On Eve
Latin Grammar: Verbs with Dative Objects
Filioli mei, quos iterum parturio donec formetur Christus in vobis (Gal. IV, 19). Parit in dolore filios, cum sollicita metuit, ne sicut serpens seduxit Evam astutia sua, ita corrumpantur sensus eorum, et excidant a simplicitate quae est in Christo. Agit sub viri potestate, quia servit Domino in timore et exsultat ei non in securitate, sed cum tremore: cui, si nunquam peccasset, solo securae dilectionis copularetur amplexu.
Many transitive English verbs (verbs that take a direct object) are intransitive verbs in Latin (verb that do not take a direct object). Since these verbs do not take a direct object, they do not take objects in the accusative case. Instead, the take objects in the dative case. In the above example, servio is an intransitive verb and thus Domino is in the dative case. Latin verbs that are intransitive generally include verbs of:
- aiding
- favoring
- serving
- yielding
- pleasing
- obeying
- harming
- commanding
- persuading
- trusting
- pardoning
- envying
Gain familiarity with intransitive verbs by translating the following phrases into English.