The Infinitive, with or without a subject accusative, may be used with
est
and similar verbs (1) as the Subject, (2) in Apposition with the subject, or (3) as a Predicate Nominative.
In these constructions the abstract idea expressed by the infinitive is represented as
having some quality
or
belonging to some thing.
-
As Subject:—
-
dolēre
malum est
(Fin. 5.84)
,
to suffer pain is an evil.
-
bellum est sua vitia
nōsse
(Att. 2.17)
,
it's a fine thing to know one's own faults.
-
praestat
compōnere
fluctūs
(Aen. 1.135)
,
it is better to calm the waves.
-
In Apposition with the Subject:—
-
proinde quasi iniūriam
facere
id dēmum esset imperiō ūtī
;
(Sall.
Cat. 12
),
just as if this and this alone, to commit injustice, were to use power.
[Here
facere
is in apposition with
id
.]
-
As Predicate Nominative:—
-
id est convenienter nātūrae
vīvere
(Fin. 4.41)
,
that is to live in conformity with nature.
[Cf.
ūtī
in the last example.]
An infinitive may be used as Direct Object in connection with a Predicate Accusative (§
393
), or as Appositive with such Direct Object:—
-
istuc ipsum
nōn esse
cum fueris miserrimum putō
;
(
Tusc. 1.12
),
for I think this very thing most wretched, not to be when one has been.
[Here
istuc ipsum
belongs to the
noun
nōn esse
.]
-
miserārī
,
invidēre
,
gestīre
,
laetārī
, haec omnia morbōs Graecī appellant
(
id
. 3.7),
to feel pity, envy
,
desire
,
joy
,—
all these things the Greeks call diseases.
[Here the infinitives are in apposition with
haec
.]
An Appositive or Predicate noun or adjective used with an infinitive ín any of these constructions is put in the Accusative, whether the infinitive has a subject expressed or not. Thus,
—nōn esse
cupidum
pecūnia est
(Par. 51)
,
to be free from desires
(not to be desirous)
is money in hand.
[No Subject Accusative.]
The infinitive as subject is not common except with
est
and similar verbs. But sometimes, especially in poetry, it is used as the subject of verbs which are apparently more active in meaning:—
-
quōs omnīs eadem
cupere
, eadem
ōdisse
, eadem
metuere
, in ūnum
coēgit
(Iug. 31)
,
all of whom the fact of desiring, hating
,
and fearing the same things has united into one.
-
ingenuās
didicisse
fidēliter artīs
ēmollit
mōrēs
(Ov. P. 2.9.48),
faithfully to have learned liberal arts softens the manners.
-
posse
loquī
ēripitur
(Ov. M. 2.483)
,
the power of speech is taken away.
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