Ch. 25 & 26

HW: 25A 1,5,9; 25B 5; 26A (part 1) 1, 7; 26A (part2) 1; 26B 1

DATIVE VERBS

Self explanatory...
Try to learn the categories and kinds of verbs (such as compounds of sum) that take a dative object. Memorize at least some of the common dative verbs such as credo, placeo, and noceo.

IMPERSONAL PASSIVES OF INTRANSITIVE VERBS

As your book says, Latin can have intransitive verbs (i.e. verbs that do not take a direct object) in impersonal passive forms (with a vague "it" subject). In such cases, English will either use a personal passive (with a real subject) or not use a passive at all.

Example:
ACTIVE INTRANSITIVE
We were going. (Good English)
Ibamus. (Good Latin)
PASSIVE INTRANSITIVE
It was gone. (BAD English! English would say "Some people went.")
Itum est. (Good Latin)

All Latin verbs that do not take an accusative direct object will have to be impersonal (3rd singular form with vague "it" subject) if used in the passive voice. If the doer of the action is expressed, it will be with ablative of agent (a/ab + abl.), but often there will be no expressed agent because impersonal passives tend to put emphasis on the action rather than the actor.

Often English will allow personal passives for verbs that have intransitive Latin equivalents. Thus we can say "He will be believed." and "They were harmed." but Latin cannot because Latin versions of believe (credo) and harm (noceo) are intransitive, so Latin instead says "Marco(dat.) credetur." (Literally: "It will be believed to/in Marcus.") and "Eis(dat.) nocitum est." (Literally: "It was harmed to them.").

Just as the above literal translations of the Latin sound ridiculous to us, so it would be ridiculous to a Latin speaker if you said "Is credetur." ("He will be believed.") or "Nocebantur." ("They were harmed.") because these literal translations are COMPLETE NONSENSE in Latin.

Examples:
Itum est Romam. (Good Latin)
Literally: It was gone to Rome.
Means: There was a journey to Rome.
or We/they went to Rome. (Context would tell us the required subject; the emphasis is on the action, not the actor.)

Caesari* creditur. (Good Latin)
*dative because credo takes dative object)
Literally: It is trusted to/in Caesar.
Means: Caesar is trusted.

Hostibus* totum diem resistebatur. (Good Latin)
*dative because resisto takes dative object
Literally: It was resisted to/against the enemy all day.
Means: The enemy was resisted all day.