To Err Is Human

Level 4

Put the infinitive first and add est with a neuter adjective.

How It Works

Latin	English
Errare humanum est.	To err is human.
Legere utile est.	To read is useful.
Bonum est confiteri Domino.	It is good to give thanks to the Lord.

English can say to err or erring. Latin uses the plain infinitive.

The adjective is neuter singular: humanum, utile, bonum, dulce. Neuter fits because the infinitive is one thing, not a person.

When a person comes into the sentence, he goes in the accusative: Bonum est nos hic esse means It is good for us to be here.

Errare humanum est.
To err is human.
Errare is the subject, and humanum agrees with it as a neuter word.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.
It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country.
From Horace, Odes 3.2.13. Mori is the subject.
Legere utile est.
To read is useful.
Legere is the subject.
Bonum est confiteri Domino.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord.
From Psalm 91:2. Confiteri is the infinitive of a deponent verb.
Bonum est nos hic esse.
It is good for us to be here.
From Matthew 17:4. Nos is the accusative subject of esse.

Using a masculine adjective with an infinitive.
Errare humanus est.
Errare humanum est.
The infinitive counts as a neuter thing, so the adjective is neuter: humanum, not humanus.

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To Err Is HumanLevel 4

An infinitive can be the subject after verbs like these.

errare humanum est

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