Dominus mortuus est. The lord died. Dominus culpam suam confessus est. 1. These verbs seem to be Reflexive verbs (XI. S), which have for the most part no Active form. At least not in classical Latin, though they seem to have had an Active form in the popular Latin (Steps XX. 22). Grammarians have called them Deponent, from depono, 'lay aside,' because, though passive in form, they lay aside their passive signification. 2. There are Deponents of all sorts, Intransitive and Transitive: intransitive like Ambulo (I.), like Cedo and Pareo (V.); Transitive like Porto (IV.), and like Do (V.). Also there are a few followed by the Genitive, like memini (VII. D); and four followed by the Ablative (VIII. S). In the Sentences they are ranged in order under their different heads. CHAPTER XIII. COGNATE AND DOUBLE ACCUSATIVE, AND OTHER DOUBLE A. Intransitive verbs may be followed by nouns of kindred meaning in the Accusative: that is, by nouns which name the action denoted by the verb: as, Dominus currit cursum. Such nouns are said to be in the Cognate Accusative. B. Some few verbs, especially those which denote teaching and asking, may be followed by two nouns, both in the Accusative; one generally naming a person, the other a thing:1 as, Dominus puerum musicam docuit. Such nouns are said to be in the Double Accusative. a. When such verbs are used in the Passive, the noun naming the person is commonly put in the Nominative, while the noun naming the thing remains in the Accusative : as, Puer musicam a domino doctus est. The boy was taught music by the lord. C. Certain verbs compounded of a verb and a preposition. may be followed by two nouns in the Accusative, one depending on the verb, the other rather on the preposition : as, Dominus copias Rhodanum trajecit. The lord threw his forces across the Rhone. 1. Of these verbs, verbs of teaching alone should always be followed by the Double Accusative. Verbs of asking often take the more natural construction, by which the thing asked for is in the Accusative, the person from whom it is asked in the Ablative with a preposition; as, Dominus ab amico argentum rogavit, 'The lord asked money of his friend.' Peto, 'seek,' should never have the Double Accusative; nor should verbs of advising, except when the thing advised is named by a pronominal adjective, as hoc, illud. S. The Accusative is sometimes used after verbs and adjectives to name the matter in which an action or quality operates : 2 as, Dominus tremit artus. The lord trembles in his limbs. Dominus cetera similis est patri. In other respects the lord is like his father. T. The following Double constructions of cases should be noted: a. Many verbs are followed; either by the Dative, as denoting actions that operate indirectly on an object; or by the Accusative with a Preposition, as denoting actions that operate towards an object :3 as, Saxum ingens domini capiti incidit; or, A great stone fell on the lord's head. b. Some verbs are followed; either by the Dative, as denoting actions that operate indirectly on an object; or by the Ablative, with or without a preposition, as denoting actions that operate from an object : * as, Dominus puerum latroni eripuit; or, Dominus puerum ab latrone eripuit. The lord rescued the boy from the robber. c. Some verbs, which are naturally followed by the Accusative and Dative, like Do, pass through a certain change of meaning and come to be followed by the Accusative and Ablative: as, Dominus urbi murum circumdedit. The lord put a wall round the city. The lord surrounded the city with a wall. V. Many verbs which are naturally Intransitive, as denoting actions that do not seem to operate directly, and which therefore were not originally followed by the Accusative, come to be used Transitively, and therefore to be followed by the Accusative. Such are :— a. Verbs denoting actions that do not necessarily operate on any object at all, like Ambulo: as, Dominus horret. The lord shudders. Dominus horret dolorem. The lord shudders at pain. b. Verbs which denote actions that seem to operate indirectly; and which therefore are properly followed by the Dative, like Cedo, or by the Accusative with a preposition (T. a): as, Dominus fratribus virtute præstat; or, The lord excels his brothers in virtue. c. Verbs which denote actions that seem to operate from an object, and which therefore are properly followed by the Ablative: as, Dominus oppido fugit. The lord fled from the town. Dominus conventus hominum fugit. 2. This Accusative, which is commonly called the Accusative of Respect or Limitation, is very rare in prose, but is common in poetry, especially with Perfect Passive Participles. It is like the Accusative after Middle verbs, as induor vestem (XI. S. b): but though often confused with it, it should be kept distinct, as there is no Reflexive sense in it. We have seen that the Ablative is commonly employed in this sense (VIII. B. c) ; but the Accusative may also be explained. The trembling operates in the limbs; hence the Ablative : but it may also be conceived as passing into the limbs; hence the Accusative. 3. This double construction is very common and reasonable. An action may be conceived with equal ease as moving towards an object, and as operating on it indirectly. And at last, as the tendency of a language is to get rid of slight distinctions, it may be conceived as operating on it directly, so that the verb becomes transitive, as in V. b. See Steps XXI. 8. 4. This double construction is less common and reasonable, the idea of motion from being distinctly connected with the Ablative. Still the Dative may be used when the object is a person, as he is operated on indirectly when a thing is taken from him. With adimo indeed the dative is always used. CHAPTER XIV. SUBJECT AND PREDICATE. VERB Sum. A. A Sentence consists of the Subject-word and Predicate. The Subject-word names the Subject; that is, the object about which the sentence is made. The Predicate is that which is 'predicated,' or said, about it. B. All sentences may be reduced in form to such a simple sentence as, Dominus est bonus, 'The lord is good.' In this sentence the Predicate est bonus consists of the Copula est and the Complement adjective bonus (VI. D). C. a. The verb Sum may be used either as the Substantive verb to denote actual existence: as, Deus est. God is; or, exists. b. Or it may be used simply as a Copula, to couple together two words which by juxtaposition make sense without it: as, A. When there are more Subject-words than one, if we wish the objects named by them to be distinguished as more than one, the verb is in the Plural number; if not, in the Singular. Hence the following Rules: When there are more Subject-words than one, a. If they name living objects, the verb is commonly in the Plural: as, Dominus et domina perierunt. The lord and lady perished. b. If they name inanimate objects, the verb is commonly in the Singular: as, Virtus et pudor puerum movebat. A sense of manliness and modesty moved the boy. |