262–263
Stranger
Str. For when he says that, he makes a statement about that which is or is becoming or has become or is to be; he does not merely give names, but he reaches a conclusion by combining verbs with nouns. That is why we said that he discourses and does not merely give names, and therefore we gave to this combination the name of discourse.
Theaetetus
Theaet. That was right.
Stranger
Str. So, then, just as of things some fit each other and some do not, so too some vocal signs do not fit, but some of them do fit and form discourse.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Certainly.
20
Stranger
Str. Now there is another little point.
Theaetetus
Theaet. What is it?
Stranger
Str. A sentence, if it is to be a sentence, must have a subject; without a subject it is impossible.
Stranger
Str. And it must also be of some quality, must it not?
25
Theaetetus
Theaet. Of course.
Stranger
Str. Now let us pay attention to each other.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Yes, at any rate we ought to do so.
Stranger
Str. Now, then, I will speak a sentence to you in which a action and the result of action are combined by means of a noun and a verb, and whatever the subject of the sentence is do you tell me.
Theaetetus
Theaet. I will, to the best of my ability.
Stranger
Str. Theaetetus sits. It isn’t a long sentence, is it?
Theaetetus
Theaet. No, it is fairly short.
Stranger
Str. Now it is for you to say what it is about and what its subject is.
Theaetetus
Theaet. Clearly it is about me, and I am its subject.
5
Stranger
Str. And how about this sentence?
Theaetetus
Theaet. What one?
