[1496.] The principal verbs and verbal expressions thus used are: (a.) possum, licet, dēbeō, oportet, convenit, decet. (b.) aequum, aequius, iūstum, fās, necesse est; cōnsentāneum, satis, satius, optābile, optābilius est; ūtilius, melius, optimum, pār, rēctum est; facile, difficile, grave, īnfīnītum, longum, magnum est; est with the predicative genitive, or a possessive pronoun ([1237]). (c.) Similarly, but without an infinitive, forms of sum with a gerund, a gerundive, or a future participle.
[1497.] The imperfect of most of the above verbs and verbal expressions often relates to action not performed at the present time: as,
hīs aliās poteram subnectere causās; sed eundum est, J. 3, 315, to these I might add other grounds; but I must go. The context must determine whether the imperfect relates (a.) to action not performed either in the present as here, or in the past as in 1495, or (b.) to action performed in the past: as, sollicitāre poterat, audēbat, C. 3, 16, he had at once the assurance and the ability to play the tempter’s part.
[1498.] Forms of possum are sometimes put in the subjunctive ([1554]). Thus, possim, &c., often ([1556]), also possem, &c., usually of present time ([1560]), less frequently of past time ([1559]), potuissem, &c., particularly in sentences of negative import ([1561]), rarely potuerim, &c. ([1558]). Sometimes also dēbērem, &c., of present time ([1560]), dēbuissem, &c., chiefly in apodosis.
[1499.] The indicative is the mood ordinarily used in enquiries and in exclamations: as,
([a.]) huic ego ‘studēs?’ inquam. respondit ‘etiam.’ ‘ubī̆?’ ‘Mediōlānī.’ ‘cūr nōn hīc?’ ‘quia nūllōs hīc praeceptōrēs habēmus,’ Plin. Ep. 4, 13, 3, said I to the boy, ‘do you go to school?’ ‘yes, sir,’ said he; ‘where?’ ‘at Mediolanum;’ ‘why not here?’ ‘oh because we haven’t any teachers here.’ (b.) ut ego tuum amōrem et dolōrem dēsīderō, Att. 3, 11, 12, how I always feel the absence of your affectionate sympathy.
[1500.] Questions and exclamations are used much more freely in Latin than in English. Particularly common are two questions, of which the first is short and general, leading up to the real question: as,
sed quid ais? ubi nunc adulēscēns habet? Pl. Tri. 156, but tell me, where is the youngster living now? estne? vīcī? et tibī̆ saepe litterās dō? Cael. in Fam. 8, 3, 1, is it true? have I beaten? and do I write to you often? The real question is often preceded by quid est, quid dīcis, or by quid, quid vērō, quid tum, quid posteā, quid igitur, quid ergō, &c., &c.: as, quid? canis nōnne similis lupō? DN. 1, 97, why, is not the dog like the wolf?