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[*] 76. Impersonal verbs. The same principle lies at the basis of all so-called impersonal verbs. Sometimes the subject is contained in the predicate, as when the passive is used impersonally, or when the infinitive is used without a subject. “ἐμοὶ . . . δεδιήγηται”, ANTIPHON, 1.31; My tale has been told. ANTIPHON, 1.31: “ἐμοὶ μὲν οὖν δεδιήγηται καὶ βεβοήθηται τῷ <τε> τεθνεῶτι καὶ τῷ νόμῳ”. 5.75: “ὅμως δ᾽ οὖν κεκινδυνεύσεται”. PLATO, Rpb. 457E. “εὖ μάλ᾽ ἂν ἀμφισβητηθείη” (cf. ibid. D: “ἀμφισβήτησιν γενέσθαι”). XEN. Hell. 1.3.20: “ἐπεὶ δὲ αὐτοῖς παρεσκεύαστο” . Mem. 1.7.2: “ἆρ᾽ οὐ τὰ ἔξω τῆς τέχνης μιμητέον τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς αὐλητάς; . . . καὶ τούτῳ ταῦτα ποιητέον . . . καὶ τούτῳ πολλοὺς ἐπαινέτας παρασκευαστέον” . THUC.1.46.1: “οἱ δὲ Κορίνθιοι, ἐπειδὴ αὐτοῖς παρεσκεύαστο, ἔπλεον ἐπὶ τὴν Κέρκυραν”. 1.91.1: “τειχίζεταί τε καὶ ἤδη ὕψος λαμβάνει” (sc. “τὸ τεῖχος”). 7.25.9: “ὡς . . . διαπεπολεμησόμενον” . Cf. 7.77.3: “ἱκανὰ γὰρ τοῖς τε πολεμίοις ηὐτύχηται” . Thesm. 1227: “ἀλλὰ πέπαισται μετρίως ἡμῖν”. Ran. 376: “ἠρίστηται δ᾽ ἐξαρκούντως”. HOM. Od. 9.143: “οὐδὲ προυφαίνετ᾽ ἰδέσθαι”. 19.312: “ἀλλά μοι ὧδ᾽ ἀνὰ θυμὸν ὀΐεται, ὡς ἔσεταί περ”. Il. 22.319: “ὣς αἰχμῆς ἀπέλαμπ᾽ εὐήκεος”. For additional examples of the impersonal passive, see 176. For the impersonal neuter plural in -“τέα”, see exx. under 37.
Syntax of Classical Greek from Homer to Demosthenes. Basil L. Gildersleeve. New York. American Book Company. 1900.
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