nam miseris amicis adfuisse laudabile est

Latin Learning Latin
1

Hello!!
"Adestote amicis in periculis et rebus adversis; nam miseris amicis adfuisse laudabile est. "
I coudn’t wrap my head around that past infinitive.“Because It’s praiseworthy to ? with miserable friends.”

Thanks in advance.

2

Have been present.

3

Thanks. Now, everything makes sense!!

4

Are you wondering why the infinitive is past rather than present?

5

yes., why?

6

I usually ask questions, but I will hazard a grammatical explanation for the perfect tense of adfuisse.
Allen and Greenough say this, at #486:

Except in Indirect Discourse, only the Present and Perfect Infinitives are used. The Present represents the action of the verb as in progress without distinct reference to time, the Perfect as completed.

As I read A&G, the perfect infinitive suggests that the completed action of having stood by a friend in need is the praiseworthy thing, in the meaning of this sentence.