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374. The Dative of the Agent is used with the Gerundive to denote the person on whom the necessity rests:—
  1. “haec vōbīs prōvincia est dēfendenda ” (Manil. 14) , this province is for you to defend (to be defended by you).
  2. mihi est pūgnandum, I have to fight (i.e. the need of fighting is to me: cf. mihi est liber, I have a book, § 373. N.).

a. This is the regular way of expressing the agent with the Second or Passive Periphrastic Conjugation (§ 196).

Note 1.--The Ablative of the Agent with ab (§ 405) is sometimes used with the Second Periphrastic Conjugation when the Dative would be ambiguous or when a stronger expression is desired:—

  1. “ quibus est ā vōbīs cōnsulendum” (Manil. 6) , for whom you must consult. [Here two datives, quibus and vōbīs , would have been ambiguous.]
  2. “ rem ab omnibus vōbīs prōvidendam ” (Rab. 4) , that the matter must be attended to by all of you. [The dative might mean for all of you.]

Note 2.--The Dative of the Agent is either a special use of the Dative of Possession or a development of the Dative of Reference (§ 376).

Ginn and Company, 1903.

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hide References (5 total)
  • Commentary references to this page (4):
    • J. B. Greenough, Benjamin L. D'Ooge, M. Grant Daniell, Commentary on Caesar's Gallic War, AG BG 1.11
    • J. B. Greenough, Benjamin L. D'Ooge, M. Grant Daniell, Commentary on Caesar's Gallic War, AG BG 1.32
    • J. B. Greenough, G. L. Kittredge, Select Orations of Cicero, Allen and Greenough's Edition., AG Cic. 6
    • J. B. Greenough, G. L. Kittredge, Select Orations of Cicero, Allen and Greenough's Edition., AG Cic. 64
  • Cross-references to this page (1):
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