Latin C1: Licet, oportet, placet: impersonal verbs · Phrases

Some verbs only appear in the third person singular, with no real subject. licet (it is allowed) and placet (it pleases, it is decided) take the person in the dative: mihi licet. oportet (it is right, one ought) takes accusative and infinitive: te oportet venire. The verbs of feeling pudet, paenitet, taedet and piget put the person who feels in the accusative and the cause in the genitive: me pudet huius rei.

• licet — it is allowed
• oportet — one ought, it is right
• placet — it pleases, it is decided
• decet — it is fitting
• pudet — it shames
• paenitet — it makes sorry
• taedet — it wearies
• libet — it is agreeable

• Licetne intrare? — May I come in?
• Quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi. — What Jupiter may do, an ox may not.
• Me paenitet. — I’m sorry.
• Ut tibi placet. — As you like.