The Second (Passive) Periphrastic

Wheelock, Chapter 24



 

As a special usage, the PURPOSE of the 'passive periphrastic' is to express obligation ('ought') or necessity ('must').

FORM:     The second (passive) periphrastic construction is made up of the

FUTURE PASSIVE PARTICIPLE   +   appropriate parts of the verb SUM, ESSE
(a.k.a. the gerundive)

 

PORTANDUS SUM             I am to be carried. I must be carried.
PORTANDI ERAMUS         We were to be carried. We had to be carried.
PORTANDAE ERITIS         You will have to be carried.

PORTANDUS FUI                I have had to be carried.
PORTANDUS FUERAM     I had had to be carried.
PORTANDUS FUERO.       I shall have had to be carried.


EXAMPLES:

Latin:
English:
NUNTIUS MITTENDUS EST
A messenger is to be sent.
A messenger must be sent.
A messenger ought to be sent.
A messenger should be sent.
A messenger has to be sent.
AQUA PORTANDA ERAT. Water was to be carried.
Water ought to have been carried.
Water should have been carried.
Water had to be carried.

 

NOTE: This periphrastic construction is an alternative to using:

Latin:
English:
DEBUIT DICERE... He ought to have said (owed it to say)...
OPORTUIT VENIRE
He ought to have come.
POTUIT VIDERE... He might have seen...

 

June 10, 2009 5:19 PM

John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu

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