There is a category of verbs in Latin that
are often translated in English as
impersonal, i.e. as not having a subject
(translated with "it"). While these are
often translated as impersonals, they
often do have a subject in Latin, either
unexpressed or something other than a
noun.
THE WEATHER
 WITH AN INFINITIVE
 TO EXPRESS EMOTION
 WITH DATIVE OF REFERENCE

Words describing the weather that have
"caelum" as an unexpressed subject:
EXAMPLES:
› pluit, "it rains"
› ningit, "it snows"
› tonat, "it thunders"

Words where an infinitive (a verbal noun/
infinitive) is used as the subject:
EXAMPLES:
 necesse est, "it is necessary"
 fas est, "it is right“
 decorum est, “it is appropriate”
Some of these express emotion and work
with an adverbial accusative that is
similar in translation to a direct object (or
a subject). The genitive is also used to
express what the action is in reference
to.
EXAMPLES

› oportet, "it behoves" ("I ought")
› iuvat, "it delights" ("I like to")
› taedet, "it wearies" ("I am tired of")
Some of these express emotion and work
with an dative of reference that is similar
in translation to a direct object (or a
subject).
EXAMPLES:
licet: "it is allowed" ("I may")
placet: "it pleases" ("I decide")

Often impersonal verbs can be
translated literally and they make sense
in English, but they can be a little
awkward or wordy, so they can be
translated more “naturally” as well.
 Fas est iuvare parvos infantes

› LIT: it is right to help little babies
› NAT: you should help little babies
 The
following verbs are always, or
usually, Impersonal:
› decet, it is fitting
› libet, it is pleasing
› licet, it is permitted
› placet, it pleases
› taedet, it disgusts
› oportet, it is necessary
 More
natural translations would be:
› Decet mihi: I ought
› Oportet mihi: I must
› Libet mihi: I like
› Placet mihi: I like
› Licet: I am allowed
› Taedet mihi: I am tired of
Many verbs are used impersonally only
in certain senses
 EXAMPLES
INCLUDE:
› placet, it pleases, is decided,
› accidit. it happens.
The Passive of intransitive verbs can be
used only impersonally
EXAMPLES INCLUDE:
› itur, there is a going/someone goes,
› curritur, there is a running/someone
runs.