CHAPTER XVIII. VERBAL NOUN. Infinitive, Gerund, and Supine. · EXAMPLES. A. Jucundum est dormire1. It is pleasant to sleep; or, sleeping is pleasant. B. Servi est claudere portas. It is the slave's business to shut the gates: or, shutting the gates is the slave's, C. Puer cantare cœpit. The boy begins to sing: or, singing. D. Magister docet puellam saltare®. The master teaches the girl to dance: or, dancing. E. Est militi pugnandum". The soldier has to fight: or, there is by the side of the soldier fighting. 8 F. Puer cupidus erat eundi Romam. The boy was desirous of going to Rome. G. Pacem petitum venimus. We are come to ask for peace: or, with a view to asking for peace. H. Hæc gravia auditu3 sunt. These things are grievous to hear; or, in the hearing. REMARKS. a. A verb has attached to it a Verbal noun; that is, a word which names the operation denoted by the verb. This noun does not lose its verbal force, but is followed by the same case that follows the verb. b. In Latin, there is no single noun for the Verbal; but the work is done by the Infinitive Mood, and certain forms, called Gerunds and Supines. In English, there is the noun in 'ing', as 'loving', and the compound for the infinitive, as 'to love'. c. The Latin Infinitive then is an undeclined verbal noun of the neuter gender and singular number, used only in the nominative (A and B) and accusative cases (C and D). Each verb has three such nouns: two in the active voice, naming unfinished and finished operation, as amare 'loving', and amavisse 'having loved'; and one in the passive naming unfinished operation, as amari 'being loved'. d. For finished and passive operation the Infinitive supplies the only nouns, as amavisse and amari; but for unfinished active operation, which is much more commonly spoken of, there are beside the Infinitive the forms called Gerunds and Supines. The Gerund is a declinable neuter singular noun of the Second, or o declension, naming only unfinished active operation. It is common both to transitive and intransitive verbs, and may be used in all cases; as N. and A. amandum 'loving', G. amandi, D. and Ab. amando; but with the following limitations— In the nominative and accusative it is used in a special sense implying necessity or duty (E). It should only be used thus with intransitive verbs. In its ordinary sense of simply naming the action denoted by the verb, it is used in the accusative after a preposition, but very seldom after any other preposition than ad. It may not be followed by a noun (see a) when it is in the dative, nor when it stands in the accusative or ablative after a preposition. e. The Supine is a defective masculine noun of the fourth, or u, declension, naming only unfinished active operation, and having only two cases; the accusative in um, as amatum, and the ablative in u, as amatu. The Supine in um, as it is commonly called, is used almost entirely after verbs of motion without a preposition to name the action to which the motion is directed (G). The Supine in u is used, commonly with a few special adjectives, to name the action in which the quality denoted by the adjective is shown (H). Many verbs have no supine, and the supine in u is very rare. The supine in um may be followed by a case like the infinitive and gerund; but the supine in u may not. Humanum est errare". Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. Turpe est cedere rebus adversis. 5 Peccatum est patriam prodere. Imbecilli est animi timere dolorem. 10 Meum est imperare, parere tuum. Boni civis est vereri regem. Humanum est irasci. Adolescentis est parentes revereri. 15 Impium est mentiri. Apud Persas summa laus est fortiter venari. Summæ dementiæ est in vitiis perseverare. 20 Docto homini" vivere est cogitare. Boni oratoris est verbis jucundis uti. Non est cujusvis spernere fortunam. Nobis erat in animo Gaium ad Cæsarem mittere. Albani, populum omnem Albanum Romam traducere in 25 animo est. Visum est mihi de senectute aliquid ad te scribere. Certum est mihi deliberatumque omnia audacter libereque dicere. Magnum est bene ac feliciter vixisse 12. 30 Magnæ est constantiæ in rebus adversis non perturbari12 Nihil jam mutire13 audeo. Non possumus ictum sentire. Frustra meæ vitæ subvenire conamini. Hunc locum duabus ex partibus oppugnare contendimus. 35 Sol radiis cælum accendere tentat. Puella non quit sentire dolorem. Te, cara, nequivi conspicere, et patria decedens ponere terra. Non ferre contra patriam arma debemus. 40 Ruri crebro esse soleo. Fremitum plebis orator voce vincere assuevit. Tum oppidani manus ad Cæsarem tendere cœperunt. Hostes expugnare oppidum et flumen transire parabant. Perge igitur ordine quatuor mihi istas partes explicare. 45 Istas artes jam mirari desino. Omitte mirari beatæ fumum et opes strepitumque Romæ. Antium me recipere cogito. Equam memento rebus in arduis servare mentem. 50 Galli domum pervenire parabant. Galba cohortes duas in Nantuatibus collocare constituit. Da mihi præclaram senectutem degere. 55 Oblitus sum tibi hoc dicere. Nemo alteri concedere in animum inducebat. Non dubito me gravissimis tempestatibus obvium facere. Quid dubitamus pultare atque huc evocare ambos foras? Pueri, qui nare didicerunt, aquam non metuunt. 60 Themistocles in Persas proficisci animo meditabatur. Quis Isthmum perfodere aggressus est ? Cæsar persequi Helvetios bello perseveravit. Hunc videre sæpe optabamus diem. Pompeius quoque statuerat prælio decertare. 65 Cæsar flumen Axonam exercitum traducere maturavit. Urbs ædificari11 cœpit. Bellum jam timeri desierat. Materia cœpta erat comportari. Obsidione munitionibusque cœpti premi hostes. 75 Bonum virum Musa vetat mori. Herus me jussit Pamphilum observare. Vidimus flavum Tiberim monumenta regis dejicere. Cæsar legatos ab opere discedere vetuerat. So Nos Transalpinas gentes oleam et vitem serere non sinimus. Lapides Orpheus omnes flere et lamentari coegit. Vultis severi me quoque sumere partem Falerni ? Num te emere venditor coegit? Ratio ipsa monet nos amicitias comparare. 90 Belga Cimbros intra fines suos ingredi prohibuerunt. |