CLAS 102 L: Latin 2
Impersonal Verbs
(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:
- operations of nature
- mental distress
- acts considered merely as acts, without reference to a doer of the act.
| 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.
| 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." |
|
