Peter Abelard

On Romantic Love

Latin Grammar: The Imperfect Subjunctive

Qui cum eam mihi non solum docendam, verum etiam vehementer constringendam traderet, quid aliud agebat quam ut votis meis licentiam penitus daret, et occasionem, etiam si nollemus, offerret, ut quam videlicet blanditiis non possem, minis et verberibus facilius flecterem. Sed duo erant quae eum maxime a turpi suspicione revocabant, amor videlicet neptis, et continentiae mee fama praeterita.

NB:  the word videlicet is used twice in the passage above.  An adverb meaning clearly or plainly, it has come to mean "namely," in current English, and is abbreviated "viz."

The Imperfect Subjunctive

As you recall, the imperfect form of the subjunctive is formed by using the infinitive of the verb and by adding person endings.  This is true for irregular as well as regular verbs.  Complete the synopsis in the imperfect subjunctive of the following irregular verbs from the passage above.

posse
  singular plural
1 possem
2
3

nolle
  singular plural
1 nollem
2
3

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