Imperative adjectives?

Here you can discuss all things Latin. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Latin, and more.
Post Reply
classicalclarinet
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 400
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 12:27 am
Location: Anc, AK, USA

Imperative adjectives?

Post by classicalclarinet »

I've been wndering, are there forms for commanding someone to be something? For example, test-taking tips:

Be confident
Be calm
etc.

Titus Marius Crispus
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 78
Joined: Wed Jul 14, 2004 2:00 am
Location: San Antonio, TX, USA

Post by Titus Marius Crispus »

One would simply use the imperative of sum.

es fidens
este fidentes

es tranquillus
este tranquilli

User avatar
benissimus
Global Moderator
Posts: 2733
Joined: Mon May 12, 2003 4:32 am
Location: Berkeley, California
Contact:

Post by benissimus »

Sometimes there are Latin verbs that in English are "to be ____". Some of these are taceo, -ere "to be quiet", gratulor, gratulari "to be thankful", gaudeo, -ere "to be glad", irascor, -sci "to be angry". Obviously, you can just use the imperative of the verb in these cases.

T. is quite correct about the adjectives, though volitive subjunctive is more common with esse than the imperative.
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

classicalclarinet
Textkit Enthusiast
Posts: 400
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 12:27 am
Location: Anc, AK, USA

Post by classicalclarinet »

thanks for pointing it out. I get confused by english adjectives that are not so in latin..:

"should it be an adjective? a verb? a PARTICIPLE??" :P

Post Reply