When a Latin verb is passive in form, but has an active meaning, it is called a deponent verb.
For example:
sequor, sequi, secutus sum (3) means ‘to follow’ and not ‘to be followed’.
Even though it appears to be passive, it is translated with an active meaning and can have an object following it.
For example:
Robertus Willelmum sequitur – Robert follows William.
Examples of deponent verbs
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| conor, conari, conatus sum (1) | to try |
| ingredior, ingredi, ingressus sum (3) | to enter |
| loquor, loqui, locutus sum (3) | to speak |
| morior, mori, mortuus sum (3) | to die |
| ordior, ordiri, orsus sum (4) | to begin |
| orior, oriri, orsus sum (4) | to rise |
| potior, potiri, potitus sum (4) | to gain mastery of |
| queror, queri, questus sum (3) | to complain |
| sequor, sequi, secutus sum (3) | to follow |
| testor, testari, testatus sum (1) | to witness |
| utor, uti, usus sum (3) | to use |
| vereor, vereri, veritus sum (2) | to fear |
Participles of deponent verbs
Deponent verbs have participles, formed in the same way as for normal verbs and the meaning is always active.
For example:
The present participle for sequor, sequi, secutus sum (3) ‘to follow’ is sequens, sequentis ‘following’.
The past participle for sequor, sequi, secutus sum (3) ‘to follow’ is secutus, -a, -um ‘having followed’.
The future participle for sequor, sequi, secutus sum (3) ‘to follow’ is secuturus, -a, -um ‘about to follow’.
Semi-deponent verbs
For these verbs only the perfect tense, and the tenses formed from it, are in the passive form, but just as with deponent verbs, the meaning is always active.
Examples of semi-deponent verbs
| Latin | English |
|---|---|
| audeo, audere, ausus sum (2) | to dare |
| confido, confidere, confisus sum (3) | to trust |
| diffido, diffidere, diffisus sum (3) | to distrust |
| fido, fidere, fisus sum (3) | to trust |
| gaudeo, gaudere, gavisus sum (2) | to be glad |
| soleo, solere, solitus sum (2) | to be accustomed |
Handy hint
gaudere and solere (the last two verbs, in bold) are those which you have the greatest chance of encountering. However, it is worth noting that the past participles of these two verbs can also be used in a passive way, meaning ‘enjoyed’ and ‘accustomed’. Fortunately, in most cases, the overall sense of the sentence you will be working with will help you to translate this correctly.
Checklist
Are you confident with
- the meaning of a deponent and semi-deponent verb?
- the form of a deponent and semi-deponent verb?
What next?