Prohibition is regularly expressed in classic prose (1) by nōlī with the Infinitive, (2) by cavē with the Present Subjunctive, or (3) by nē with the Perfect Subjunctive:— In prohibitions the subjunctive with nē is hortatory; that with cavē is an object clause (cf. §§ 450 . N.2, 565. N.1). (1) nōlī putāre (Lig. 33) , do not suppose (be unwilling to suppose). nōlī impudēns esse (Fam. 12.30.1) , don't be shameless. nōlīte cōgere sociōs (Verr. 2.1.82) , do not compel the allies. (2) cavē putēs (Att. 7.20) , don't suppose (take care lest you suppose). cavē īgnōscās (Lig. 14) , do not pardon. cavē festīnēs (Fam. 16.12.6) , do not be in haste. (3) nē necesse habueris (Att. 16.2.5) , do not regard it as necessary. nē sīs admīrātus (Fam. 7.18.3) , do not be surprised. hōc facitō; hōc nē fēceris (Div. 2.127) , thou shalt do this, thou shalt not do that. nē Apellae quidem dīxeris (Fam. 7.25.2) , do not tell Apella even. nē vōs quidem mortem timueritis (Tusc. 1.98) , nor must you fear death.

All three of these constructions are well established in classic prose. The first, which is the most ceremonious, occurs oftenest; the third, though not discourteous, is usually less formal and more peremptory than the others. Instead of nōlī the poets sometimes use other imperatives of similar meaning (cf. § 457 . a ):— parce piās scelerāre manūs (Aen. 3.42) , forbear to defile your pious hands. cētera mitte loquī ; ( Hor. Epod. 13.7 ), forbear to say the rest. fuge quaerere (Hor. Od. 1.9.13) , do not inquire. Cavē nē is sometimes used in prohibitions; also vidē nē and (colloquially) fac nē : as, fac nē quid aliud cūrēs ( Fam. 16.11 ), see that you attend to nothing else. The present subjunctive with nē and the perfect with cavē are found in old writers; nē with the present is common in poetry at all periods:— nē exspectētis (Pl. Ps. 1234) , do not wait. nē metuās (Mart. Ep. 1.70.13) , do not fear. cave quicquam responderis (Pl. Am. 608) , do not make any reply. Other negatives sometimes take the place of nē :— nihil īgnōveris (Mur. 65) , grant no pardon (pardon nothing). nec mihi illud dīxeris (Fin. 1.25) , and do not say this to me. The regular connective , and do not , is nēve .