Yesterday you were introduced to infinitives - the second principal part of verbs, which end in -re. Today we are going to look at "complementary infinitives" - one of their many functions.
The meaning of some verbs may be expanded or completed by the verbal forms called INFINITIVES (descendere = to descend; ascendere = to climb).
These are called complementary infinitives because they complete the meaning of the verb.
(see page 26)
Verbs commonly used with complementary infinitives:
volo (I want)
vult (s/he, it wants)
nolo (I don't want)
non vult (s/he it does not want)
possum (I can, I am able)
potest (s/he can, is able)
paro (I prepare, am preparing)
parat (s/he is preparing)
timeo (I am afraid to...)
timet (s/he it is afraid to...)
- Sextus arborem ascendere vult. Sextus wants to climb the tree.
- Sextus descendere timet. Sextus is afraid to come down.
- Infinitives usually end in -re and are translated to do something.
Examples
- errare: to wander
ridere: to laugh - dormire: to sleep
- cadere: to fall
- repellere: to drive away
- conspicere: to catch sight of
- ambulare: to walk
- sedere: to sit
- laborare: to work
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