The infinitive clause in Latin: objective and subjective infinitives.The infinitive clause in Latin is a clause that performs the logical function of subject or object complement of another clause. The infinitive clause is formed by placing the subject in the accusative case and the verb in the present, perfect or future infinitive:
Constat Homerum caecum fuisse .
It is known that Homer was blind (subject).
Dicunt Homerum caecum fuisse .
They say that Homer was blind (object complement).
The infinitive clause that acts as the subject is called the subjective infinitive , while the one that acts as the object complement is called the objective infinitive .
The subject in the infinitive in Latin
In infinitive clauses the subject is in accusative and is always expressed, even when in Italian it is implied. All the elements that in the infinitive refer to the subject are always expressed in accusative:
Omnibus bonis expedit salvam esse rem publicam .
It is good for all good people that the republic be saved .
If the subject of the infinitive is a3rd person pronoun(singular or plural), we find the reflexive se when the subject coincides with that of the main clause. If instead the subject is different, we have the accusative of the demonstrative is or ille :
Fines eorum se violaturum negavit.
( He ) stated that ( he ) would not violate their territory (same subject).
I hope he doesn’t quit.
( I ) hope that ( he ) has not left (different subjects).
The verb in the infinitive in Latin
The verb of the infinitive clause goes to the present, perfect or future infinitive, according to the temporal relationship that the subordinate clause has with the main clause:
Infinitive present
It is used when the action of the subordinate clause is contemporary with that of the main clause:
Tibi id magnae curae esse scio.
I know that this is very close to your heart.
Perfect Infinity
It is used when the action of the subordinate clause is prior to that of the main clause:
If only I could tell you .
I thought you were already gone.
Infinite future
It is used when the action of the subordinate clause is subsequent to that of the main clause:
Putabam matrem quoque ad me venturam esse .
I thought my mother would come to me too.
Subjective infinitive proposition
The subjective infinitive in Latin acts as the subject of the main clause, and depends on:
- Impersonal verbs (apparet, interest, constat, etc…)
- Impersonal expressions formed by the verb sumin the third person singular + neuter of a relevant adjective, noun, genitive (fama est, verum est)
- Passive forms of verbs with the meaning of belief, opinion (traditum est, fertur)
Objective infinitive proposition
The objective infinitive in Latin performs the logical function of object complement of the main verb, and is dependent on:
- Verba dicendi and declarandi (I say, I affirm, I narrate)
- Verba sentiendi (sentio, audio, scio)
- Verba voluntatis (flight, freight, cupio)
- Verba affectum (doleo, laetor, miror)
How to translate the infinitive clause
When we translate an infinitive from Latin into an explicit form, the tense of the verb varies according to the tense used in the main clause and the temporal relationship between this and the verb of the infinitive. Here is a useful table:
| Regent | Infinitive |
| present | I can love you. I think you love (contemporaneity).
I think you loved /have loved (anteriority). I think you will love (posteriority). |
| past | Putabam/You could love me. I thought/I thought that you loved/were loving (contemporaneity).
I thought/ I thought you had loved/loved (anteriority). I thought /I thought you would love (posteriority). |
| future | I would love you. I will think that you will love (contemporaneity).
Putabo you loved. I will think that you loved (anteriority). I will think that you will love later (posteriority). |
