[*] 455. With impersonal verbs and expressions that take the Infinitive as an apparent subject, the personal subject of the action may be expressed—
- By a Dative, depending on the verb or verbal
phrase:—
- “rogant ut id sibifacere liceat ” (B. G. 1.7) , they ask that it be allowed them to do this.
- “nōn lubet enimmihidēplōrāre vītam ” (Cat. M. 84) , for it does not please me to lament my life.
- vīsum est mihidē senectūte aliquid cōnscrībere (id. 1), it seemed good to me to write something about old age.
- quid est tam secundum nātūram quamsenibusēmorī; (id. 71), what is so much in accordance with nature as for old men to die?
- exstinguīhominī suō tempore optābile est (id. 85), for a man to die at the appointed time is desirable.
- By an Accusative expressed as the subject of the
infinitive or the object of the impersonal:—
- “sī licet vīvereeum quem Sex. Naevius nōn volt ” (Quinct. 94) , if it is allowed a man to live against the will of Sextus Nœvius.
- “nōnne oportuit praescīsse mēante ” (Ter. And. 239) , ought I not to have known beforehand?
- “ōrātōremīrāscī minimē decet ” (Tusc. 4.54) , it is particularly unbecoming for an orator to lose his temper.
- “pudēretmē dīcere ” (N. D. 1.109) , I should be ashamed to say.
- “cōnsilia ineunt quōrum eōs in vestīgiō paenitēre necesse est ” (B. G. 4.5) , they form plans for which they must at once be sorry.
[*] Note.-- Libet , placet , and vīsum est take the dative only; oportet , pudet , piget , and generally decet , the accusative only; licet and necesse est take either case.
- “expedit bonās esse vōbīs ” (Ter. Haut. 388) , it is for your advantage to be good.
- licuit esse ōtiōsō Themistoclī; (Tusc. 1.33), Themistocles might have been inactive (it was allowed to Themistocles to be inactive).
- “mihi neglegentī esse nōn licet ” (Att. 1.17.6) , I must not be negligent. [But also neglegentem .]
- “cūr hīs esse līberōs nōn licet ” (Flacc. 71) , why is it not allowed these men to be free?
- “nōn est omnibus stantibus necesse dīcere ” (Marc. 33) , it is not necessary for all to speak standing.
[*] Note.--When the subject is not expressed, as being indefinite (one, anybody), a predicate noun or adjective is regularly in the accusative (cf. § 452. 3. N.2): as,— vel pāce vel bellō clārum fierī licet (Sall. Cat. 3), one can become illustrious either in peace or in war
Complementary Infinitive