The Passive Voice.


1 In a sentence that has a verb in the passive voice, one will most likely NOT find:
a subject.
an indirect object.
a direct object.
a verb other than the verb "to be."
2 The dog is biting the cat on the tail.
A passive rendering of this sentence would be:
The cat is being bitten on the tail by the dog.
The cat's tail is being bitten by the dog.
The cat is biting the dog on the tail.
The cat is being bitten by the dog on the tail.
3 Jim told Steve all the answers to the test.
A passive rendering of this would be
Steve was told all the answers to the test by Jim.
All the answers to the test were told to Steve by Jim.
All the test's answers were told to Steve by Jim.
Jim was told by Steve about all the answers to the test.
4 Cicero gave Caesar the gift of high praise.
A passive rendering of this would be:
The gift of high praise gave Caesar to Cicero.
The gift of high praise had been given to Caesar by Cicero.
Caesar was given the gift of high praise by Cicero.
The gift of high praise was given to Caesar by Cicero.
5 It is said that no one who loves his country can be expected to kill its citizens.
The passive verb form(s) here would be:
None.
"is said"
"is said" and "be expected"
"loves" and "to kill"
6 In converting an active sentence to a passive one in Latin, the subject of the active sentence must become:
either an ablative of agent or an ablative of means or instrument.
an ablative of agent.
a dative of indirect object or personal interest.
nothing, since it cannot go with a passive verb.
7 The passive form of "laudâmus" differs only:
in meaning.
by a single letter and in its meaning.
by tense, person, and meaning.
by a single letter.
8 The passive of monês would be:
monêbis
monêtis
monêris
monueris
9 The passive of laudâbâtis would be:
laudâbiminî
laudâbantur
laudâminî
laudâbâminî
10 The passive of docêbit would be:
docêtur
docêbitur
docêbâtur
docentur
11 To distinguish the tense markers for the first and second conjugations, one uses the device:
"Ya BUNT in the future and ya BANTer in the past."
UNUS NAUTA
"We are all imperfect sheep."
called the HUMAN MEMORY.
12 Discipulî omnês magistrum bonum amant.
In the passive, this would be:
Omnis magister bonus discipulîs amâtur.
Magister bonus ab omnibus discipulîs amâtur.
Discipulî omnês a magistrô bonô amantur.
Omnis magister bonus â discipulîs amâtur.
13 Et Graecî et Rômânî mê laudant.
In the passive, this would be:
Et Graecî et Rômânî â mê laudantur.
Et â Graecîs et â Rômânîs laudor.
Et Grâecîs et Rômânîs laudor.
14 Omnês scientiam bonârum artium câram habent.
In the passive, this would be:
Bonae artês scientiae cârae ab omnibus habentur.
Scientia bonârum artium ab omnibus cârîs habêtur.
Scientia bonârum artium ab omnibus câra habêtur.
Scientia bonârum artium ominibus câra habêtur.
15 Mors etiam facilis multôs terret.
And now in the passive...
Multî morte etiam facilî terrentur.
Multî mortem etiam facilem terrent.
Multî môre etiam facilî terrentur.
Mors etiam facilis a multîs terrêtur.
16 Et amâre et amârî superârî ab Amôre sunt.
This means...
Both to love and to be loved are to be overpowered by Love.
Loving and being loved are over and above Love itself.
Both to love and be loved by Love are superior.
17 Bonum est ab omnibus docêrî.
This means...
It is good to learn from everyone.
It is good to teach from every kind of person.
It is good to be taught by everyone.
18 Mors nôn terrêbit dum nâtûra animî habêtur mortâlis, sî bene côgitâs.
This means...
Death will not frighten as long as the soul has a mortal nature, if you think well [about it].
Death will be terrifying when you have a mortal soul by nature, if you think well [about it].
Death will not terrify a soul mortal by nature if the soul thinks well [about it].
Death will not frighten as long as the nature of the soul is considered mortal, if you think well [about it].
19 Mankind is moved by many angers, but the anger that moves kings is a great danger.
Genus hûmânum multîs îrîs movêtur, sed îra quae rêgês movet magnum perîculum est.
Genus hûmânum multâs îrâs movet, sed îra quam rêgês movent magnum perîculum est.
Genus hûmânum ad multâs îrâs movêtur, sed îra quâ rêgês moventur magnum perîculum est.
20 Dum urbs flâmmîs acribus dêlêbâtur, rêgîna illa misera sine rêge per viâs vidêbâtur.
"While the city was being given to the fierce flames, that wretched queen was looking for the king along the streets."
"While the city was being destroyed by fierce flames, that wretched queen was seen without the king along the streets."
"While they destroyed the city with fierce flames, they saw that wretched queen without the king along the streets."