Difference between perf. passive part. and adjective

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
pmda
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1341
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:15 am

Difference between perf. passive part. and adjective

Post by pmda »

Here's something that's been on my mind for a while. Sometimes there is no distinction either in form or meaning between a perfective passive participle and an adjective. Take the following as an example from Orberg's LLPSI Cap XXXIX:

"O fortunati, quorum iam moenia surgunt!"

ait Aeneas alta urbis tecta suspiciens, ac nebula cinctus (mirabile dictu!) in urbem penetrat per medios homines ambulans neque ab ullo cernitur.

Now cinctus here could be simply the masc. nom. sing. of the adjective: cinctus, -a, -um or it could be the per. pass. part. of cingo, cingere, cinxi, cinctum - as in he is surrounded by fog. But there is no difference in meaning or form. Is there a grammatical difference within the sentence between the two?

pmda
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1341
Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2010 5:15 am

Re: Difference between perf. passive part. and adjective

Post by pmda »

What a coincidence....

This earlier thread seems to discuss this very thing....

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=59596

Post Reply