25.09.26: Level 3+ (review); impersonal verbs [4] necessity, obligation and related ideas [i]

(1)

oportet: it is proper, it is right

necesse est: it is necessary

decet: it is becoming / fitting/ proper / suitable

dēdecet: it is unbecoming / unfitting / improper / unsuitable

(2)

libet: it is pleasing; it is agreeable

licet: it is permitted

(3)

opus est: there is need

(4)

rēfert: it matters / concerns / it is important (of importance)

interest: it interests / concerns / makes a difference / it is important (of importance)

(1)

oportet: it is proper, it is right

necesse est: it is necessary

decet: it is becoming / fitting/ proper / suitable

dēdecet: it is unbecoming / unfitting / improper / unsuitable

[i] They are followed by an infinitive indicating what is proper / necessary to do:

necesse est ¦ proficīscī

• it is necessary ¦ to set out

[ii] the person for whom the action is proper / necessary is expressed in the accusative case:

Eum necesse est proficīscī.

• It is necessary for him to set out.

Mox necesse erit mē et mātrem iter facere.

• Soon it will be necessary for my mother and (for) me to make a journey.

Quid mē oportet facere, ubi tū tālis vir falsum autumās? (Plautus)

• What ought I to do, when a man such as you asserts something false?

Nōn tē mī īrāscī decet (Plautus)

• You oughtn't [literally: it isn’t proper for you] to be cross with me.

Huic decet statuam statuī ex aurō (Plautus)

• It is fitting for a statue of gold to be set up for him [ = a gold statue ought to be …].

Orātōrem vēro īrāscī minimē decet, simulāre nōn dēdecet. (Cicero)

• It is by no means fitting for an orator to lose his temper; to feign (it) is not unbecoming.

(2) The following expressions may be followed by an infinitive and, if expressed, the dative of the person.

[i] libet: it is pleasing; it is agreeable

Dīc quod libet (Plautus)

• Say what you want [literally: what is pleasing]

libet perlegere hās (Plautus)

• I’d like to read through this.

Ut libet ¦ quid tibi [dative] libet fac (Plautus)

• Suit yourself [literally: as is pleasing (to you)], ¦ do what suits you.

[ii] licet: it is permitted

Nōn licet manēre – cēna coquitur – dum cēnem modo? (Plautus)

• May I not stay [literally: is it not permitted] –  dinner's being cooked – just till I've dined?

nunc licet mihi [dative] līberē quidvīs loquī (Plautus)

• Now I'm permitted to speak freely about anything

nimis vīlest vīnum atque amor, sī ēbriō [dative] atque amantī [dative] impūne facere quod lubeat licet (Plautus)

• Drink and love are far too cheap, if a drunkard and a lover can do what he likes without any consequence.

(3) opus est: there is need

Sī quid ¦ opus est, imperā (Plautus)

• If there is need of ¦ anything, give the order

Quid opust [opus + est] ? (Plautus)

• What’s the use?

What is needed is in the ablative case:

Quid eō [ablative] est opus? (Plautus)

• What is the use of that [literally: What need is there …]?

Quid opust ānulō? (Plautus)

• A ring? What for? [literally: What need is there for a ring?]

Eiulātiōne haud opus est, oculīs haud lacrimantibus (Plautus)

• There’s no need for howling nor crying eyes.

The person who has the need is expressed in the dative case:

Mihi [dative: person needing] pecūniā [ablative: what is needed] opus est. │ I need money [literally: To me there is need of money]

Nōbīs auxiliō opus est. │ We need help.

Tibi cōnsiliō opus erit. │ You will need advice.

Quid eō mī opus est? (Plautus)

• What use is that to me?

Tum nōbīs [dative: person needing] opus est sūmptū [ablative: what is needed] (Plautus)

• Then we need expenses.

Multīs et multigeneribus opus est tibi mīlitibus (Plautus)

• You need many recruits of many sorts, too.