Chapter 6
Today’s grammar lesson will not be as difficult as usual. Since we have already discussed future and imperfect tenses, as well as their endings, this will not be a new concept to learn. Today we will be learning the future and imperfect tenses of the verb “to be”. As I alluded in a previous class lesson, the verb “to be”, both in English as well as the Romance Languages, is irregular. Simply stated, that means that it does not follow the pattern as regards forming the particular tenses. Why doesn’t it follow the pattern? I wish I had an answer for you, but I don’t. So, what does that mean for you. How do you go about learning it? Well you have to memorize it. It’s as simple as that. So here it is.

Sum, esse, fui, futurus to be

Future Tense

Singular Plural
1st Sum I am Sumus We are
2nd Es You are Estis You are
3rd Est He, She, It is Sunt They are

Imperfect Tense

Singular Plural
1st Eram I was Eramus We were
2nd Eras You were Eratis You were
3rd Erat He, She, It was Erant They were

Notice again, even though the verb is irregular, it still has the same verb endings indicating the person to whom we are referring. At least that element remains consistant throught the verbal constructions.

So, except for memorizing those two forms of the verb, there really wasn’t much new to learn about the verb.

Now onto the Complementary Infinitive. A complementary infinitive, in English, is a phrase, consisting or made up of the word “to” plus Verb. A complementary infinitive is a phrase which is needed, both in English as well as Latin, to complete the idea of the verb. All verbs do not require a complementary infinitive to complete their meaning, only a certain few. Examples of some verbs in English are: To be able, ought, prefer, to name a few. These verb usually take a complementary infinitive, but they don’t have to. On rare occasion, you may encounter them without the complementary infinitive. But that will be rare.

Possum to be able and Debeo ought are probably the two most common verbs which require a complementary infinitive. Debeo is a regular verb of the second conjugation. So its principle parts are debeo debere debui debitus to owe or ought. Possum on the other hand is an irregular verb. Now although it is irregular, you do really know it. It is nothing more than the verb “to be” or in Latin “sum esse fui futurus” plus a prefex of “pos or pot”. If the form of the verb “to be” that you are using begins with a vowel, use the prefex “pot”; if the form of the verb “to be”that you are using begins with an “s”, use the prefex “pos”. It’s as simple as that.

Let’s first look at the verb Possum to be able, then we’ll realize that it’s not as difficult as we may have first thought.

Possum, potesse, potui to be able…

Present Tense Future Tense

Singular Plural Singular Plural
1st Possum I am able Possumus We are able Potero I shall be able Poterimus We shall be able
2nd Potes You are able Potestis You are able Poteris You will be able Poteristis You will be able
3rd Potest He is able Possunt They are able Poterit He will be able Poterunt They will be able


Imperfect Tense
Singular Plural
Poteram I was able Poteramus We were able
Poteras You were able Poteratis You were able
Poterat He as able Poterant They were able

So as you can clearly see, this verb is merely the verb “sum” plus “pos or pot”

So now, let’s look a few examples.

Our friends were able to overcome many dangers. Amici nostril poterant superare multa pericula.
My friend is not able to remain. Amicus meus not potest remanere.
You ought to save your money. Debes conservare pecuniam tuam.

Understand?

Now let’s turn to our workbook

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