Passive Prohibitions

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
Superavi
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:39 am

Passive Prohibitions

Post by Superavi »

On the synopses my professor has been passing out, he includes passive prohibitions in the singular and plural. I imagine that one would make nollo into a passive imperative the same way that deponent imperatives are formed (nolle - sg, nolimini - pl) then supply the passive infinitive of whatever verb. So for say sedeo: nolle sederi - sg, nolimini sederi - pl.

I am most likely completely off on these though.

Iulia
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 19
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:13 pm

Re: Passive Prohibitions

Post by Iulia »

For a passive prohibition, you have several choices (though your idea of making nolle passive is not one of them as there are no passive forms for this verb, I'm sorry to report). Did your professor give you an idea of which construction he/she wanted you to use?

One classical choice is ne + perfect subjunctive [either active or passive as the sense requires]. So, "Do not be silent" [spoken to a male] would be "Ne sis tacitus!" or [spoken to a female] "Ne sis tacita!"

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

Re: Passive Prohibitions

Post by benissimus »

also noli + passive inf
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

Superavi
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:39 am

Re: Passive Prohibitions

Post by Superavi »

Ok. Great. Thank you both!

Post Reply