← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
Impersonal Verbs
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōnibus praecēdentibus dē opificibus et artibus manuum dīdicimus. Nunc ad rem grammaticam trānsīmus: verba impersōnālia. Haec verba nōn habent subiectum persōnāle — nōn dīcimus “ego licet” vel “tū oportet,” sed “licet mihi,” “oportet tē.”
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lessons we learned about workmen and the arts of the hands. Now we cross to a grammatical matter: impersonal verbs. These verbs do not have a personal subject — we do not say “I it-is-permitted” or “you it-is-necessary,” but “it is permitted to me,” “it is necessary for you.”
Haec verba dē officiīs et affectibus loquuntur — quid deceat, quid pudeat, quid oporteat. Discāmus quōmodo Latīnē dē hīs rēbus loquāmur!
These verbs speak about duties and feelings — what is fitting, what causes shame, what is necessary. Let us learn how to speak in Latin about these things!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Sī if tibi to you libet, it pleases, licet. it is permitted. Sī if tē you piget it irks labōris, of labor, pudeat let it shame tē. you. Decet it befits tē you paenitēre to repent peccātī. of sin. Adulēscentem a young man decet befits silentium. silence. Sī if tē you sessiōnis of sitting taedet, it wearies, oportet it is proper spatiārī. to walk about.
Sī tibi libet, licet — If (sī) it pleases (libet) you (tibi), it is permitted (licet). Both libet and licet are impersonal verbs. Libet takes the dative (tibi) for the person pleased; licet takes the dative for the person permitted.
Sī tē piget labōris, pudeat tē — If (sī) labor (labōris) irks (piget) you (tē), let it shame (pudeat) you (tē). The verb piget takes accusative of person + genitive of cause. Pudeat is jussive subjunctive (”let it shame”).
Decet tē paenitēre peccātī — It befits (decet) you (tē) to repent (paenitēre) of sin (peccātī). The verb decet takes accusative of person + infinitive. Paenitēre takes genitive of the thing regretted.
Adulēscentem decet silentium — Silence (silentium) befits (decet) a young man (adulēscentem). Here decet takes accusative of person + nominative of thing that befits.
Sī tē sessiōnis taedet, oportet spatiārī — If (sī) sitting (sessiōnis) wearies (taedet) you (tē), it is proper (oportet) to walk about (spatiārī). Taedet takes accusative of person + genitive of cause. Oportet takes infinitive.
Sī tibi libet, licet. If it pleases you, it is permitted.
Sī tē piget labōris, pudeat tē. If labor irks you, let it shame you.
Decet tē paenitēre peccātī. It befits you to repent of sin.
Adulēscentem decet silentium. Silence befits a young man.
Sī tē sessiōnis taedet, oportet spatiārī. If sitting wearies you, it is proper to walk about.
Sī tibi libet, licet. Sī tē piget labōris, pudeat tē. Decet tē paenitēre peccātī. Adulēscentem decet silentium. Sī tē sessiōnis taedet, oportet spatiārī.
Impersonal verbs are used only in the third person singular. They have no personal subject (”I,” “you,” “he”) but rather express states, feelings, or necessities that affect a person expressed in the dative or accusative.
These verbs take the dative of the person affected:
Verbum Significātiō Exemplum libet, libēre, libuit it pleases Mihi libet = It pleases me licet, licēre, licuit it is permitted Tibi licet = It is permitted to you
These verbs take the accusative of person + genitive of cause:
Verbum Significātiō Exemplum piget, pigēre, piguit it irks, vexes Mē piget labōris = Labor irks me pudet, pudēre, puduit it shames Mē pudet errōris = The error shames me taedet, taedēre, taeduit it wearies, bores Mē taedet vitae = Life wearies me paenitet, paenitēre, paenituit it causes regret Mē paenitet peccātī = Sin causes me regret
Memory aid: Piget, pudet, taedet, paenitet — “P.P.T.P.” — all take accusative + genitive.
These verbs take accusative of person + infinitive:
Verbum Significātiō Exemplum decet, decēre, decuit it befits Decet tē tacēre = It befits you to be silent oportet, oportēre, oportuit it is proper/necessary Oportet nōs labōrāre = We ought to work
Decet can also take accusative of person + nominative of thing:
Latīnē Anglicē Adulēscentem decet silentium Silence befits a young man Mē decet modestia Modesty befits me
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō libet, libēre, libuit verbum (impers.) it pleases licet, licēre, licuit verbum (impers.) it is permitted piget, pigēre, piguit verbum (impers.) it irks, vexes pudet, pudēre, puduit verbum (impers.) it shames decet, decēre, decuit verbum (impers.) it befits paenitet, paenitēre, paenituit verbum (impers.) it causes regret taedet, taedēre, taeduit verbum (impers.) it wearies, bores oportet, oportēre, oportuit verbum (impers.) it is proper, necessary spatiōr, spatiārī, spatiātus sum verbum (dep.) to walk about sessiō, sessiōnis (f.) nōmen sitting peccātum, -ī (n.) nōmen sin adulēscēns, adulēscentis (m./f.) nōmen young person silentium, -ī (n.) nōmen silence
Adulēscēns a young man quīdam certain multum much loquēbātur. was speaking. Dē about omnibus all rēbus things opīniōnēs opinions suās his prōferēbat. he was bringing forth. Nēmō no one eum him interrogābat, was asking, sed but ipse he himself semper always respondēbat. was answering.
Senex an old man sapiēns wise eī to him dīxit: said: “Adulēscēns, “young man, nōnne do not tē you pudet it shame tantae of such great loquācitātis? talkativeness? Adulēscentem a young man decet befits silentium, silence, nōn not garritūs!” chattering!”
Adulēscēns the young man īrātus angry respondit: answered: “Cūr “why tacēre to be silent dēbeō? must I? Multa many things sciō; I know; multa many things dīcere to say possum!” I am able!”
Senex the old man rīsit: laughed: “Sī “if multa many things scīs, you know, pauca few things dīc! say! Quī he who pauca few things sapienter wisely dīcit, says, plūs more docet teaches quam than quī he who multa many things stultē foolishly garrit. chatters. Decet it befits tē you audīre to listen et and discere to learn — nōndum — not yet enim for tempus the time docendī of teaching tibi for you advēnit.” has arrived.”
Adulēscēns the young man prīmum at first pigrē reluctantly tacuit. was silent. Sed but paulātim gradually intellēxit: he understood: quī he who semper always loquitur, speaks, nihil nothing discit; learns; quī he who audit, listens, sapiēntior wiser fit. becomes.
Posteā afterwards senī to the old man grātiās thanks ēgit: he gave: “Nunc “now mē me paenitet it causes regret loquācitātis of the talkativeness meae. my. Decet it befits mē me magis more audīre to listen quam than loquī!” to speak!”
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Adulēscentem a young man decet befits silentium. silence. Quī he who tacet is silent et and audit, listens, discit; learns; quī he who semper always loquitur, speaks, stultus foolish manet. remains.
Adulēscēns quīdam multum loquēbātur. A certain young man was speaking much.
Dē omnibus rēbus opīniōnēs suās prōferēbat. He was bringing forth his opinions about all things.
Nēmō eum interrogābat, sed ipse semper respondēbat. No one was asking him, but he himself was always answering.
Senex sapiēns eī dīxit: “Adulēscēns, nōnne tē pudet tantae loquācitātis?” A wise old man said to him: “Young man, does such great talkativeness not shame you?”
“Adulēscentem decet silentium, nōn garritūs!” “Silence befits a young man, not chattering!”
Adulēscēns īrātus respondit: “Cūr tacēre dēbeō?” The young man, angry, answered: “Why must I be silent?”
“Multa sciō; multa dīcere possum!” “I know many things; I am able to say many things!”
Senex rīsit: “Sī multa scīs, pauca dīc!” The old man laughed: “If you know many things, say few things!”
“Quī pauca sapienter dīcit, plūs docet quam quī multa stultē garrit.” “He who says few things wisely teaches more than he who chatters many things foolishly.”
“Decet tē audīre et discere — nōndum enim tempus docendī tibi advēnit.” “It befits you to listen and learn — for the time of teaching has not yet arrived for you.”
Adulēscēns prīmum pigrē tacuit. The young man at first was reluctantly silent.
Sed paulātim intellēxit: quī semper loquitur, nihil discit; quī audit, sapiēntior fit. But gradually he understood: he who always speaks learns nothing; he who listens becomes wiser.
Posteā senī grātiās ēgit: Afterwards he gave thanks to the old man:
“Nunc mē paenitet loquācitātis meae. Decet mē magis audīre quam loquī!” “Now my talkativeness causes me regret. It befits me to listen more than to speak!”
Haec fābula docet: Adulēscentem decet silentium. This fable teaches: Silence befits a young man.
Quī tacet et audit, discit; quī semper loquitur, stultus manet. He who is silent and listens, learns; he who always speaks, remains foolish.
Adulēscēns quīdam multum loquēbātur. Dē omnibus rēbus opīniōnēs suās prōferēbat. Nēmō eum interrogābat, sed ipse semper respondēbat.
Senex sapiēns eī dīxit: “Adulēscēns, nōnne tē pudet tantae loquācitātis? Adulēscentem decet silentium, nōn garritūs!”
Adulēscēns īrātus respondit: “Cūr tacēre dēbeō? Multa sciō; multa dīcere possum!”
Senex rīsit: “Sī multa scīs, pauca dīc! Quī pauca sapienter dīcit, plūs docet quam quī multa stultē garrit. Decet tē audīre et discere — nōndum enim tempus docendī tibi advēnit.”
Adulēscēns prīmum pigrē tacuit. Sed paulātim intellēxit: quī semper loquitur, nihil discit; quī audit, sapiēntior fit.
Posteā senī grātiās ēgit: “Nunc mē paenitet loquācitātis meae. Decet mē magis audīre quam loquī!”
Haec fābula docet: Adulēscentem decet silentium. Quī tacet et audit, discit; quī semper loquitur, stultus manet.
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable illustrates the Vestibulum’s maxim adulēscentem decet silentium. The talkative young man learns that listening brings wisdom, while constant speaking brings nothing. The moral echoes Proverbs 17:28: “Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise.”
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Impersonal pudet + acc. + gen.: tē pudet loquācitātis — “talkativeness shames you.” -
Impersonal paenitet + acc. + gen.: mē paenitet loquācitātis — “my talkativeness causes me regret.” -
Impersonal decet + acc. + inf.: decet tē audīre — “it befits you to listen.” -
Gerund genitive: tempus docendī — “the time of teaching.”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō loquor, loquī, locūtus sum verbum (dep.) to speak loquācitās, -ātis (f.) nōmen talkativeness garriō, garrīre verbum to chatter garritūs, -ūs (m.) nōmen chattering taceō, tacēre verbum to be silent paulātim adverbium gradually pigrē adverbium reluctantly
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quid what sunt are verba verbs impersōnālia? impersonal?
MAGISTER: Verba verbs impersōnālia impersonal sunt are quae those which nōn not habent have subiectum a subject persōnāle personal — nōn — not dīcimus we say “ego “I licet” it is permitted aut or “tū “you oportet,” it is necessary,” sed but “licet “it is permitted mihi,” to me,” “oportet “it is necessary tē.” for you.”
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo how libet it pleases et and licet it is permitted differunt? differ?
MAGISTER: Libet it pleases significat signifies “placet “it pleases mihi.” me.” Licet it is permitted significat signifies “permissum “it is permitted est is mihi.” to me.” Exemplī of an example grātiā: for the sake: “Sī “if tibi to you libet it pleases lūdere, to play, licet” it is permitted” — id — that est, is, “sī “if vīs you want lūdere, to play, permissum permitted est!” it is!”
DISCIPULUS: Et and piget it irks et and pudet? it shames?
MAGISTER: Haec these verba verbs affectūs feelings negātīvōs negative exprimunt. express. Piget it irks significat signifies “molestum “troublesome est it is mihi.” to me.” Pudet it shames significat signifies “pudōrem “shame sentiō.” I feel.” Accūsātīvum the accusative persōnae of the person et and genitīvum the genitive causae of the cause capiunt: they take: “Mē “me piget it irks labōris” of labor” — labor — labor mihi to me molestus troublesome est! is!
DISCIPULUS: Quid what significat signifies oportet? it is necessary?
MAGISTER: Oportet it is necessary significat signifies “necessārium “necessary est,” it is,” “decōrum “fitting est.” it is.” Cum with īnfīnītīvō the infinitive ūtitur: it is used: “Oportet “it is necessary nōs for us labōrāre” to work” — necesse — it is necessary est is ut that labōrēmus! we work! Oportet it is necessary tē for you discere to learn — necesse — it is necessary est is ut that discās! you learn!
DISCIPULUS: Grātiās thanks agō, I give, magister! master! Nunc now melius better intellegō. I understand.
MAGISTER: Bene! good! Mementō: remember: Adulēscentem a young man decet befits silentium silence — sed — but etiam also decet it befits interrogāre to ask ut so that discat! he may learn!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid sunt verba impersōnālia? Master, what are impersonal verbs?
MAGISTER: Verba impersōnālia sunt quae nōn habent subiectum persōnāle. Impersonal verbs are those which do not have a personal subject.
Nōn dīcimus “ego licet” aut “tū oportet,” sed “licet mihi,” “oportet tē.” We do not say “I it-is-permitted” or “you it-is-necessary,” but “it is permitted to me,” “it is necessary for you.”
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo libet et licet differunt? How do “it pleases” and “it is permitted” differ?
MAGISTER: Libet significat “placet mihi.” Licet significat “permissum est mihi.” “It pleases” signifies “it pleases me.” “It is permitted” signifies “it is permitted to me.”
Exemplī grātiā: “Sī tibi libet lūdere, licet” — id est, “sī vīs lūdere, permissum est!” For example: “If it pleases you to play, it is permitted” — that is, “if you want to play, it is permitted!”
DISCIPULUS: Et piget et pudet? And “it irks” and “it shames”?
MAGISTER: Haec verba affectūs negātīvōs exprimunt. These verbs express negative feelings.
Piget significat “molestum est mihi.” Pudet significat “pudōrem sentiō.” “It irks” signifies “it is troublesome to me.” “It shames” signifies “I feel shame.”
Accūsātīvum persōnae et genitīvum causae capiunt. They take the accusative of person and genitive of cause.
“Mē piget labōris” — labor mihi molestus est! “Labor irks me” — labor is troublesome to me!
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat oportet? What signifies “it is necessary”?
MAGISTER: Oportet significat “necessārium est,” “decōrum est.” “It is necessary” signifies “it is necessary,” “it is fitting.”
Cum īnfīnītīvō ūtitur: “Oportet nōs labōrāre” — necesse est ut labōrēmus! It is used with the infinitive: “We ought to work” — it is necessary that we work!
Oportet tē discere — necesse est ut discās! You ought to learn — it is necessary that you learn!
DISCIPULUS: Grātiās agō, magister! Nunc melius intellegō. I give thanks, master! Now I understand better.
MAGISTER: Bene! Mementō: Adulēscentem decet silentium — sed etiam decet interrogāre ut discat! Good! Remember: Silence befits a young man — but it also befits him to ask questions so that he may learn!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid sunt verba impersōnālia?
MAGISTER: Verba impersōnālia sunt quae nōn habent subiectum persōnāle — nōn dīcimus “ego licet” aut “tū oportet,” sed “licet mihi,” “oportet tē.”
DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo libet et licet differunt?
MAGISTER: Libet significat “placet mihi.” Licet significat “permissum est mihi.” Exemplī grātiā: “Sī tibi libet lūdere, licet” — id est, “sī vīs lūdere, permissum est!”
DISCIPULUS: Et piget et pudet?
MAGISTER: Haec verba affectūs negātīvōs exprimunt. Piget significat “molestum est mihi.” Pudet significat “pudōrem sentiō.” Accūsātīvum persōnae et genitīvum causae capiunt: “Mē piget labōris” — labor mihi molestus est!
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat oportet?
MAGISTER: Oportet significat “necessārium est,” “decōrum est.” Cum īnfīnītīvō ūtitur: “Oportet nōs labōrāre” — necesse est ut labōrēmus! Oportet tē discere — necesse est ut discās!
DISCIPULUS: Grātiās agō, magister! Nunc melius intellegō.
MAGISTER: Bene! Mementō: Adulēscentem decet silentium — sed etiam decet interrogāre ut discat!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains the grammar of impersonal verbs: their lack of personal subject, the distinction between libet and licet, the accusative + genitive construction of piget/pudet, and the use of oportet with infinitive.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Dative with libet/licet: tibi libet, mihi licet -
Accusative + genitive with piget/pudet: mē piget labōris -
Infinitive with oportet: oportet nōs labōrāre
Match the verb with its meaning:
Verbum Significātiō 1. libet a. it shames 2. licet b. it is necessary 3. piget c. it pleases 4. pudet d. it is permitted 5. oportet e. it irks
Which case does each verb take for the person affected? -
libet + __________ (case) -
licet + __________ (case) -
piget + __________ (case) + __________ (case) -
decet + __________ (case)
-
If it pleases you, it is permitted. -
Silence befits a young man. -
Labor irks me. -
It is necessary to work.
-
Sī tē piget labōris, pudeat tē. -
Decet tē paenitēre peccātī. -
Sī tē sessiōnis taedet, oportet spatiārī. -
Mē paenitet errōris meī.
-
Sī tibi libet, licet. If it pleases you, it is permitted. -
Adulēscentem decet silentium. Silence befits a young man. -
Oportet nōs labōrāre. We ought to work. / It is necessary for us to work. -
Quī tacet et audit, discit. He who is silent and listens, learns.
-
c (libet = it pleases) -
d (licet = it is permitted) -
e (piget = it irks) -
a (pudet = it shames) -
b (oportet = it is necessary)
-
libet + dative -
licet + dative -
piget + accusative + genitive -
decet + accusative
-
Sī tibi libet, licet. -
Adulēscentem decet silentium. -
Mē piget labōris. -
Oportet labōrāre.
-
If labor irks you, let it shame you. -
It befits you to repent of sin. -
If sitting wearies you, it is proper to walk about. -
My error causes me regret. / I regret my error.
In proximā lectiōne novum caput incipimus: Dē Rērum Circumstantiīs — dē adverbiīs! Quis vocat mē? Ego. Tūne es? Quis est igitur illīc? Paulus. Discēmus quōmodo Latīnē dē persōnīs et locīs interrogēmus!
In the next lesson we begin a new chapter: On the Circumstances of Things — about adverbs! Who calls me? I. Is it you? Who is there then? Paul. We shall learn how to ask in Latin about persons and places!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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