On the Flu
Latin Grammar: Active and Passive Voice
Nam cum vapores proveniunt ad cerebrum, ingrossantur et frequenter ultra debitum, et tunc causatur catarrhus secundum Philosophum propter frigiditatem cerebri, sicut in maiori mundo ex magna condensatione vaporum per frigus medii interstitii arteris causatur pluvia. Et propter hoc magnitudo cerebri est causa somnolentiae, et haec non provenit nisi ex eius frigiditate, per quam ingrossantur vapores.
Active and Passive Voice
The verb causatur is an example of a passive verb, which is conjugated and translated differently from an active verb. The active voice is formed with normal endings for each tense, and is translated normally.
For example, the verb causat is translated "he/she/it causes." The passive, however, is formed with different endings and is translated differently. Whereas causat in the active is translated "it causes," causatur in the passive is translated "it is caused." Knowing the passive endings for each verb is extremely important, as passive verbs are widespread throughout Latin.