Pueri boni sunt

Definition

The phrase 'pueri boni sunt' translates to 'the boys are good' in English and serves as an example of a complete sentence in Latin that illustrates the use of predicate nominatives and adjectives. In this phrase, 'pueri' (boys) is the subject in the nominative case, 'boni' is the predicate adjective describing the subject, and 'sunt' is the verb meaning 'are.' This construction highlights how nouns can be linked to adjectives to convey specific characteristics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. 'Pueri' is in the nominative plural form, indicating that it refers to more than one boy.
2. 'Boni' agrees with 'pueri' in gender, number, and case, as it is also masculine plural nominative.
3. 'Sunt' is the present tense form of the verb 'esse,' which means 'to be,' and acts as a linking verb in this sentence.
4. In Latin, the order of words can be flexible; however, 'pueri boni sunt' follows a standard Subject-Verb-Predicate Adjective structure.
5. This phrase exemplifies how Latin uses adjectives to provide additional information about nouns, forming complete thoughts in sentences.

Review Questions

• How does the structure of 'pueri boni sunt' illustrate the relationship between subjects and predicates in Latin?
  • 'Pueri boni sunt' showcases how subjects and predicates interact in Latin sentences. The subject 'pueri' identifies who is being discussed—specifically, multiple boys—while 'boni' acts as a predicate adjective that describes their quality as 'good.' The linking verb 'sunt' connects these components, establishing that these boys possess this positive attribute. This relationship between noun and adjective is essential for constructing meaningful sentences.
• Discuss how agreement in gender and number works in the phrase 'pueri boni sunt.'
  • 'Pueri boni sunt' exemplifies agreement in both gender and number between the noun and its modifying adjective. The noun 'pueri' is masculine plural, meaning it refers to multiple boys. Consequently, the predicate adjective 'boni' must also be in the masculine plural form to match. This agreement ensures clarity in communication by aligning the descriptive words with their corresponding subjects within the grammatical structure of Latin.
• Evaluate the significance of predicate adjectives in Latin sentences using examples beyond 'pueri boni sunt.'
  • Predicate adjectives play a crucial role in enriching Latin sentences by providing essential information about subjects. For instance, consider the sentence 'feminae pulchrae sunt,' meaning 'the women are beautiful.' Here, 'feminae' (women) serves as the subject in nominative case, while 'pulchrae' (beautiful) acts as a predicate adjective that describes them. This construction not only enhances understanding by revealing qualities but also emphasizes how language constructs meaning through relationships between words. Such usage highlights the flexibility of Latin grammar to create complex ideas succinctly.

Related terms

Nominative Case:

The grammatical case used for the subject of a sentence; it indicates who or what is performing the action.

Predicate Adjective: An adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject of the sentence, as seen in 'pueri boni sunt.'

Linking Verb: A verb that connects the subject of a sentence with a subject complement, which can be a predicate nominative or predicate adjective.