Latin for Beginners · Lesson XXIX · Part 5: Verbs: the passive voice

29. Passive of -iō verbs; infinitive and imperative

Goal: Your child conjugates capior, forms the present infinitive active and passive, and gives passive commands.

⏱ About 35 minutes · 6 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • The special vocabulary page for this lesson (near the back of the book; the lesson tells you the page)
  • A notebook for Latin, and a pencil
  • Index cards for new words (optional)

What's in the book

The passive of capiō, the present infinitive (active and passive) of all four conjugations, and the present imperative, active and passive. Eleven Latin sentences and English forms.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Review

    Conjugate regor in the present passive.

  2. capior

    Section 172. The passive of capiō follows the same rule as the active: like audiō where two vowels meet (capior, capiuntur), like regō elsewhere. The table is at the back (section 492).

  3. The infinitive

    The infinitive is the "to" form. Section 174:

    amārī, to be loved

    monērī, to be advised

    regī, to be ruled

    capī, to be taken

    audīrī, to be heard

    The passive changes the final -e of the active to -ī, except the third conjugation, which changes -ere to -ī.

  4. Passive commands

    Section 175: amāre, "be thou loved"; amāminī, "be ye loved". The book points out that amāre can be an indicative, an infinitive or an imperative; the sentence tells you which.

  5. Exercises

    Learn the special vocabulary first (cūra, care; locus, place; perīculum, danger; semper, always; tamen, yet; sī, if). Then section 176, Exercise I. Two of the sentences:

    Mōnstrum est validum, tamen superābitur.

    Multa loca vastābantur et multa oppida dēlēbantur.

    Then Exercise II.

  6. Wrap up

    Your child gives the active and passive infinitives of mittō and audiō.

Answers to the book's problems

Exercise I: 1. Then Perseus will fly with his wings to many lands. 2. The fierce monster is hurrying through the waters and will soon lay waste our fields. 3. But if Cepheus hurries to the oracle, the oracle will answer thus. 4. Who will be overcome by the weapons of Perseus? Many monsters will be overcome by his weapons. 5. With great cares and many tears the farmers are driven from their dear homes. 6. Many places were being laid waste and many towns were being destroyed. 7. The monster is strong, yet it will be overcome. 8. Will you always believe the words of the oracle? I shall not always believe them. 9. Will Cepheus obey the oracle? The words of the oracle will persuade him. 10. If we do not flee, the town will be taken and the townspeople will be killed. 11. Call the boys and tell the famous story about the fierce monster.

Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.

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