re: confirm translation

[caeruleus]

Forum:

Is my translation of this simple sentence from the English correct?


Example: Once upon a time there was (est) a beautiful girl.

Result: Olim puellam pulchram est.

Or: Olim est puellam pulchram.


This English-language sentence stems from the title "Latin Via Ovid-A First Course-Second Edition" on page 17.

It seems that the first one would be more correct in usage. Reason being, is the important placement of the subject and verb. What do you think?

Caeruleus

[Episcopus]

Olim erat puella pulchra.

erat - was
puella pulchra - pretty girl (nominative)

You had it in the accusative (objective) case...For there is/are/was/were etc. the verb comes first i.e In silva sunt multae puellae pulchrae.

[benissimus]

It doesn't always, but I suppose you should use whatever is most common first.

[klewlis]

Olim erat puella pulchra.

erat - was
puella pulchra - pretty girl (nominative)

You had it in the accusative (objective) case...

(nouns with sum take the nominative instead of accusative, as they become complements instead of direct objects)