A Periphrastic form, as the name indicates, is a “roundabout way of speaking.” In the widest sense, all verb-phrases consisting of participles and sum are Periphrastic Forms. The Present Participle is, however, rarely so used, and the Perfect Participle with sum is included in the regular conjugation ( amātus sum , eram , etc.). Hence the term Periphrastic Conjugation is usually restricted to verb-phrases consisting of the Future Active Participle or the Gerundive with sum . The Future Passive Infinitive, as amātum īrī , formed from the infinitive passive of eō , go , used impersonally with the supine in -um , may also be classed as a periphrastic form (§ 203 . a ).

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