Peter Abelard

On the Trinity

Latin Grammar: Accusative with Infinitive

Qui nec spiritus sancti personam praetermisisse videtur, cum animam mundi esse astruxerit tertiam a deo et noy personam ubi videlicet in Timeo ait his verbis: "Deus tam antiquitate quam virtutibus praeire animam naturae corporis iussit, dominamque eam et principale iure voluit esse circa id quod tueretur. Itaque tertium animae genus excogitavit".
[1.37] De hac autem anima, si diligentius discutiuntur ea quae dicuntur tam ab hoc philosopho quam a ceteris, nulli rei poterunt aptari, nisi spiritui sancto per pulcherrimam involucri figuram assignentur.

Several sentences in this passage use the construction of an accusative subject with an infinitive. This can occur with an indirect statement, or with certain verbs which trigger this construction. The "trigger verbs" are listed below. Give the infinitive and subject accusative nouns or pronouns which occur as a result of these "trigger verbs" which are also underlined in the passage above.

main verb ("trigger")infinitivesubject/accusative
1. videtur
2. astruxerit
3. iussit
4. voluit

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