M&F Unit 13 Latin to English

Textbooks M&F's Latin: An Intensive Course
1

Page 226:

11 b) Duo consules exposuerunt se quosdam duces navibus praefecturos esse.

11 c) Duo consules exposuerunt se quosdam duces navibus praefecturos

11 b) The two consuls explained that they were going to put certain leaders in command of the ships.

But what’s the difference in 11 c)? Is the esse optional and they actually mean the same or is there some difference I’m not seeing?

2

The meaning is the same. It is a matter of style.

3

Thanks, Skylax. I thought it was, but couldn’t understand why they would put them both in as separate sentences.