Ecce Romani ch.

5 Grammar
(MLR Stand. D: P.I. D1-4)
I.

English Concepts
A. Infinitives
1.
An infinitive is a form of the verb translated with to . . .
2.
Examples of infinitives are to sleep, to watch, to snore, to be, etc.

I.

B. Complementary infinitives
1.
Infinitives are often found with such main verbs as wish, want,
do not want, fears, is able to, and prepares.
2.
These verbs often have their meaning completed with an infinitive
e.g.
Lesssslie Reed wants to be a Latin teacher like her hero!
Com. Inf
Matt Dettori and Jared Lussier secretly yearn to tell Mr.
Fortier that he has lost the game.
Christina Metzler is able to give numerous bad singing,
marks to Fortier
The quiet Athiay Manyiel and Allison Osgood aspire to
conquer the world, or at least B117.
Sammy Clark, Eric Hall Kelsey Dumond, the vexatious
ones, simply want to talk all the time.
Jordan Balsamo and Daniel Fortier hope to understand
one Latin concept before the end of the year.
3.
In all of these sentences, the infinitive completes the meaning of
the main verb. When infinitives are used with another verb, they
are called complementary infinitives.
4.
You should also notice that the main verb precedes the
complementary infinitive. Eg.I want
to eat
lobstah!
main verb com. Inf.
Latin Concepts
A. Infinitives
1.
In Latin we have infinitives and they belong to one of four
conjugations or verb families.
2.
We can tell which conjugation an infinitive belongs to by looking
at the last three letters.
1st conj.

amare / habitare

-are

2nd conj

terrre / timre

-re

3rd conj.

descendere / ascendere

-ere

4th conj.

audire

-ire

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3.

This is similar to the three groups of French verbs: -er verbs

(parler), -ir verbs (finir), and -re verbs (vendre). We also see this
with Spanish verbs (-ar, -er, and -ir verbs).

4.

The infinitive is also the second principal part of a Latin verb (a

Latin verb generally has 4 principal parts - see pages 271 and 289.)

B. Complementary infinitives (see outline pages 3 and 4) )

1.
In Latin, we also have main verbs like:
want / wish
not want
fear
able / can
prepare
2.

volo (I want, wish)

nolo (I dont want, wish)
timeo (I fear)
possum (I am able)
paro (I prepare)

As in English, Latin infinitives can also complete the meanings of

these verbs.
Clamare volo .
Arborem descendere nolo.
In hort currere timeo .
In vill laborare possum .
Prope rivum errare paro.

3.
4.

As in English, these infinitives are called "complementary

infinitives.
Well, thank you. I think you look sharp also.
However, whereas in English the infinitives follow the main verbs,
you will notice that in Latin the main verbs frequently follow the
infinitives. However, when you translate Latin sentences into
English, please translate them into normal English. Otherwise, you
run the risk of sounding like a Cro-Magnon or Neanderthal. Or
even worse, you could sound like a New York Yankee or a Los
Angeles Laker!!! (No one wants to sound that bad!)
e.g.

I want to shout.

Clamare
Com. Inf.

volo.
Main verb

e.g.

I am able to walk.

Ambulare
Com. Inf.

possum.
Main verb

5.

Folks, we have completed the grammar for chapter

Perhaps, in the next few years, there will be
additional X- Men and Transformer sequels, or
perhaps sequels to NumaNuma, the skating
treadmillers or Napoleon Dynamite (hope not!!!
Worst movie ever!!!)

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