[*] 208. Impersonal Verbs may be classified as follows:— [*] a. Verbs expressing the operations of nature and the time of day:—
vesperāscit (inceptive, § 263. 1), it grows late. | ningit, it snows. |
lūcīscit hōc, it is getting light. | fulgurat, it lightens. |
grandinat, it hails. | tonat, it thunders. |
pluit, it rains. | rōrat, the dew falls. |
miseret, it grieves. | paenitet ( poenitet ), it repents. |
piget, it disgusts. | pudet, it shames. |
taedet, it wearies. | |
miseret mē, I pity (it distresses me); | |
pudet
mē, I am ashamed.
[*] Note.--Such verbs often have also a passive form: as, misereor, I pity (am moved to pity); and occasionally other parts: as, paenitūrus (as from † paeniō ), paenitendus , pudendus , pertaesum est , pigitum est . |
libet, it pleases. | dēlectat , iuvat, it delights. |
licet, it is permitted. | oportet, it is fitting, ought. |
certum est, it is resolved. | necesse est, it is needful. |
cōnstat, it is clear. | praestat, it is better. |
placet, it seems good (pleases). | interest, rēfert, it concerns. |
vidētur, it seems, seems good. | vacat, there is leisure. |
decet, it is becoming. | restat , superest, it remains. |
- ventum est, they came (there was coming).
- pūgnātur, there is fighting (it is fought).
- ītur, some one goes (it is gone).
- parcitur mihi, I am spared (it is spared to me, see § 372).
[*] Note.--The impersonal use of the passive proceeds from its original reflexive (or middle) meaning, the action being regarded as accomplishing itself (compare the French cela se fait).