Quasi-impersonal verbs

An impersonal verb the subject of which may be derived from the context is called quasi-impersonal.

a. When the indefinite it anticipates an infinitive or subordinate proposition which forms the logical subject (1985). So with δοκεῖ it seems, συμβαίνει it happens, ἔξεστι it is permitted, πρέπει, προσήκει it is fitting, φαίνεται it appears, ἐγένετο it happened, εἰσῄει με venit me in mentem, δηλοῖ it is evident, etc. Thus, ῡ̔μᾶς προσήκει προθῡμοτέρους εἶναι it behooves you to be more zealous X. A. 3.2.15, εἰσῄει αὐτοὺς ὅπως ἂν οἴκαδε ἀφίκωνται it came into their thoughts how they should reach home 6. 1. 17.

b. So also with χρή, δεῖ it is necessary; as, δεῖ σ᾽ ἐλθεῖν you ought to go (lit. to go binds you). The impersonal construction with -τέον is equivalent to δεῖ (2152 a): βοηθητέον ἐστὶ τοῖς πρᾱ́γμασιν ῡ̔μῖν you must rescue the interests at stake D. 1.17.

As Subject.—The infinitive may be used as subject, especially with quasi-impersonal verbs and expressions (933 a).

γράμματα μαθεῖν δεῖ to learn to read is necessary Men. Sent. 96, τί χρὴ ποιεῖν; what must be done? X. A. 2.1.16, κόσμος (ἐστὶ) καλῶς τοῦτο δρᾶν to perform this well is a credit T. 1.5, πᾶσιν ἁδεῖν χαλεπόν (ἐστι) to please everybody is difficult Solon 7, ἔδοξεν αὐτοῖς προϊέναι it seemed best to them to proceed X. A. 2.1.2, συμφέρει αὐτοῖς φίλους εἶναι it is for their interest to be friends X. O. 11.23. Cp. 1062, 1978.

Such quasi-impersonal verbs and expressions are δεῖ it is necessary, χρή (properly a substantive with ἐστί omitted, 793) it is necessary, δοκεῖ it seems good, ἔστι it is possible, ἔξεστι it is in one's power, οἷόν τέ ἐστι it is possible, πρέπει and προσήκει it is fitting, συμβαίνει it happens; and many expressions formed by ἐστί and a predicate noun, as ἄξιον it is right, δίκαιον it is just, ἀναγ- καῖον it is necessary, δυνατόν it is possible, ἀδύνατον (or ἀδύνατα) it is impossible, αἰσχρόν it is disgraceful, καλόν it is honourable, ὥρᾱ and καιρός it is time. With the last two expressions the old dative use of the infinitive is clear: ὥρᾱ βουλεύεσθαι it is time for considering P. Soph. 241b.

a. On the personal ἄξιός εἰμι, δίκαιός εἰμι, δοκῶ, see 1982. For δεῖ με τοῦτο λέγειν we find the personal δέομαι τοῦτο λέγειν. Note the attraction in τὸ πλῆθος τῶν ἐνόντων εἰπεῖν the number of the things it is possible to mention I. 5.110 (for τούτων ἃ ἔνεστιν).

b. δεῖ and χρή regularly take the accusative and infinitive (cp. 1562); ἀνάγκη it is necessary takes the accusative or dative with the infinitive.

c. The subject of the infinitive is expressed or omitted according to the sense.

d. Homer shows only the beginnings of the use of the infinitive as a real subject, i.e. not a grammatical subject, as in 1984.

The genitive of the participle may stand without its noun or pronoun

a. When the noun or pronoun may easily be supplied from the context. Thus, οἱ δὲ πολέμιοι, προσιόντων (τῶν Ἑλλήνων, previously mentioned), τέως μὲν ἡσυχίαζον the enemy, as they were approaching, for a while remained quiet X. A. 5.4.16, ἐρώτᾱ, ἔφη, ὦ Κῦρε, . . . ὡς (ἐμοῦ) τᾱ̓ληθῆ ἐροῦντος put your question (said he), Cyrus, on the supposition that I will speak the truth X. C. 3.1.9.

b. When the noun or pronoun may easily be supplied otherwise; here, e.g., ἀνθρώπων or πρᾱγμάτων is said to be supplied grammatically. Thus, ἰόντων εἰς μάχην when (men) are going into battle X. C. 3.3.54, τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον πρᾱχθέντων τῆς πόλεως γίγνεται τὰ χρήματα when (things) have happened in this way, the property belongs to the State D. 24.12; and in ῡ̔́οντος (Διός, 934 a) πολλῷ when it was raining hard X. H. 1.1.16. Quasi-impersonal verbs (933) thus take the genitive rather than the accusative absolute: οὕτως ἔχοντος in this state of things P. R. 381c, influenced by οὕτως ἐχόντων X. A. 3.1.40.

c. When a subordinate clause with ὅτι follows upon the participle in the passive. Thus, ἐσαγγελθέντων ὅτι Φοίνισσαι νῆες ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς πλέουσιν it having been announced that Phoenician ships were sailing against them T. 1.116, δηλωθέντος ὅτι ἐν ταῖς ναυσὶ τῶν Ἑλλήνων τὰ πρᾱ́γματα ἐγένετο it having been shown that the salvation of the Greeks depended on their navy 1. 74. The plural is used when the subject of the subordinate clause is plural, or when several circumstances are mentioned.