(Wheelock Ch. 37)
There is a group of verbs which, in form, exist only in the third person singular of the various tenses, and in the infinitive. These verbs have no subject, either expressed or understood, and thus they are said to be 'impersonal'. In the Active Voice, we find such verbs used to express:
PRESENT |
English |
INFINITIVE |
PERFECT |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLUIT | 'It is raining" | ||
| TONAT | "It thunders" | TONARE | TONUIT |
| OPORTET | "It is desirable/proper" | OPORTERE | OPORTUIT |
| DECET | "It is fitting" | DECERE | DECUIT |
| CONSTAT | "It is apparent/obvious" | CONSTARE | CONSTITUIT |
| LICET | "It is permitted/lawful" | LICERE | LICUIT |
| PLACET | "It is pleasing" | PLACERE | PLACUIT |
| ACCIDIT | "It happens" | ACCIDERE | ACCIDIT |
| EVENIT | "It happens, It turns out that" | EVENIRE | EVENIT |
| PUDET | "It is a shame that..." | PUDERE | PUDUIT |
| IUVAT | "It is a pleasure" |
| tonat tonabat tonabit tonuit tonuerat tonuerit |
oportet oportebat oportebit oportuit oporterat oportuerit |
decet decebat decebit decuit decuerat decuerit |
accidit accidebat accidet accidit acciderat acciderit |
evenit eveniebat eveniet evenuit evenuerat evenuerit |
| tonet tonaret tonuerit tonuisset |
oporteat oporteret oportuerit oportuisset |
deceat deceret decuerit decuisset |
accidat accideret acciderit acciduisset |
eveniat eveniret evenerit evenisset |
English examples: "It is raining." "It is getting dark." "It is a nice day out today."
Latin example: iam advesperascit. "It is already growing dark."
The PASSIVE of intransitive verbs can take a(b) + the infinitive as the ablative of agent; or it can have an indirect object; or can lack either.
EXAMPLE |
English |
|---|---|
| pugnatum est. | "There was a battle." (It was fought) |
| resistitur. | "Resistance was offered" (It was resisted) |
| bellatum est. | "The fight took place." (it was warred) |
| persuasum est homini. | "Persuasion waws used on the man." |
| contenditur proelio. | "Struggle took place in battle." |
| ex tota urbe in Forum concursum est. | "From the whole city a rush was made into the Forum" |
| non perseveratum est ab eo. | "Perseverence was not shown by him." |
John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu