Ch. 51

HW: 51A 1-8

Idioms of Preventing/Hindering (See your Allen and Greenough Grammar section 558)

Section 511

We usually show prevention in English with "from" and a gerund or participle.

Examples: I hindered them from dancing. You prevent me from keeping the gold.

However, Latin will use either an infinitive clause or a subjunctive clause of prevention. Prohibeo, non dubito, and non recuso may be followed by an infinitive or a subjunctive clause of prevention.

I prevent you from leaving.
Either: Prohibeo te discedere.
Or: Prohibeo te ne (or "quo minus") discedas*.
*Present subjunctive shows slightly later time in primary sequence.

I didn't hesitate to speak.
Either: Non dubitavi loqui.
Or: Non dubitavi quin loquerer*.
*Imperfect subjunctive shows slightly later time in secondary sequence.

Otherwise all the verb of preventing and restraining mentioned in 511 should be followed by a subjunctive clause of prevention. Clauses of prevention are constructed similar to purpose (final) clauses and use sequence of tenses.

Section 512

Use quo minus or ne to introduce the subjunctive clause of prevention with a positive main clause.

He restrained everyone from going.
Rephrased: He restrained everyone so that they would not go.
Omnes retinuit quo minus (or "ne") irent (impf. subj.).

You will hinder me from singing.
Rephrased: You will hinder me so that I may not sing.
Impedies me ne (or "quo minus") canam (pres. subj.).

Use quo minus or quin to introduce the subjunctive clause of prevention with a negative main clause. (Thus quo minus works in all cases.)

You all had not deterred the enemy from attacking.
Rephrased: You all had not deterred the enemy so that they would not attack.
Hostes non deterruistis quin (or "quo minus") oppugnarent.

I did not refrain from running.
Rephrased: I did not refrain (for myself) so that I would not run.
Non temperabam mihi quin currrerem.

Section 513

Two special impersonal idioms here... Since they are impersonal, the verbs (stare/abesse) must always be in the 3rd sing. "it" form in Latin.

IDIOM 1
per (acc. of person/thing) stare
Literal translation of the Latin: to stand/exist because of (acc.)
Rephrased to better English: to be the fault of (acc.) / to be due to (acc.)

Examples:
It was his fault we could not leave.
Rephrased closer to Latin: It stood because of him that we could not leave.
Per eum stetit quo minus discedere possemus.

Our failure to reach the island will be due to you.
Rephrased closer to Latin: It will stand because of you that we may not reach the island.
Per te stabit quo minus ad insulam perveniamus.

IDIOM 2
non multum abesse / haud procul abesse
to be not far (from) / to be by no means far off (from)
Rephrased closer to English: to almost happen / to nearly occur

Examples:
I nearly won.
Rephrased closer to Latin: It was not far from that I should win.
Non multum afuit quin (or "quo minus") vincerem.

Our country is close to being destroyed.
Rephrased closer to Latin: It is by no means far off from that our country may be destroyed.
Haud procul abest quin (or "quo minus") patria nostra deleatur.