On the Elements
Latin Grammar: Uses of the Infinitive
Quisquis enim de aliquo artifice an bonus vel sollers in operando sit volverit intelligere non ipsum sed opera eius considerare debet. Sic et deus, qui in seipso invisibilis et incomprehensibilis est, ex operum suorum magnitudine primam nobis de se scientiam confert, cum omnis humana noticia surgat a sensibus. Quod diligenter Moyses attendens populo illi carnali et corporeis sensibus dedito, nec spiritali intelligentia predito, iuxta numerum quinque sensuum hoc vetus testamentum in .v. libris scribere decrevit, ab ipso divine creationes exordio sumens exordium, naturalem quoque ordinem in hoc prosecutus. Unde bene hanc ipsam eius operationem prophetae huius materiam assignavimus.
You will notice in the passage above that the infinitive is used quite a few times. When the infinitive is used with certain verbs, for example: audeo, conor, debeo, decerno, incpio, possum and volo (among others), it is called a "complementary infinitive," meaning that its use complements completes the meaning of the main verb. Translate the following sentences into Latin. Use a Verb (conjugated) paired with an Infinitive. (Sentences with an asterisk are taken from the Latin passage above).
| Verbs | Infinitives |
|---|---|
| audeo (2) | considerare |
| conor (1) | creare |
| debeo(2) | currere |
| decerno(3) | discedere |
| incipio(3) | intelligere |
| possum, posse | scribere |
| volo, velle | sentire |
| somniare |