences and accurately convey ideas in Latin, which is essential for fluency and comprehension in reading classical texts.