esse
The English phrase 'to be' is translated into Latin as esse.
In Latin, esse is used both to express existence and to link a subject to an adjective or noun (as a copula).
How does it change in a sentence?
While esse is the dictionary form, in actual sentences, it is conjugated into these six primary forms to match the subject: sum (I am), es (you are), est (he/she/it is), sumus (we are), estis (you plural are) and sunt (they are). The second person singular present tense of esse is es, and the second person plural present tense of esse is estis. The perfect tense of esse is used to express that someone or something 'has been' or 'was' in a certain state: fui (I was), fuisti (you were), fuit (he/she/it was), fuimus (we were), fuistis (you plural were) and fuerunt (they were). Additionally, erat means 'was'.
Did you know?
- In Latin, the verb esse is often omitted entirely in a sentence because the ending of the other words makes the meaning clear.
- The root of sum ('I am') is so ancient that it is also found in the Sanskrit word 'asmi', showing a deep connection between Latin and other ancient Indo-European languages.
- Latin uses esse to create the 'dative of possession', where saying 'to me there is' using est means 'I have'.
Examples in context
- Volo te hic esse.I want you to be here.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire for someone to be in a specific place using esse.Tatoeba #1487275 by alexmarcelo, translation #437079 by lukaszpp
- Sine te esse nolo.I don't want to be without you.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire not to be without someone using esse.Tatoeba #13977416 by Vortarulo, translation #13977422 by Vortarulo
- Tu vis esse probus.You want to be honest.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to possess a specific quality using esse.Tatoeba #812433 by rado, translation #812473 by Zaphod
- Ego sum magister.I am a teacher.
- Erat in via.He/She/It was on the road.
- Filius est MatrisHe is his mother's son.
- 121 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Quintus and Lucia are discussing their future goals.
- QuintusCupio doctus esse.I desire to be learned.
- LuciaId est bonum, Quinte.That is good, Quintus.
- QuintusEt tu, Lucia, quid vis esse?And you, Lucia, what do you want to be?
- LuciaVolo beata esse.I want to be happy.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
