FM: Lesson - Personal Pronouns - Using is, ea, id

Image: a Roman teacher watches over his pupils. Using is, ea, id

The image shows a magister leading a writing exercise. His students used tabulae (wax tablets) which could be wiped clean and reused. Their writing utensil was called a stylus.

The rules for using is, ea, id are quite similar to 1st and 2nd person personal pronouns.

Is, Ea, Id Usage Rule 1

The nominative pronoun is rarely used as the subject of a sentence, since a Latin verb contains a personal ending, indicating person and number. However, it will be used for emphasis or to show a sudden change in subject. This does differ from English, which requires a subject pronoun. Examples:

  • Is aquam portat; ea libros portat. 
    • He is carrying water; she is carrying books.
    • Emphasis: the subject pronouns is and ea help to establish the gender of the actors and to point out who is carrying what.
  • Milites vidimus; ei in campo exercebant.
    • We saw the soldiers; they were working in the field.
    • Change of subject: the subject pronoun ei is showing the shift from 1st person plural to 3rd person plural.

Is, Ea, Id Usage Rule 2

 All other cases must be used: no other usage can be omitted just because it is a pronoun. Examples:

  • Vidistine puerum? Eum non vidi!
    • Have you seen the boy? I haven't seen him!
    • The direct object pronoun eum must be included.
  • Vidistine puellas? Eis librum dare cupio.
    • Have you seen the girls? I wish to give a book to them.
    • The indirect object pronoun eis must be included.

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