Latin with Foster

Experience III, Lesson 2: Passive Imperative

Recall how in the Indicative tense we learned both active and passive verb forms.
In the Imperative (command) tense there are also active and passive forms.
One may want to review Lesson I-21 on Imperative verbs.
The passive imperative form will also be used to form the imperative of deponent verbs (from Lesson I-30) but with an active meaning.

The meaning of the passive imperative (command):: "A" form (Present Imperative): you are to be ..., ye are to be ...; "B" form (Future Imperative): you/he/she/it/one/ye/they must be ...
The "looks" of the passive imperative "A" form:: The singular tu form is the same as the infinitive of the verb; The plural vos form is the same as the present passive vos form
This same form will be used to form the imperative with deponent verbs.

Grp I Verbs (Are)
celebro, celerbrare - to celebrate
Passive	tu celebrare	vos celebramini	you / ye are to be celebrated
laetor, laetari - to rejoice
Deponent	tu laetare	vos laetimini	you rejoice, ye rejoice

Grp II Verbs (Ere)
terreo, terrere - to terrify
Passive	tu terrere	vos terremini	you / ye are to be terrified
fateor, fateri - to admit, confess
Deponent	tu fatere	vos fatemini	you confess, ye confess

Grp III Verbs (êre)
pono, ponere - to put, place
Passive	tu ponere	vos ponimini	you / ye are to be put
sequor, sequi - to follow
Deponent	tu sequere	vos sequimini	you follow, ye follow

Grp IV Verbs (Ire)
vestio, vestire - to clothe
Passive	tu vestire	vos vestimini	you / ye are to be clothed
largior, largiri - to grant
Deponent	tu largire	vos largimini	you grant, ye grant

Example: ne terrere = do not be afraid

Examples of Deponent Imperatives that look passive but have active meaning:

Using our passive trick, simply add an r to the end of the "B" form imperative (Lesson I-21) to make it passive.
Examples:: tu movetor = you shalt be moved; id cantator = it must be sung; litterae scribuntor = the letter must be written
Why is the plural "litterae" translated as singular?: Because singular "littera" means a letter of the alphabet, plural "litterae" means a letter you mail (though it could also be plural).

Now go on to Homework 2