This document provides information about infinitives and imperatives in Latin. It defines infinitives as verb forms that are not limited by a subject and not fully inflected. Infinitives in Latin are the second principal part of the verb. The document also defines imperatives as one of the three moods in Latin, along with indicative and subjunctive, with imperatives used for commands or orders. It gives examples of positive and negative imperative forms in Latin.

1. Latin 1 / Intro to Latin
Infinitives and Imperatives

2. Infinitives – The Official
Mumbo Jumbo
A verb form
• Not limited by a subject
• Not fully inflected for tense, mood,
number, gender, person
• Can function somewhat as another
part of speech

3. Infinitives – What You Need
to Know
“to” + definition of the verb

4. Infinitives in English
• Nounish
–To err is human, to forgive divine.
–I love to swim.
–She was asked to speak.
–He wants to learn to cook.

5. Infinitives in English
• Nounish
• Adjectivish
–We have work to do.
–I don’t have time to waste.
• Adverbish
–She came over to talk.

6. Infinitives in Latin
The infinitive is the second principal part of the
verb.
laudō, laudāre, laudāvi, laudātus: praise
laudāre = to praise

7. Definition 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
walk ambulō ambulāre ambulāvī ambulātus
love amō amāre amāvī amātus
shout clāmō clāmāre clāmāvī clāmātus
crown corōnō corōnāre corōnāvī corōnātus
give dō dare dedī datus
praise laudō laudāre laudāvī laudātus
choose optō optāre optāvī optātus
prepare parō parāre parāvī parātus
carry portō portāre portāvī portātus
fight pūgnō pūgnāre pūgnāvī pūgnātus
call vocō vocāre vocāvī vocātus

8. • Errāre humanum est
• Optō pugnāre
• Amō ambulāre
• Amās clamāre
• Amat dare
• Amāmus laudāre
• Amātis portāre
• Amant vocāre
• Amābis natāre

9. Imperatives – The Official
Mumbo Jumbo
One of three moods in Latin
• Indicative
– Reality: statement of facts
• Subjunctive
– Irreality: wish, possibility, opinion, etc
• Imperative
– Command or Order

10. Imperatives – What You
Need to Know
Command or Order

11. Imperatives in English
• Come here.
• Stop!
• Drop and give me 20.
• Have a nice day.
• Please pass the peas.
• Don’t forget to brush your teeth.

12. Imperatives in Latin
Singular Plural
Positive
Verb stem Verb stem + “-te”
Imperative
Negative
“Nōlī” + “Nōlīte” +
verb infinitive verb infinitive

13. Imperatives in Latin
Singular Plural
Verb stem Verb stem + “-te”
Positive
ambulā ambulāte
Walk! Walk! (>1 person)
Ambulō, ambul
āre: walk
Negative
“Nōlī” + verb infinitive “Nōlīte” + verb infinitive
Nōlī ambulāre Nōlīte ambulāre
Don’t Walk! Don’t Walk! (>1 person)

14. Imperatives in Latin
Singular Plural
Verb stem Verb stem + “-te”
Positive
spectā spectāte
Watch! Watch! (>1 person)
Spectō,
spectāre: watch
Negative
“Nōlī” + verb infinitive “Nōlīte” + verb infinitive
Nōlī spectāre Nōlīte spectāre
Don’t Watch! Don’t Watch! (>1 person)