OMISSION OF THE SUBJECT

929

An unemphatic pronoun of the first or second person is generally omitted: λέγε τὸν νόμον read the law (spoken to the clerk of the court) D. 21.8.

930

An emphatic pronoun is generally expressed, as in contrasts:

. But often in poetry and sometimes in prose the pronoun is expressed when no contrast is intended. The first of two contrasted pronouns is sometimes omitted: ἀλλά, εἰ βούλει, μέν᾽ ἐπὶ τῷ στρατεύματι, ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἐθέλω πορεύεσθαι but, if you prefer, remain with your division, I am willing to go X. A. 3.4.41. Cp. 1190, 1191.

931

The nominative subject of the third person may be omitted

a. When it is expressed or implied in the context:

.

b. When the subject is indefinite, especially when it is the same person or thing as the omitted subject of a preceding infinitive (937 a): ἡ τοῦ οἴεσθαι εἰδένάι (ἀμαθίᾱ), ἃ οὐκ οἶδεν the ignorance of thinking one knows what one does not know P. A. 29b. Often in legal language: ὁ νόμος, ὃς κελεύει τὰ ἑαυτοῦ ἐξεῖναι διαθέσθαι ὅπως ἂν ἐθέλῃ the law, which enjoins that a man has the right to dispose of his property as he wishes Is. 2.13.

c. When a particular person is meant, who is easily understood from the situation: τοὺς νόμους ἀναγνώσεται he (the clerk) will read the laws Aes. 3.15.

d. When it is a general idea of person, and usually in the third person plural of verbs of saying and thinking:

. So φᾱσί they say, οἴονται people think; cp. aiunt, ferunt, tradunt.

e. In descriptions of locality: ἦν δὲ κρημνῶδες for it (the place) was steep T. 7.84.

f. In impersonal verbs (932, 934).

932

Impersonal Verbs (905).—The subject of a true impersonal verb is a vague notion that cannot be supplied from the context: ὀψὲ ἦν it was late, καλῶς ἔχει it is well,

, αὐτῷ οὐ προυχώρει it (the course of events) did not go well with him T. 1.109.

933

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,

, 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):

.

934

In some so-called impersonal verbs the person is left unexpressed because the actor is understood or implied in the action. So

a. In expressions of natural phenomena originally viewed as produced by a divine agent: βροντᾷ tonat, ὕ̄ει pluit, νείφει ningit, χειμάζει it is stormy, ἔσεισε it shook, there was an earthquake. The agent (Ζεύς, ὁ θεός) is often (in Hom. always) expressed, as Ζεὺς ἀστράπτει Iuppiter fulget.

b. When the agent is known from the action, which is viewed as alone of importance: σαλπίζει the trumpet sounds (i.e. ὁ σαλπιγκτὴς σαλπίζει the trumpeter sounds the trumpet), ἐκήρυξε proclamation-was made (scil. ὁ κῆρυξ), σημαίνει the signal is given (scil. ὁ κῆρυξ or ὁ σαλπιγκτής).

935

In impersonal passives the subject is merely indicated in the verbal ending: λέγεταί τε καὶ γράφεται speeches (λόγοι) and writings (γράμματα) are composed P. Phae. 261b. This construction is relatively rare, but commonest in the perfect and pluperfect:

, .

936

Subject of the Infinitive.—The subject of the infinitive is in the accusative:

.

a. See 1975. On the nominative subject of the infinitive, see 1973.

937

Omission of the Subject of the Infinitive.—The subject of the infinitive is usually not expressed when it is the same as the subject or object (direct or indirect) of the principal verb:

(contrast dixit se velle), πάντες αἰτοῦνται τοὺς θεοὺς τὰ φαῦλα ἀπο-

τρέπειν

everybody prays the gods to avert evil

(X. S. 4)

. 47,

δός μοι τρεῖς ἡμέρᾱς ἄρξαι αὐτοῦ

grant me the control of him for three days

(X. C. 1.3.11)

. Cp. 1060, 1973.

a. An indefinite subject of the infinitive (τινά, ἀνθρώπους) is usually omitted. Cp. 931 b, 1980.