Impersonal Verbs

There is a category of verbs in Latin that are often translated in English as impersonal, i.e. as not having a subject (translated with "it").  While these are often translated as impersonals, they often do have a subject in Latin, either unexpressed or something other than a noun.

Words describing the weather that have "caelum" as an unexpressed subject:

bulletpluit, "it rains"
bulletningit, "it snows"
bullettonat, "it thunders"

Words where an infinitive (a verbal noun infinitive) is used as the subject:

bulletnecesse est, "it is necessary"
bulletfas est, "it is right"

Some of these express emotion and work with an adverbial accusative that is similar in translation to a direct object (or a subject).  The genitive is also used to express what the action is in reference to.

bulletoportet, "it behoves" ("I ought")
bulletpudet, "it shames" ("I am ashamed")
bulletiuvat, "it delights" ("I like to")
bullettaedet, "it wearies" ("I am tired of")

Others take a dative of reference:

bulletlicet: "it is allowed" ("I may")
bulletplacet: "it pleases" ("I decide")

Other Verb Topics

Transitive/Intransitive
Voice
Mood
Deponent Verbs
Semi-Deponent Verbs
Independent Subjunctives
Impersonal Verbs

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Main Index

General Principles
Sentence Structure
Morphology
Skeleton Types
Verbs
Case Usage
Adverbs
Infinitives
Gerunds
Gerundives
Dependent Clauses
Connection
The Book

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Related Topics

Lesson Chapter 49

Verbal noun infinitive

Impersonal Passive Skeletons

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Last Updated March 18, 2003

Questions, comments and corrections should be sent to Brian K. Harvey, Kent State University