VERBAL NOUNS
1. The Infinitive. 2. The Participle. 3. The Verbal Adjectives in
-τός and
-τέος.
THE INFINITIVE
[*] 1966. The infinitive is in part a verb, in part a substantive.
a. Many substantives are closely related to verbs, but not all verbs can form substantives. All verbs can, however, form infinitives.
b. The word
infinitive denotes a verbal form without any limitations (
finis) of number and person.
[*] 1967. The infinitive is like a verb herein:
a. It shows the distinctions of voice and tense (but not those of number and person). Having tenses, it can express different stages of action (action simply occurring, continuing, or finished); whereas the corresponding substantive sets forth the abstract idea without these distinctions. Contrast
ποιεῖν, ποιήσειν, ποιῆσαι, πεποιηκέναι with
ποίησις making.
b. It can have a subject before it and a predicate after it, and it can have an object in the genitive, dative, or accusative like the corresponding finite verb. Infinitives scarcely ever stand in the subjective genitive; and the object of an infinitive never stands in the objective genitive.
c. It is modified by adverbs, not by adjectives.
d. It may take
ἄν and with that particle represent
ἄν with the indicative (1784 ff.) or
ἄν with the optative (
1824).
e. It forms clauses of result with
ὥστε, and temporal clauses with
πρίν, etc.
[*] 1968. The infinitive is like a substantive herein:
a. It may be the subject or object of a verb.
b. With the (neuter) article it shows all the case forms (except the vocative):
τὸ (
τοῦ, τῷ, τὸ)
λύ_ειν, λύ_σειν, etc.
c. It may be governed by prepositions:
πρὸ τοῦ λύ_ειν.
[*] 1969. The infinitive was originally a verbal noun in the dative (in part possibly also in the locative) case. The use to express purpose (
2008) is a survival of the primitive meaning, from which all the other widely diverging uses were developed in a manner no longer always clear to us. But the
to or
for meaning seen in
μανθάνειν ἥκομεν we have come to learn (
for learning) can also be discerned in
δύναμαι ἰδεῖν I have power for seeing, then
I can see. Cp.
2000,
2006 a. As early as Homer, when the datival meaning had been in part obscured, the infinitive was employed as nominative (as subject) and accusative (as object). After Homer, the infinitive came to be used with the neuter article, the substantive idea thus gaining in definiteness. The article must be used when the infinitive stands as an object in the genitive or dative, and when it depends on prepositions.
[*] 1970. The infinitive is used as subject, as predicate, and to supplement the meaning of words and clauses.
[*] 1971. The negative of the infinitive is
μή; but
οὐ, used with a finite mood in direct discourse, is retained when that mood becomes infinitive in indirect discourse. Sometimes, however,
μή is used in place of this
οὐ (2723 ff.).
SUBJECT AND PREDICATE NOUN WITH THE INFINITIVE
[*] 1972. In general the subject of the infinitive, if expressed at all, stands in the accusative; when the subject of the infinitive is the same as the subject or object of the governing verb, or when it has already been made known in the sentence, it is not repeated with the infinitive.
[*] 1973. When the subject of the infinitive is the same as that of the governing verb, it is omitted, and a predicate noun stands in the nominative case.
““
οἶμαι εἰδέναι”
I think that I know”
P. Pr. 312e, ““
Πέρσης ἔφη εἶναι”
he said he was a Persian”
X. A. 4.4.17, ““
ἐγὼ οὐχ ὁμολογήσω ἄκλητος ἥκειν”
I shall not admit that I have come uninvited”
P. S. 174d,
ὁμολογεῖς περὶ ἐμὲ ἄδικος γεγενῆσθαι;
do you admit that you have been guilty as regards me? X. A. 1.6.8 (cp.
4.2.27 in
2263).
a. The nominative is used when the infinitive, expressing some action or state of the subject of the main verb, has the article in an oblique case. Thus,
τούτων ἀξιωθεὶς διὰ τὸ πατρικὸς αὐτῷ φίλος εί̂ναι justifying these requests
on the ground that he was his hereditary friend Aes. 3.52, ““
τοῦτο δ᾽ ἐποίει ἐκ τοῦ χαλεπὸς εἶναι”
this he effected by reason of his being severe”
X. A. 2.6.9,
ἐπὶ τῷ ὁμοῖοι τοῖς λειπομένοις εἶναι ἐκπέμπονται (colonists)
are sent out to be the equals of those who stay at home T. 1.34.
b. The nominative stands usually in sentences with
δεῖν, χρῆναι etc., dependent on a verb of saying or thinking. Thus, ““
ἡγούμην . . . περιεῖναι δεῖν αὐτῶν καὶ μεγαλοψυ_χότερος φαίνεσθαι”
I thought I ought to surpass them and to show myself more magnificent”
D. 19.235. Here
ἡγούμην δεῖν is equivalent to
I thought it proper.
c. When the governing verb is a participle in an oblique case, a predicate noun usually agrees with the participle, and rarely stands in the nominative. Thus, ““
ἀπαλλαγεὶς τούτων τῶν φασκόντων δικαστῶν εἶναι”
being rid of those who profess to be judges”
P. A. 41a, ““
τὰ_ς ἀρχὰ_ς δίδωσι . . . τοῖς ἀεὶ δόξα_σιν ἀρίστοις εἶναι”
it dispenses the offices to those who always seem to be the most deserving”
P. Menex. 238d.
[*] 1974. A pronoun subject of the infinitive, if (wholly or partially) identical with the subject of the main verb, is generally expressed when emphatic, and stands in the accusative (cases of the nominative are rare and suspected); but the indirect reflexive
σφεῖς stands in the nominative or accusative.
““
οἶμαι ἐμὲ πλείω χρήματα εἰργάσθαι ἢ ἄλλους σύνδυο”
I think I have made more money than any two others together”
P. Hipp. M. 282e,
ἡγησάμενος ἐμαυτὸν ἐπιεικέστερον εἶναι (emphatic for
ἡγησάμενος ἐπιεικέστερος εἶναι)
deeming myself to be too honest P. A. 36b, ““
τοὺς δὲ Θηβαίους ἡγεῖτο . . . ἐά_σειν ὅπως βούλεται πρά_ττειν ἑαυτόν”
he thought the Thebans would let him have his own way”
D. 6.9,
οὐ σφεῖς ἀδικεῖσθαι, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκείνους μᾶλλον he said
that not they (the speaker and the other Lacedaemonians),
but they (the Toroneans)
rather had been wronged 4. 114 (but
σφᾶς in 1228 b).
a. After a preceding accusative with the infinitive, a second pronoun referring to a different person, and also subject of an infinitive, must also stand in the accusative whether or not it denotes the same person as the subject of the governing verb. Thus,
ἀλλὰ νομίζεις ἡμᾶς μὲν ἀνέξεσθαί σου, αὐτὸς (see below)
δὲ τυπήσειν; καὶ ἡμᾶς μὲν ἀποψηφιεῖσθαί σου, δὲ (
not σὺ)
δ᾽ ου᾽ παύσεσθαι but do you think that we are going to put up with you, while you strike us yourself? and that we are going to acquit you, while you will not cease your outrageous conduct?
D. 21.204.
αὐτός, above and in
Κλέων οὐκ ἔφη αὐτός, ἀλλ᾽ ἐκεῖνον στρατηγεῖν Cleon said that not he himself, but that Nicias
was in command T. 4.28, is not the expressed subject of the infinitive, but
αὐτός of direct discourse (
αὐτὸς τυπήσεις, αὐτὸς οὐ στρατηγῶ); hence
αὐτός is
not used here for
σεαυτόν (
ἑαυτόν).
[*] 1975. When the subject of the infinitive is different from that of the governing verb, it stands in the accusative; and a predicate noun stands also in the accusative.
““
νομίζω γὰρ ὑ_μᾶς ἐμοὶ εἶναι καὶ πατρίδα καὶ φίλους”
for I think you are to me both fatherland and friends”
X. A. 1.3.6, ““
τὸν γὰρ καλὸν κἀ_γαθὸν ἄνδρα εὐδαίμονα εἶναί φημι”
for I maintain that the noble and good man is happy”
P. G. 470e.
[*] 1976. A predicate noun takes the case of the subject of an infinitive itself dependent on a subjectless infinitive. Thus, ““
ἡμῖν δὲ ποιοῦσι δοκεῖν σφᾶς παντοδαποὺς φαίνεσθαι”
they manage it so that they seem to us to appear in various forms”
P. R. 381e.
[*] 1977. Several infinitives may be used in succession, one infinitive being the subject of another: ““
περὶ πολλοῦ ποιούμενος μηδενὶ δόξαι ὑβρίζειν βούλεσθαι”
regarding it of great importance not to seem to any one to wish to behave outrageously”
L. 23.5.
[*] 1978. When the subject of the infinitive is the same as the
object (in the genitive or dative) of the governing verb, it is often omitted, and a predicate noun is either attracted into the genitive or dative, or stands in the accusative in agreement with the omitted subject of the infinitive. See
1060-1062.
ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν ἀγαθοῖς εἶναι or
ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν ἀγαθοὺς εἶναι it is in our power to be good (lit.
to be good is possible for us). Thus,
δεόμεθ᾽ οὖν ὑ_μῶν . . . ἀκροά_σασθαι τῶν λεγομένων, ἐνθυ_μηθέντας ὅτι κτλ.
we ask you therefore to listen to what is said,
considering that, etc. 1. 14. 6. Cp.
νῦν σοι ἔξεστιν ἀνδρὶ γενέσθαι quoted in 1062 with ““
Λακεδαιμονίοις ἔξεστιν ὑ_μῖν φίλους γενέσθαι”
it is in your power to become friends to the Lacedaemonians”
T. 4.29. The latter construction may be explained as abbreviated for
ἔξεστιν ὑ_μῖν (
ὑ_μᾶς)
φίλους γενέσθαι.
[*] 1979. The subject of the infinitive is often retained when it is the same as the (omitted) oblique object of the governing verb. Thus, ““
παρήγγειλε τὰ ὅπλα τίθεσθαι τοὺς Ἕλληνας”
he issued orders that the Greeks should get under arms”
X. A. 2.2.21.
[*] 1980. An indefinite or general subject of the infinitive (
τινά, τινάς, ἀνθρώπους) is commonly omitted; and a predicate noun stands in the accusative. Thus,
φιλάνθρωπον εἶναι δεῖ one (
τινά)
must be humane I. 2.15 (cp.
1984),
ῥᾷον παραινεῖν ἢ παθόντα καρτερεῖν it is easier for a man
to give advice than to endure suffering Men. Sent. 471, ““
δρῶντας γὰρ ἢ μὴ δρῶντας ἥδι_ον θανεῖν”
for it is preferable to die in action rather than doing nothing”
E. Hel. 814.
[*] 1981. The construction of the accusative with the infinitive seems to have originated from the employment of the infinitive to complement the meaning of transitive verbs; as in
κελεύω σε ἀπελθεῖν I command you to depart. Here the accusative was separated from the transitive verb and felt to be the independent subject of the infinitive (
I command that you depart). Gradually the accusative with the infinitive was used even after verbs incapable of taking an object-accusative.
PERSONAL AND IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTION
[*] 1982. Instead of an impersonal passive verb with the accusative and infinitive as subject, Greek often uses the personal passive construction, the accusative becoming the nominative, subject to the leading verb.
Thus,
Κῦρος ἠγγέλθη νι_κῆσαι Cyrus was reported to have conquered instead of
ἠγγέλθη Κῦρον νι_κῆσαι it was reported that Cyrus had conquered, and
δίκαιός εἰμι ἀπελθεῖν I am justified in going away instead of
δίκαιόν ἐστιν ἐμὲ ἀπελθεῖν it is right for me to go away. English sometimes has to use the impersonal construction in place of the Greek personal construction (cp.
2107).
a. The personal construction is more common with
λέγεται, ἀγγέλλεται, ὁμολογεῖται and other passive verbs of saying (regular with passive verbs of
thinking); with
συμβαίνει it happens; with
ἀναγκαῖος necessary,
ἄξιος worthy,
δίκαιος just,
δυνατός possible,
ἐπιτήδειος fit, etc., followed by a form of
εἶναι, instead of
ἀναγκαῖον, ἄξιον, etc. Thus, ““
ὁ Ἀσσύριος εἰς τὴν χώρα_ν αὐτοῦ ἐμβαλεῖν ἀγγέλλεται”
the Assyrian is reported to be about to make an incursion into his country”
X. C. 5.3.30, ““
πολλή τις ἀλογία_ ξυμβαίνει γίγνεσθαι”
much absurdity would result”
P. Phil. 55a, ““
δίκαιος εἶ εἰπεῖν”
it is right for you to speak”
P. S. 214c, ““
τὴν αἰτία_ν οὗτός ἐστι δίκαιος ἔχειν”
it is right for him to bear the blame”
D. 18.4. Both constructions together:
σοὶ γὰρ δὴ λέγεται πάνυ γε τεθεραπεῦσθαι ὁ Ἀπόλλων, καί σε πάντα ἐκείνῳ πειθόμενον πρἀ_ττειν for Apollo is said to have been greatly served by you, and (it is said)
that you do everything in obedience to him X. C. 7.2.15. Cp.
2104.
N.—
δῆλός ἐστι and
φανερός ἐστι take
ὅτι or the participle (
2107);
δῆλόν ἐστι and
φανερόν ἐστι take
ὅτι, not the infinitive.
[*] 1983. The personal constructions
δοκῶ, ἔοικα (2089 c),
δέω are regular instead of
δοκεῖ, ἔοικε it seems,
δεῖ it lacks (much or little). So with
φαίνομαι for
φαίνεται.
““
δοκῶ γάρ μοι ἄδυνατος εἶναι”
for I seem to be unable”
P. R. 368b, ““
δοκοῦμέν μοι καθῆσθαι”
it seems to me that we are encamped”
X. A. 1.3.12, ““
νῦν γε ἡμῶν ἔοικας βασιλεὺς εἶναι”
now at least you seem to be our king”
X. C. 1.4.6, ““
πολλοῦ δέω ἐγὼ ὑπὲρ ἐμαυτοῦ ἀπολογεῖσθαι”
I am far from speaking in my own defence”
P. A. 30d,
μι_κροῦ ἐδέησεν Κύπρον ἅπα_σαν κατασχεῖν he almost (lacked a little)
occupied the whole of Cyprus I. 9.62, ““
εὖ σὺ λέγειν φαίνει”
you seem to speak well”
Ar. Nub. 403.
a. δοκεῖ μοί τινα ἐλθεῖν for
δοκεῖ τίς μοι ἐλθεῖν it seems to me that some one came is very rare.
δοκεῖ meaning
it seems good, it is decreed always takes the infinitive (
1984,
1991).
δοκῶ believe has the construction of 1992 c. Cp.
1998.
THE INFINITIVE WITHOUT THE ARTICLE: AS SUBJECT, PREDICATE, AND APPOSITIVE
[*] 1984.
As Subject.—The infinitive may be used as subject, especially with quasi-impersonal verbs and expressions (933 a).
““
γράμματα μαθεῖν δεῖ”
to learn to read is necessary”
Men. Sent. 96,
τί χρὴ ποιεῖν;
what must be done? X. A. 2.1.16,
κόσμος (
ἐστὶ) ““
καλῶς τοῦτο δρᾶν”
to perform this well is a credit”
T. 1.5,
πᾶσιν ἁδεῖν χαλεπόν (
ἐστι)
to please everybody is difficult Solon 7, ““
ἔδοξεν αὐτοῖς προϊέναι”
it seemed best to them to proceed”
X. A. 2.1.2, ““
συμφέρει αὐτοῖς φίλους εἶναι”
it is for their interest to be friends”
X. O. 11.23. Cp.
1062,
1978.
[*] 1985. Such quasi-impersonal verbs and expressions are
δεῖ it is necessary,
χρή (properly a substantive with
ἐστί omitted,
793)
it is necessary,
δοκεῖ it seems good,
ἔστι it is possible,
ἔξεστι it is in one's power,
οἷόν τέ ἐστι it is possible,
πρέπει and
προσήκει it is fitting,
συμβαίνει it happens; and many expressions formed by
ἐστί and a predicate noun, as
ἄξιον it is right,
δίκαιον it is just,
ἀναγ- καῖον it is necessary,
δυνατόν it is possible,
ἀδύνατον (or
ἀδύνατα)
it is impossible,
αἰσχρόν it is disgraceful,
καλόν it is honourable,
ὥρα_ and
καιρός it is time. With the last two expressions the old dative use of the infinitive is clear: ““
ὥρα_ βουλεύεσθαι”
it is time for considering”
P. Soph. 241b.
a. On the personal
ἄξιός εἰμι, δίκαιός εἰμι, δοκῶ, see
1982. For
δεῖ με τοῦτο λέγειν we find the personal
δέομαι τοῦτο λέγειν. Note the attraction in ““
τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἐνόντων εἰπεῖν”
the number of the things it is possible to mention”
I. 5.110 (for
τούτων ἃ ἔνεστιν).
b. δεῖ and
χρή regularly take the accusative and infinitive (cp.
1562);
ἀνάγκη it is necessary takes the accusative or dative with the infinitive.
c. The subject of the infinitive is expressed or omitted according to the sense.
d. Homer shows only the beginnings of the use of the infinitive as a real subject, i.e. not a
grammatical subject, as in 1984.
[*] 1986.
As Predicate.—In definitions the infinitive may be used as a predicate noun with
ἐστί.
““
τὸ γὰρ γνῶναι ἐπιστήμην λαβεῖν ἐστιν”
for to learn is to get knowledge”
P. Th. 209e.
[*] 1987.
As an Appositive.—The infinitive may stand in apposition to a preceding substantive, pronoun, or adverb.
εἷς οἰωνὸς ἄριστος, ἀμύ_νεσθαι περὶ πάτρης one omen is best, to fight for our country M 243,
εἶπον . . . τοῦτο μόνον ὁρᾶν πάντας, τῷ πρόσθεν ἕπεσθαι I told all to pay heed to this only, viz.,
to follow their leader X. C. 2.2.8,
καὶ ὑ_μᾶς δὲ οὕτως, ὦ παῖδες, . . . ἐπαίδευον, τοὺς μὲν γεραιτέρους προτι_μᾶν, τῶν δὲ νεωτέρων προτετι_μῆσθαι and I have instructed you, too,
my children (
to this effect)
to honour your elders in preference to yourselves and to receive honour from the younger in preference to them X. C. 8.7.10.
[*] 1988. The infinitive not in indirect discourse, and in indirect discourse, is often used as the object of a verb.
THE INFINITIVE NOT IN INDIRECT DISCOURSE
[*] 1989. The infinitive as object not in indirect discourse is used after almost any verb that requires another verb to complete its meaning. The tenses of this infinitive are timeless, and denote only stage of action.
[*] 1990. The infinitive may be the only expressed object, or it may be one of two expressed objects, of the leading verb.
““
παίδευσις καλὴ διδάσκει χρῆσθαι νόμοις”
a good education teaches obedience to the laws”
X. Ven. 12.14, ““
διαγιγνώσκειν σε τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς καὶ τοὺς κακοὺς ἐδίδαξεν”
he taught you to distinguish the good and the bad”
X. M. 3.1.9.
a. Verbs signifying
to ask, bid,
forbid,
permit,
teach, etc., allow an infinitive as one of two objects.
b. Many verbal expressions, formed by a substantive and a verb, take the infinitive. Thus,
τοὺς ἄλλους διδάσκειν τέχνην ἔχουσιν they possess the skill to teach (
the)
others I. 16.11. Cp.
2000.
A. Object Infinitive after Verbs of Will or Desire
[*] 1991.
Verbs of will or desire (and their opposites) are often followed by an infinitive. The infinitive with a subject accusative denotes that something
should (
may)
be or
be done. The negative is
μή (see
2719-
2721).
““
ἤθελον αὐτοῦ ἀκούειν”
they were willing to listen to him”
X. A. 2.6.11, ““
ἐβουλεύοντο ἐκλιπεῖν τὴν πόλιν”
they planned to leave the city”
Hdt. 6.100, ““
τὰ ἥδιστα . . . ζητεῖ ποιεῖν”
he seeks to do what he likes best”
X. M. 4.5.11, ““
βασιλεὺς ἀξιοῖ σὲ ἀποπλεῖν”
the king asks that you sail away”
X. H. 3.4.25,
ἱ_κέτευε μὴ ἀποκτεῖναι he entreated that they
should not put him (self)
to death L. 1.25,
πέμπουσιν . . . στρατεύεσθαι ἐπὶ Κα_ρία_ν they send orders
that he shall march upon Caria X. H. 3.1.7, ““
ἔδοξε πλεῖν τὸν Ἀλκιβιάδην”
it was decided that Alcibiades should sail”
T. 6.29.
a. Verbs of will or desire with an accusative subject of the infinitive form one of the classes of substantive clauses introduced in English by that, though the infinitive in English is often more idiomatic.
[*] 1992. Of verbs of will or desire that take the infinitive some have an object
a. In the accusative (or are intransitive),
e.g.: αἱροῦμαι choose,
αἰτῶ, αἰτοῦμαι ask,
ἀξιῶ claim,
ask,
βουλεύομαι resolve,
βούλομαι wish,
will,
δικαιῶ deem right,
διανοοῦμαι intend,
ἐθέλω (poet.
θέλω),
wish,
will,
εἴωθα am wont to,
ἐπιχειρῶ attempt,
ἐῶ permit,
ζητῶ seek,
κελεύω command,
suggest,
invite,
μέλλω delay,
πειρῶμαι try,
πέμπω send,
προθυ_μοῦμαι am zealous,
προκαλοῦμαι invite,
προτρέπω urge,
σπεύδω hasten,
am eager,
σπουδάζω am eager,
τολμῶ dare,
φιλῶ am wont to,
ψηφίζομαι vote.
b. In the genitive,
e.g.: δέομαι ask,
ἐπιθυ_μῶ and
ὀρέγομαι desire.
c. In the dative,
e.g.: εὔχομαι pray,
παραγγέλλω and
προστάττω command,
ἐπιβουλεύω purpose,
συμβουλεύω advise,
ἐπιτρέπω and
συγχωρῶ permit,
παραινῶ exhort,
δοκῶ μοι I have a mind to; and
λέγω, εἶπον, φωνῶ, φράζω tell (and
βοῶ shout) in the sense of
command.
N.—
πείθω urge to a course of action, takes the infinitive,
πείθω convince generally has
ὡς, rarely the accusative with the infinitive. Thus, ““
ἔπειθεν αὐτὸν καθ᾽ αὑτὸν πορεύεσθαι”
he urged him to go by himself”
X. A. 6.2.13, ““
οὐ γὰρ πείσονται οἱ πολλοί, ὡς σὺ αὐτὸς οὐκ ἠθέλησας ἀπιέναι”
for most people will not be convinced that of your own free will you did not desire to go away”
P. Cr. 44c (infinitive
X. M. 1.1.20).
[*] 1993. Verbs of will or desire
not to do anything are
e.g.: δέδοικα, φοβοῦμαι fear,
φεύγω avoid,
ὀκνῶ scruple,
αἰσχύ_νομαι, αἰδοῦμαι (
2126)
feel shame to,
ἀπαγορεύω forbid,
κωλύ_ω hinder,
ἀπέχομαι abstain from,
εὐλαβοῦμαι, φυλάττομαι beware of. Thus, ““
φοβοῦμαι διελέγχειν σε”
I fear to refute you”
P. G. 457e, ““
αἰσχύ_νομαι ὑ_μῖν εἰπεῖν τἀ_ληθῆ”
I am ashamed to tell you the truth”
P. A. 22b.
[*] 1994. Under verbs of will or desire are included verbs expressing an activity to the end that something shall or shall not be done. Thus,
δίδωμι offer,
give,
διαμάχομαι struggle against,
ποιῶ, διαπρά_ττομαι, κατεργάζομαι manage,
effect,
παρέχω offer (others in 1992,
1993).
[*] 1995. Several verbs of will or desire take
ὅπως with the future or the subjunctive (verbs of effort, 2211,
2214); or
μή with the subjunctive (verbs of fear,
2225); some take the participle (2123 ff.).
[*] 1996. The infinitive may be used with the
a. Genitive or dative when the expression of desire is addressed
to a person and the genitive or dative depends on the leading verb. Here the sentence is simple. Thus, ““
δέομαι ὑ_μῶν . . . τὰ δίκαια ψηφίσασθαι”
I ask you to render a just verdict”
I. 19.51, ““
τοῖς ἄλλοις πᾶσι παρήγγελλεν ἐξοπλίζεσθαι”
he ordered all the rest to arm themselves”
X. A. 1.8.3.
b. Accusative when the action
of a person is desired (example in
1979). Such sentences are complex.
N.—Verbs of commanding allow either
a or
b; but only
κελεύω with the accusative permits either meaning:
κελεύω σὲ ταῦτα μὴ ποιει_ν I tell you not to do this and
I command that you shall not do this. Cp.
1981.
[*] 1997. Several verbs signifying
to say are also used as verbs of will and then mean
command. The agent commanded usually stands in the accusative subject of the infinitive. So with
λέγω, εἶπον, φράζω, φωνῶ. Thus ““
λέγω σ᾽ ἐγὼ δόλῳ Φιλοκτήτην λαβεῖν”
I say that thou shalt take Philoctetes by craft”
S. Ph. 101, ““
τούτοις ἔλεγον πλεῖν”
I told them that they should sail”
D. 19.150, ““
πάντες ἔλεγον τοὺς τούτων ἄρξαντας δοῦναι δίκην”
all said that the ringleaders should suffer punishment”
X. A. 5.7.34,
εἶπον τὴν θύρα_ν κεκλεῖσθαι they commanded that the door should be shut (and stay shut)
X. H. 5.4.7,
βασιλεὺς ἔγραψε πά_σα_ς τὰ_ς ἐν τῇ Ἑλλάδι πόλεις αὐτονόμους εἶναι the king issued a written order that all the cities in Greece should be independent (not:
wrote that they were independent)
X. H. 6.3.12.
a. The agent may stand in the dative as ““
χαλᾶν λέγω σοι”
I bid thee let go”
S. O. C. 840.
[*] 1998. The present and aorist infinitive (both timeless) are the usual tenses of the infinitive after verbs of will or desire (see
1869). The perfect is rare; as
εἶπον τὴν θύρα_ν κεκλεῖσθαι (
1997).
δοκῶ and
δοκῶ μοι signifying
I have a mind to or
I am determined to take the present or aorist like ““
δοκεῖ: τὸν ὄνον ἐξάγειν δοκῶ”
I have a mind to bring out the ass”
Ar. Vesp. 177,
ἐγὼ οὖν μοι δοκῶ . . . ὑφηγήσασθαι κτλ.
now I have a mind to show, etc.
P. Eu. 288c. Cp. 1983 a. When it is clearly denoted that the action resolved on is to follow without delay the future is used; as in ““
ἀλλά μοι δοκῶ . . . οὐ πείσεσθαι αὐτῷ”
but I am determined that I will not accept his opinion”
P. Th. 183d.
a. Some verbs, as
κελεύω, which might be held to introduce indirect discourse, are classed under ver<*>s of
will or
desire, because, like these verbs, they do not regularly take the future infinitive; and because, unlike verbs of saying and thinking (which admit
all the tenses of the infinitive) they introduce infinitives which do not show differences of time. The future infinitive does not express a command. For a few cases of the future after verbs of will or desire, see
1869.
[*] 1999. Verbs signifying
to hope, expect,
promise,
threaten , and
swear, when followed by the aorist (less often the present) infinitive (
1868), have the construction of verbs of will or desire. When such verbs take the future infinitive they have the construction of indirect discourse.
B. Infinitive after Other Verbs
[*] 2000. The infinitive follows many verbs, especially such as denote
ability,
fitness,
necessity, etc. (and their opposites).
““
οὐκέτι ἐδύνατο . . . βιοτεύειν”
he was no longer able to live”
T. 1.130, ““
νεῖν ἐπιστάμενος”
knowing how to swim”
X. A. 5.7.25, ““
πεφύ_κα_σί τε ἅπαντες . . . ἁμαρτάνειν”
and all men are by nature prone to err”
T. 3.45, ““
μανθάνουσιν ἄρχειν τε καὶ ἄρχεσθαι”
they learn how to govern and be governed”
X. A. 1.9.4; also after the impersonals of 1985.
a. ἔχω I can is derived from the meaning
I have especially with a verb of saying. Thus, ““
Διὸς πλα_γὰ_ν ἔχουσιν εἰπεῖν”
they can proclaim a stroke of Zeus”
A. Ag. 367.
C. Infinitive after Adjectives, Adverbs, and Substantives
[*] 2001. The infinitive serves to define the meaning of adjectives, adverbs, and substantives, especially those denoting
ability,
fitness,
capacity, etc. (and their opposites), and generally those analogous in meaning to verbs which take the infinitive (
2000). Here the datival meaning (
purpose,
destination) is often apparent. Cp.
1969.
[*] 2002.
Adjectives and Adverbs.—““
ἱκανοὶ ἡμᾶς ὠφελεῖν”
able to assist us”
X. A. 3.3.18, ““
δεινὸς λέγειν, κακὸς βιῶναι”
skilled in speaking, evil in life”
Aes. 3.174, ““
οἷοι φιλεῖν”
able to love”
D. 25.2, ““
ἕτοιμοί εἰσι μάχεσθαι”
they are ready to fight”
X. C. 4.1.1, ““
ἄρχειν ἀξιώτατος”
most worthy to govern”
X. A. 1.9.1,
ὁδὸς . . . ἀμήχανος εἰσελθεῖν στρατεύματι a road impracticable for an army to enter 1. 2. 21,
χαλεπὸν διαβαίνειν hard to cross 5. 6. 9, ““
ἐπινοῆσαι ὀξεῖς”
quick to conceive”
T. 1.70. So also after
ῥᾴδιος easy,
ἡδύς pleasant,
δίκαιος just,
ἀναγκαῖος necessary,
ἐπιτήδειος suitable,
ἀγαθός good,
αἴτιος responsible for,
μαλακός incapable of; cp.
ὀλίγος 1063. After adverbs: ““
κάλλιστα ἰδεῖν”
most splendid to behold”
X. C. 8.3.5.
a. Some of these adjectives take the infinitive by analogy to the related verbs, as
πρόθυ_μος zealous (
προθυ_μοῦμαι),
ἐπιστήμων knowing how (
ἐπίσταμαι).
[*] 2003.
οἷος fit,
ὅσος sufficient take the infinitive like the fuller expressions
τοιοῦτος οἷος, τοσοῦτος ὅσος. Thus, ““
οὐ γὰρ ἦν ὥρα_ οἵα_ τὸ πεδίον ἄρδειν”
for it was not the proper season to irrigate the plain”
X. A. 2.3.13, ““
ὅσον ἀποζῆν”
sufficient to live off of”
T. 1.2, ““
τοιοῦτος οἷος . . . πείθεσθαι”
the kind of a man to be convinced”
P. Cr. 46b. On
τοσοῦτος ὥστε (
ὡς) see
2263. Hom. has the infinitive after
τοῖος, τόσος, etc.
[*] 2004.
Substantives.—As, ““
οἱ παῖδες ὑ_μῖν ὀλίγου ἡλικία_ν ἔχουσι παιδεύεσθαι”
your children are almost of an age to be educated”
P. Lach. 187c. With
ἐστί omitted: ““
σχολή γε ἡμῖν μανθάνειν”
we have leisure to learn”
X. C. 4.3.12, ““
ἀνάγκη πείθεσθαι”
there is need to obey”
X. H. 1.6.8, ““
περαίνειν ἤδη ὥρα_”
it is high time to finish”
X. A. 3.2.32. Cp.
1985.
[*] 2005. The infinitive is added, like an accusative of respect (
1601,
1602), to intransitive verbs (especially in poetry), to adjectives (more frequently in poetry), and to substantives (rarely). Thus,
τοῖος ἰδεῖν such in aspect (lit.
to look on) Theognis 216, ““
ὁρᾶν στυγνός”
of a repulsive expression”
X. A. 2.6.9,
ἀκοῦ- ““
σαι παγκάλως ἔχει”
it is very fine to hear”
D. 19.47, ““
θαῦμα καὶ ἀκοῦσαι”
a marvel even to hear of”
P. L. 656d.
[*] 2006. The infinitive limiting the meaning of an adjective is commonly active (or middle) in cases where the passive is more natural in English. Thus, ““
λόγος δυνατὸς κατανοῆσαι”
a speech capable of being understood”
P. Ph. 90c, ““
ἄξιος θαυμάσαι”
worthy to be admired”
T. 1.138 (but
ἄξιος θαυμάζεσθαι X. C. 5.1.6).
a. The active use is due to the old datival function of the infinitive:
δυνατὸς κατανοῆσαι capable for understanding.
[*] 2007. The infinitive, with or without
ὥστε or
ὡς, may be used with
ἤ than after comparatives, depending on an (implied) idea of
ability or
inability.
ἢ ὥστε is more common than
ἤ or
ἢ ὡς. Cp.
2264.
““
τὸ γὰρ νόσημα μεῖζον ἢ φέρειν”
for the disease is too great to be borne”
S. O. T. 1293, ““
φοβοῦμαι μή τι μεῖζον ἢ ὥστε φέρειν δύνασθαι κακὸν τῇ πόλει συμβῇ”
I fear lest some calamity befall the State greater than it can bear”
X. M. 3.5.17, ““
βραχύτερα ἢ ὡς ἐξικνεῖσθαι”
too short to reach”
X. A. 3.3.7.
a. The force of
ἢ ὥστε may be expressed by the genitive; as,
κρεῖσσον λόγου (
T. 2.50) =
κρεῖσσον ἢ ὥστε λέγεσθαι. Cp.
1077.
b. Words implying a comparison may take the infinitive with
ὥστε or
ὡς (
1063).
D. Infinitive of Purpose and Result
[*] 2008.
Infinitive of Purpose.—The infinitive may express purpose (usually only with verbs taking the accusative).
““
ταύτην τὴν χώρα_ν ἐπέτρεψε διαρπάσαι τοῖς Ἕλλησιν”
he gave this land over to the Greeks to plunder”
X. A. 1.2.19,
τὸ ἥμισυ (
τοῦ στρατεύματος)
κατέλιπε φυλάττειν τὸ στρατόπεδον he left half (
of the army)
behind to guard the camp 5. 2. 1,
ἰέναι ἐπὶ βασιλέα_ οὐκ ἐγίγνετο τὰ ἱερά the sacrifices did not turn out (favourable)
for going against the king 2. 2. 3, ““
Ἀριστάρχῳ . . . ἔδοτε ἡμέρα_ν ἀπολογήσασθαι”
you granted a day to Aristarchus to make his defence”
X. H. 1.7.28,
ἡ θύρα_ ἡ ἐμὴ ἀνέῳκτο . . . εἰσιέναι τῷ δεομένῳ τι ἐμοῦ my door stood open for any petitioner of mine to enter 5. 1. 14, ““
παρέχω ἐμαυτὸν ἐρωτᾶν”
I offer myself to be questioned”
P. A. 33b,
τὰ_ς γυναῖκας πιεῖν φερούσα_ς the women bringing (something)
to drink X. H. 7.2.9. Cp. also 2032 e.
[*] 2009. The infinitive of purpose is used in prose especially after verbs meaning
to give, entrust,
choose,
appoint,
take,
receive. Verbs signifying
to send,
go,
come usually take the future active participle (
2065); but
T. 6.50 has
δέκα τῶν νεῶν προύπεμψαν ἐς τὸν μέγαν λιμένα πλεῦσαι they sent ahead ten ships to sail into the great harbour; and in poetry the infinitive often denotes purpose after these verbs, and after
εἶναι in Homer (
Λ 20) and Hdt. (5.
25).
[*] 2010. After verbs meaning
to have (or
be)
at one's disposition: ““
οἱ στρατιῶται ἀργύριον οὐκ εἶχον ἐπισι_τίζεσθαι”
the soldiers did not have money by means of which they could provision themselves”
X. A. 7.1.7, ““
ἐκεῖ σκιά_ τ᾽ ἐστὶ καὶ πόα_ καθίζεσθαι”
there is shade and grass to sit down in”
P. Phae. 229b.
[*] 2011.
Infinitive of Result.—The infinitive may be used with
ὥστε (sometimes with
ὡς) to denote a result, often an intended result. See
2260 ff.
a. Several verbs, substantives, and adjectives usually taking the infinitive also admit
ὥστε with the infinitive (
2271); and the infinitive is found where
ὥστε with the infinitive might be expected:
μνημονεύουσιν ἀφεθέντα τοῦτον ἐλεύθερον εἶναι they recall that he was emancipated (lit.
released so as to be free)
D. 29.25. Here the redundant infinitive expresses an intended result.
N.—This redundant use of
εἶναι is common in Hom. and Hdt.
E. Absolute Infinitive
[*] 2012. Certain idiomatic infinitives are used absolutely in parenthetical phrases to limit the application of a single expression or of the entire sentence.
a. Verbs of Saying.—
ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν, ὡς εἰπεῖν so to speak, almost; (
ὡς)
ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν, ὡς συνελόντι (
1497)
εἰπεῖν, ὡς (
ἐν βραχεῖ or)
συντόμως εἰπεῖν to speak briefly,
concisely; ὡς ἐπὶ πᾶν εἰπεῖν, τὸ σύμπαν εἰπεῖν speaking generally; σχεδὸν εἰπεῖν so to say, almost (
paene dixerim);
σὺν θεῷ εἰπεῖν in God's name; and so
ὡς with
λέγειν, φράζειν, εἰρῆσθαι, as
ὡς ἐν τύπῳ εἰρῆσθαι in general. Examples:
ἀληθές γε ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν οὐδὲν εἰρήκα_σιν not one word of truth,
I may say, did they utter P. A. 17a,
ἀγαθὸν μὲν ἁπλῶς εἰπεῖν οὐδὲν γέγονε τῇ πόλει in a word the State gained no advantage Dinarchus 1.33.
b. ὡς (
ἔπος)
εἰπεῖν is often used to limit too strict an application of a general statement, especially
πᾶς or
οὐδείς. Thus,
πάντες ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν nearly every one,
οὐδεὶς ὡς ἔπος εἰπεῖν almost no one. It is thus used like
paene dixerim; rarely, like
ut ita dicam, to soften the strength of a metaphor.
c. Especially common is the absolute
εἶναι in
ἑκὼν willingly,
intentionally,
if you can help it, usually in negative or quasi-negative statements (
ἑκών may be inflected). Also in
τὸ κατὰ τοῦτον (
ἐπὶ τούτῳ)
εἶναι as far as he is concerned,
ὡς . . . εἶναι as far as . . . is concerned,
τὸ νῦν εἶναι at present. Examples: ““
οὐδὲ ξένοις ἑκὼν εἶναι γέλωτα παρέχεις”
nor do you intentionally cause strangers to laugh”
X. C. 2.2.15, ““
ἑκοῦσα εἶναι οὐκ ἀπολείπεται”
it is not willingly separated”
P. Phae. 252a,
τό γε ἐπ᾽ ἐκεῖνον εἶναι ἐσώθης (
ἄν)
so far, at least,
as it depended on him you would have been saved L. 13.58.
d. Other expressions:
ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν, ὡς ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν, ὡς ἐμοὶ κρῖναι as it seems to me,
in my opinion, (
ὡς)
εἰκάσαι to make a guess, (
ὡς)
συμβάλλειν to compare, (
ὡς)
ἀκοῦσαι to the ear,
ὡς ὑμομνῆσαι to recall the matter,
ὅσον γέ μ᾽ εἰδέναι as far as I know, etc.;
ὀλίγου δεῖν, μι_κροῦ δεῖν almost,
all but (
δεῖν may be omitted,
1399). Examples:
ὁ γὰρ Κτήσιππος ἔτυχε πόρρω καθεζόμενος τοῦ Κλεινίου, ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν for Ctesippus,
it seems to me, happened to be sitting at a distance from Clinias P. Eu. 274b, ““
μι_κροῦ δεῖν τρία τάλαντα”
almost three talents”
D. 27.29.
e. Some of these absolute infinitives may be explained by reference to the idea of purpose (
2008) or result. Thus,
συνελόντι εἰπεῖν for one compressing the matter
to speak (cp.
ut paucis dicam),
μι_κροῦ δεῖν so as to lack little. Others recall the adverbial accusative (
1606); cp.
ἐμοὶ δοκεῖν with
γνώμην ἐμήν.
F. Infinitive in Commands, Wishes, and Exclamations
[*] 2013.
Infinitive in Commands.—The infinitive may be used for the second person of the imperative. The person addressed is regarded as the subject. This infinitive is commoner in poetry than in prose (where it has a solemn or formal force).
θαρσῶν νῦν, Διόμηδες, ἐπὶ Τρώεσσι μάχεσθαι with good courage now,
Diomed,
fight against the Trojans E 124,
σὺ δέ, Κλεαρίδα_ . . . τὰ_ς πύλα_ς ἀνοίξα_ς ἐπεκθεῖν but do you,
Clearidas,
open the gates and sally forth T. 5.9.
a. This infinitive may be used in conjunction with an imperative: ““
ἀκούετε λεῴ: κατὰ τὰ πάτρια τοὺς χόας πί_νειν”
hear ye, good people! drink the Pitchers as our sires drank!”
Ar. Ach. 1000.
b. The infinitive for the third person of the imperative often occurs in legal language (laws, treaties, etc.), and does not necessarily depend on the principal verb. Thus, ““
ἔτη δὲ εἶναι τὰ_ς σπονδὰ_ς πεντήκοντα”
and the treaty shall continue for fifty years”
T. 5.18. In this construction the infinitive has the force of an infinitive dependent on
ἔδοξε (
it was voted that) or the like. So in medical language, as
πί_νειν δὲ ὕδωρ it is well for the patient
to drink water Hippocrates 1. 151.
c. The infinitive (with subject accusative) is rarely used for the third person of the imperative when there is an unconscious ellipsis of a word like
δός grant, or
εὔχομαι I pray. Thus,
τεύχεα συ_λήσα_ς φερέτω κοίλα_ς ἐπὶ νῆας, σῶμα δὲ οἴκαδ᾽ ἐμὸν δόμεναι πάλιν let him strip off my arms and carry them to the hollow ships,
but let him give back my body to my home H 78.
d. In negative commands (prohibitions)
μή with the infinitive is poetic and Ionic:
οἷς μὴ πελάζειν do not approach these ( =
μὴ πέλαζε)
A. Pr. 712, ““
μηδὲ καλεῖν πω ὄλβιον”
and do not call him happy yet”
Hdt. 1.32.
[*] 2014.
Infinitive in Wishes.—The infinitive with a subject accusative may be used in the sense of the optative of wish, usually with the same ellipsis as in 2013 c.
““
θεοὶ πολῖται, μή με δουλεία_ς τυχεῖν”
ye gods of my country, may bondage not be my lot!”
A. Sept. 253,
ὦ Ζεῦ, ἐκγενέσθαι μοι Ἀθηναίους τείσασθαι oh Zeus,
that it be granted to me to punish the Athenians! Hdt. 5.105 (cp.
ὦ Ζεῦ, δός με τείσασθαι μόρον πατρός oh Zeus,
grant that I may avenge my father's murder! A. Ch. 18). This construction is very rare in Attic prose: ““
τὸν κυνηγέτην ἔχοντα ἐξιέναι . . . ἐλαφρὰ_ν ἐσθῆτα”
the hunter should go forth in a light dress”
X. Ven. 6.11. Here no definite verb can be supplied.
a. The nominative with the infinitive (instead of the optative) after
αι᾽ γάρ occurs in Homer (
η 311,
ω 376).
[*] 2015.
Infinitive in Exclamations.—The infinitive is often used in exclamations of surprise or indignation. The subject stands in the accusative.
““
ἐμὲ παθεῖν τάδε”
that I should suffer this!”
A. Eum. 837, ““
τοιουτονὶ_ τρέφειν κύνα”
to keep a dog like that!”
Ar. Vesp. 835.
On the infinitive with
ἐφ᾽ ᾧ (
ἐφ᾽ ᾧτε) see
2279; with
πρίν, see
2453.
INFINITIVE AS OBJECT IN INDIRECT DISCOURSE
[*] 2016. The infinitive is used as the object of verbs of saying and thinking. Such infinitives denote both time and stage of action (cp.
1866).
a. The finite verb of a sentence placed in dependence on a verb of saying or thinking that requires the infinitive, becomes infinitive, which infinitive stands in the relation of a substantive as subject or object of the leading verb. Commonly as object: thus,
Κῦρος νι_κᾷ Cyrus is victorious, when made the object of
φησί he says, becomes a part of a new sentence
φησὶ Κῦρον νι_κᾶν, in which
Κῦρον νικᾶν is the object of
φησί. As subject, when the verb of saying is passive: thus, in
λέγεται Κῦρον νι_κᾶν, the last two words form the subject of
λέγεται.
[*] 2017.
Verbs of saying are e.g.: say
φημί, φάσκω, λέγω;
confess ὁμολογῶ;
promise ὑπισχνοῦμαι, ὑποδέχομαι, ἐπαγγέλλομαι, ὑφίσταμαι;
pretend προσποιοῦμαι;
swear ὄμνυ_μι;
deny ἀπαρνοῦμαι;
gainsay ἀντιλέγω;
dispute ἀμφισβητῶ, etc.
Some verbs of saying admit other constructions than the infinitive, and especially
ὅτι or
ὡς (
2579).
λέγω, εἶπον, φράζω, φωνῶ with
ὅτι or
ὡς mean
say, with the infinitive
command (
1997).
a. φημί say,
assert,
express the opinion that in classical Greek is almost always followed by the infinitive, but by
ὅτι very often in the later language.
φημὶ ὅτι occurs in
X. A. 7.1.5 (
φημὶ ὡς in
L. 7.19,
X. H. 6.3.7;
D. 4.48, 27. 19 by anacoluthon).
b. λέγω state (impart a fact) takes either the infinitive or
ὅτι or
ὡς. The infinitive occurs usually with the passive (
λέγεται, etc.) either in the personal or impersonal construction (1982 a). The active forms of
λέγω with the infinitive mean
command (
1997).
c. εἶπον said usually takes
ὅτι or
ὡς; with the infinitive, it commonly means
commanded (
1997). Cp. the double use of
told.
N.—
εἶπον meaning
said with the infinitive is rare, but occurs in good Attic prose:
And. 1.57, 80; Thuc. 7. 35; Lys. 10. 6, 10. 9, 10. 12; Xen. H. 1. 6. 7, 2. 2. 15, C. 5. 5. 24, S. 2. 13;
Is. 2.29; Lyc. 50;
Aes. 3.37, 3. 59; Dem. 15. 18; Plato, G. 473 a, 503 d, Lach. 192 b, Charm. 174 a, Hipp. Maj. 291 b, Pol. 263 c, 290 b, L. 654 a, Clitoph. 409 a, 410 b. In poetry this use is frequent.
[*] 2018.
Verbs of thinking almost always take the infinitive. Such are:
think ἡγοῦμαι, οἴομαι, δοκῶ, νομίζω;
hope ἐλπίζω;
suppose ὑπολαμβάνω;
suspect ὑποπτεύω;
guess εἰκάζω;
feel confident πιστεύω;
disbelieve ἀπιστῶ. The use of
ὡς is rare, while
ὅτι is very rare (
2580).
a. Verbs of perceiving sometimes take the infinitive by analogy to verbs of thinking; as
ἀκούω, αἰσθάνομαι, πυνθάνομαι (
2144).
[*] 2019. Each tense of direct discourse is retained (with its proper meaning as regards stage of action) when it becomes infinitive in indirect discourse; but an imperfect is represented by the present infinitive; a pluperfect, by the perfect infinitive. See
1866,
1867.
[*] 2020. An original
οὐ of direct discourse is generally, an original
μή is always, retained in indirect discourse. But in some cases
οὐ becomes
μή (2723 ff.).
[*] 2021. The infinitive is the subject of the passive of verbs of saying and thinking (1982 a). So with
δοκεῖ it seems,
φαίνεται it is plain, etc.
[*] 2022. The infinitive represents a finite verb after verbs of saying and thinking.
a. ““
εὖνοί φα_σιν εἶναι”
they assert that they are loyal”
L. 12.49,
οὐδεὶς ἔφασκεν γιγνώσκειν αὐτόν nobody said that he knew him 23. 3,
οἱ ἡγεμόνες οὔ φα_σιν (
2692) ““
εἶναι ἄλλην ὁδόν”
the guides say there is no other road”
X. A. 4.1.21, ““
πάντες ἐροῦσι τὸ λοιπὸν μηδὲν εἶναι κερδαλεώτερον τῆς ἀρετῆς”
everybody in time to come will say that there is nothing more profitable than bravery”
X. C. 7.1.18. Other examples 1867.
b. βασιλεὺς νι_κᾶν ἡγεῖται the king thinks he is victorious ( =
νι_κῶ, cp.
1887)
X. A. 2.1.11,
οἴομαι βέλτιστον εἶναι I think it is best 5. 1. 8,
ὑπώπτευον ἐπὶ βασιλέα_ ἰέναι they suspected that they were to go against the king 1. 3. 1, (
Σωκράτης) ““
τὸ ἀγνοεῖν ἑαυτὸν ἐγγυτάτω . . . μανία_ς ἐλογίζετο εἶναι”
Socrates was of the opinion that for a man not to know himself was very near to madness”
X. M. 3.9.6.
c. When a word of saying is expressed or implied in what precedes, several infinitives may be used where the indicative is employed in translation. So in the narration in
X. C. 1.3.5-6.
[*] 2023. The infinitive with
ἄν represents an indicative with
ἄν or a potential optative with
ἄν. See
1846,
1848,
1849,
2270.
[*] 2024. Verbs signifying
to hope, expect,
promise,
threaten , and
swear take the future infinitive in indirect discourse, and the aorist (less often the present) infinitive not in indirect discourse (like verbs of will or desire, 1868,
1999).
ἐλπίζω ταῦτα ποιήσειν I hope that I shall do this,
ἐλπίζω ταῦτα ποιῆσαι or
ποιεῖν I hope to do this.
THE INFINITIVE WITH THE ARTICLE (ARTICULAR INFINITIVE)
[*] 2025. The articular infinitive, while having the character of a substantive, retains the functions of a verb. In its older use the articular infinitive is a subject or object; the nearest approach to this use in Homer is ““
ἀνί_η καὶ τὸ φυλάσσειν”
to watch is also trouble”
υ 52. In the tragic poets the genitive and dative are rarely used; in the speeches in Thucydides and in Demosthenes all of its four cases appear with great frequency. The articular infinitive may take dependent clauses.
[*] 2026. The articular infinitive admits the constructions of an ordinary substantive.
Nom.
τὸ ποιεῖν making or
to make,
τὸ ποιήσειν, τὸ ποιῆσαι, τὸ πεποιηκέναι Gen.
τοῦ ποιεῖν of making,
τοῦ ποιήσειν, τοῦ ποιῆσαι, etc.
Dat.
τῷ ποιεῖν for making, by making,
τῷ ποιήσειν, τῷ ποιῆσαι, etc.
Acc.
τὸ ποιεῖν, τὸ ποιήσειν, τὸ ποιῆσαι, etc.
[*] 2027. The articular infinitive is treated as subject, predicate noun, and object like the simple infinitive (
1984-
1986).
[*] 2028. The negative of the articular infinitive is
μή.
[*] 2029. The articular infinitive may indicate time (after verbs of saying or thinking, 2034 g), or may be timeless.
[*] 2030. The articular infinitive is in general used like the infinitive without the article, and may take
ἄν; as regards its constructions it has the value of a substantive. The article is regularly used when the connection uniting the infinitive to another word has to be expressed by the genitive, the dative, or a preposition.
a. The articular infinitive is rarely used, like a true substantive, with the subjective genitive: ““
τό γ᾽ εὖ φρονεῖν αὐτῶν μι_μεῖσθε”
imitate at least their wisdom”
D. 19.269.
[*] 2031. NOMINATIVE OF THE ARTICULAR INFINITIVESubject (
1984): ““
νέοις τὸ σι_γᾶν κρεῖττόν ἐστι τοῦ λαλεῖν”
in the young silence is better than speech”
Men. Sent. 387, ““
τὸ Πελοποννησίους αὐτοῖς μὴ βοηθῆσαι παρέσχεν ὑ_μῖν . . . Σαμίων κόλασιν”
the fact that the Peloponnesians did not come to their assistance enabled you to punish the Samians”
T. 1.41.
[*] 2032. GENITIVE OF THE ARTICULAR INFINITIVEa. The genitive of the articular infinitive is used to limit the meaning of substantives, adjectives, and verbs.
b. Adnominal (
1290): ““
τοῦ πιεῖν ἐπιθυ_μίᾳ”
from desire to drink”
T. 7.84,
πρὸς τὴν πόλιν προσβαλόντες ἐς ἐλπίδα ἦλθον τοῦ ἑλεῖν they attacked the city and entertained hopes of taking it 2.56.
c. Partitive (
1306): ““
τοῦ θαρσεῖν τὸ πλεῖστον εἰληφότες”
having gained the greatest amount of courage”
T. 4.34. After comparatives (
1431):
τί οὖν ἐστιν . . . τοῦ τοῖς φίλοις ἀρήγειν κάλλι_ον;
what then is nobler than to help one's friends? X. C. 1.5.13.
d. After verbs: ““
ἐπέσχομεν τοῦ δακρύ_ειν”
we desisted from weeping”
P. Ph. 117e (cp.
1392).
e. Purpose (cp.
1408), often a negative purpose: ““
τοῦ μὴ τὰ δίκαια ποιεῖν”
in order not to do what was just”
D. 18.107, ““
ἐτειχίσθη Ἀταλάντη . . . τοῦ μὴ λῃστὰ_ς . . . κακουργεῖν τὴν Εὔβοιαν”
Atalante was fortified to prevent pirates from ravaging Euboea”
T. 2.32. More common is the use with
ὑπέρ (2032 g) or
ἕνεκα.
f. Genitive Absolute (
2070):
ἐπ᾽ ἐκείνοις δὲ ὄντος αἰεὶ τοῦ ἐπιχειρεῖν καὶ ἐφ᾽ ἡμῖν εἶναι δεῖ τὸ προαμύ_νασθαι since the power of
attack is always in their hands, so in our hands should lie the power of
repelling it in advance T. 3.12.
g. After prepositions, e.g.
ἀντὶ τοῦ ἐπὶ Κα_ρία_ν ἰέναι . . . ἐπὶ Φρυγία_ς ἐπορεύετο instead of going against Caria,
he marched toward Phrygia X. H. 3.4.12, ““
ἄνευ τοῦ σωφρονεῖν”
without exercising self-control”
X. M. 4.3.1. To express purpose the genitive with
ὑπέρ is very common: ““
ὑπὲρ τοῦ τούτων γενέσθαι κύ_ριος . . . πάντα πρα_γματεύεται”
he devotes his every effort that he may become master of these”
D. 8.45,
ὑπὲρ τοῦ μὴ τὸ κελευόμενον ποιῆσαι in order not to do what was commanded 18. 204. Furthermore, after
ἀπό, πρό, διά, μετά, περί, ὑπό, ἕνεκα, χάριν, χωρίς, πλήν, μέχρι; and after adverbs. In Hdt.
τοῦ may be omitted after
ἀντί.
[*] 2033. DATIVE OF THE ARTICULAR INFINITIVEa. With verbs, adjectives, and adverbs: thus, ““
ἵνα . . . ἀπιστῶσι τῷ ἐμὲ τετι_μῆσθαι ὑπὸ δαιμόνων”
that they may distrust my having been honoured by divine powers”
X. Ap. 14,
τῷ ζῆν ἐστί τι ἐναντίον, ὥσπερ τῷ ἐγρηγορέναι τὸ καθεύδειν;
is it something opposed to living, as sleeping to waking? P. Ph. 71c, ““
οὐδενὶ τῶν πάντων πλέον κεκράτηκε Φίλιππος ἢ τῷ πρότερος πρὸς τοῖς πρά_γμασι γίγνεσθαι”
Philip has conquered us by nothing so much as by being beforehand in his operations”
D. 8.11,
ἅμα τῷ τι_μᾶν at the same time that we
honour P. R. 468e, ““
ἴσον δὲ τῷ προστένειν”
equal to sorrowing beforehand”
A. Ag. 252.
b. After prepositions: e.g.
οὐ γὰρ ἐπὶ τῷ δοῦλοι, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπὶ τῷ ὁμοῖοι τοῖς λειπομένοις εἶναι ἐκπέμπονται (
ἄποικοι)
for colonists are not sent out on the basis of being inferiors, but on the basis of being the equals of those who are left at home T. 1.34, ““
ὁ μὲν πρὸς τῷ μηδὲν ἐκ τῆς πρεσβεία_ς λαβεῖν, τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους . . . ἐλύ_σατο”
the one, in addition to gaining nothing from the embassy, ransomed the prisoners of war”
D. 19.229, ““
ἐν τῷ φρονεῖν γὰρ μηδὲν ἥδιστος βίος”
for life is sweetest in being conscious of nothing”
S. Aj. 553.
[*] 2034. ACCUSATIVE OF THE ARTICULAR INFINITIVEa. Object (cp.
1989): ““
δείσα_ς τὸ ζῆν”
fearing to live”
P. A. 28d, ““
μεῖζον μέν φαμεν κακὸν τὸ ἀδικεῖν, ἔλα_ττον δὲ τὸ ἀδικεῖσθαι”
we call doing wrong a greater evil, being wronged a lesser”
P. G. 509c.
b. After prepositions: e.g. ““
μέγιστον ἀγαθὸν τὸ πειθαρχεῖν φαίνεται εἰς τὸ καταπρά_ττειν τἀ_γαθά”
obedience appears to be an advantage of the greatest importance with regard to the successful accomplishment of excellent objects”
X. C. 8.1.3, ““
τῶν ἁπάντων ἀπερίοπτοί εἰσι παρὰ τὸ νι_κᾶν”
they are indifferent to everything in comparison with victory”
T. 1.41, ““
πρὸς τὸ μετρίων δεῖσθαι πεπαιδευμένος”
schooled to moderate needs”
X. M. 1.2.1,
πῶς ἔχεις πρὸς τὸ ἐθέλειν ἂν ἰέναι ἄκλητος ἐπὶ δεῖπνον;
how do you feel about being willing to go uninvited to supper? P. S. 174a (cp.
ἐθέλοις ἂν ἰέναι). Furthermore, after
διά, ἐπί, κατά, μετά, περί.
c. The accusative of the infinitive with
τό appears after many verbs and verbal expressions which usually take only the simple infinitive. Such verbal expressions may be followed also by a genitive of a noun. Thus, ““
τὸ σπεύδειν δέ σοι παραινῶ”
I commend speed to thee”
S. Ph. 620,
καρδία_ς δ᾽ ἐξίσταμαι τὸ δρᾶν I withdraw from my resolution so as to ( =
and)
do this thing S. Ant. 1105,
μαθὼν γὰρ οὐκ ἂν ἀρνοίμην τὸ δρᾶν when I am informed,
I will not refuse the deed S. Ph. 118, ““
τὸ προθυ_μεῖσθαι δὲ συναύξειν τὸν οἶκον ἐπαιδεύομεν αὐτήν”
we trained her to show zeal in assisting to increase our estate”
X. O. 9.12 (cp.
1628), ““
τὸ ἐρᾶν ἔξαρνος εἶ”
you refuse to love”
P. Lys. 205a.
d. So after adjectives. Thus,
μακρὸς τὸ κρῖναι ταῦτα χὡ λοιπὸς χρόνος the future is long (i.e. time enough)
to decide this S. El. 1030.
e. This object infinitive after verbs is often an internal accusative. The accusative after verbs and nouns is, in many cases, like an accusative of respect (
1600); as ““
τὸ δρᾶν οὐκ ἠθέλησαν”
they refused to do it”
S. O. C. 442, ““
αἰσχύ_νονται τὸ τολμᾶν”
they are ashamed to dare”
P. Soph. 247b, ““
οὐδ᾽ ἐμοί τοι τοὐξανιστάναι ἐστὶ θάρσος”
nor have I courage to remove thee”
S. O. C. 47,
τὸ μὲν ἐς τὴν γῆν ἡμῶν ““
ἐσβάλλειν . . . ἱκανοί εἰσι”
they are able to make an inroad into our country”
T. 6.17. This infinitive after adjectives (and sometimes after verbs) occurs when the simple infinitive expresses purpose or result, as in
τίς Μήδων . . . σοῦ ἀπελείφθη τὸ μή σοι ἀκολουθεῖν;
what one of the Medes remained away from you so as not to attend you? X. C. 5.1.25.
f. Some verbs take the articular infinitive as an object when the simple infinitive could not be used: ““
μόνον ὁρῶν τὸ παίειν τὸν ἁλισκόμενον”
taking heed only to strike any one he caught”
X. C. 1.4.21.
g. Verbs of saying and thinking rarely take the articular infinitive (also with
ἄν):
ἐξομεῖ τὸ μὴ εἰδέναι;
wilt thou swear thou didst not know? S. Ant. 535, ““
τῆς ἐλπίδος γὰρ ἔρχομαι δεδραγμένος, τὸ μὴ παθεῖν ἂν ἄλλο πλὴν τὸ μόρσιμον”
for I come with good grip on the hope that I can suffer nothing save what is my fate”
S. Ant. 235.
h. On the use of the object infinitive with
τὸ μή and
τὸ μὴ οὐ, see
2744 and 2749.
i. The accusative with the infinitive may stand in the absolute construction:
ἐπεί γε τὸ ἐλθεῖν τοῦτον, οἶμαι θεόν τινα αὐτὸν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὴν ἀγαγεῖν τὴν τι_μωρία_ν as for his coming,
I believe that some god brought him to his very punishment Lyc. 91.
OTHER USES OF THE ARTICULAR INFINITIVE
[*] 2035.
Apposition (cp.
1987). The articular infinitive, in any case, is often used in apposition to a preceding word, especially a demonstrative.
““
τοῦτό ἐστι τὸ ἀδικεῖν, τὸ πλέον τῶν ἄλλων ζητεῖν ἔχειν”
injustice is this: to seek to have more than other people”
P. G. 483c,
τί γὰρ τούτου μακαριώτερον, τοῦ γῆ μιχθῆναι κτλ.
for what is more blessed than this: to be commingled with the earth, etc.
X. C. 8.7.25, ““
δοκεῖ τούτῳ διαφέρειν ἀνὴρ τῶν ἄλλων ζῴων, τῷ τι_μῆς ὀρέγεσθαι”
man differs herein from other creatures that he aspires after honour”
X. Hi. 7.3.
[*] 2036.
In Exclamation (cp.
2015).—Thus, ““
τῆς τύχης: τὸ ἐμὲ νῦν κληθέντα δεῦρο τυχεῖν”
my ill-luck! that I should happen now to have been summoned hither!”
X. C. 2.2.3.
[*] 2037.
With Adjuncts.—The articular infinitive may take various adjuncts including dependent clauses, the whole forming one large substantival idea.
““
τὸ μὲν γὰρ πόλλ᾽ ἀπολωλεκέναι κατὰ τὸν πόλεμον”
the fact that we have lost much in the war”
D. 1.10,
πέπεισμαι . . . τὰ πλείω τῶν πρα_γμάτων ἡμᾶς ἐκπεφευγέναι τῷ μὴ βούλεσθαι τὰ δέοντα ποιεῖν, ἢ τῷ μὴ συνι_έναι I am persuaded that more of your advantages have escaped you from your not being willing to do your duty than from your ignorance 3. 3,
καὶ γὰρ πάνυ μοι δοκεῖ ἄφρονος ἀνθρώπου εἶναι τὸ (
μεγάλου ἔργου ὄντος τοῦ ἑαυτῷ τὰ δέοντα παρασκευάζειν) ““
μὴ ἀρκεῖν τοῦτο, ἀλλὰ προσαναθέσθαι τὸ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις πολί_ταις ὧν δέονται πορίζειν”
and in fact, since it is a serious business to provide for one's own necessities, it seems to me to be the part of an utter fool not to rest content with that, but in addition to take upon himself the burden of providing for the needs of the rest of the community”
X. M. 2.1.8.
CONSTRUCTIONS OF THE INFINITIVE WITH VERBS OF hindering
[*] 2038. Verbs signifying (or suggesting)
to hinder take both the simple infinitive and the articular infinitive. Such verbs may take the strengthening but redundant negative
μή (
2739); and some, when themselves negatived or appearing in a question expecting a negative answer, admit the addition of the sympathetic
οὐ (
2742). Hence we have a variety of constructions (described in 2744 ff.)
Part I: Letters, Sounds, Syllables, Accent
Part IV: Syntax
