Rules of Construction in English Grammar, Part 13
Verbes gouerning a genitiue caſe after them.
Verbes with a genitiue caſe after them.THis verbe Sum, when it betokeneth or importeth poſſeſſion, owing, or otherwiſe pertaining to a thing, as a token, propertie, dutie, or guiſe, it cauſeth the noune, pronoune, or participle following to be put in the genitiue caſe:This rule ſhorter is thus. This verbe Sum, with all his moodes and perſons, when they betoken poſſeſſion, or perteining to a thing, require a genitiue caſe. as, Haec veſtis eſt patris, This garment is my fathers. Inſipientis eſt dicere, non putâram, It is the propertie of a foole to ſay, I had not thought. Extremae eſt dementiae diſcere dediſcenda, It is a point of the greatest folly in the world to learne things that afterward must be learned otherwiſe. Orantis eſt, nihil niſi coeleſtia cogitare, It is the dutie of a man that is ſaying of his praiers to hauehave mind on nothing but heauenlie things.
The examples applied.There be fower examples in this rule, in the firſt whereof Haec veſtis eſt patris, this word patris is the genitiue caſe gouerned of the verb eſt betokening poſſeſſion, or ſhewing whoſe the garment is, by this rule.
In the ſecond example, Inſipientis eſt dicere, non putâram, this word inſipientis is the genitiue caſe, gouerned of the verb eſt betokening a propertie, by this rule.
In the third example, Extremae eſt dementiae diſcere dediſcenda, this word dementiae is the genitiue caſe gouerned of the verbe eſt, ſignifieng the pertaining or belonging vntounto a foole, or the point and token of a foole, by this rule.
In the fourth example, Orantis eſt, nihil niſi coeleſtia cogitare, this participle orantis is the genitiue caſe gouerned of the verbe eſt, ſignifieng a dutie, by this rule.
Qu. Is this rule alwaies true, ſo that it hath none exception?
An. Not ſo. For if any of theſe pronounes, Meus, tuus, ſuus, noſter, and veſter be vſed after this verbe Sum in ſuch maner of ſpeaking, when it betokeneth or importeth poſſeſſion, or pertaining to a thing, they ſhall be put in the nominatiue caſe, and not in the genitiue, by this exception following:
An exception from the former rule.Except that theſe pronounes, Meus, tuus, ſuus, noſter, and veſter ſhall in ſuch maner of ſpeaking be vſed in the nominatiue caſe: as Hic codex eſt meus, This booke is mine. Haec domus eſt veſtra, This houſe is yours. Non eſt mentiri meum, It is not my guiſe, or propertie to lie. Noſtrum eſt iniuriam non inferre, It is our parts not to do wrong. Tuum eſt omnia iuxta pati, It is thy part or dutie, to ſuffer all things in like.
The examples applied.This exception hath fiue examples, whereof the firſt is, Hic codex eſt meus, in which example bicauſe this pronoune meus commeth after the verbe eſt betokening poſſeſſion, it is put in the nominatiue caſe by this exception.
In the ſecond example Haec domus eſt veſtra, this pronoune veſtra being put after the verbe eſt ſignifieng poſſeſſion, is the nominatiue caſe by this exception.
In the third example Non eſt mentiri meum, the pronoune meum cōming after the verb eſt betokening a propertie, is put in the nominatiue caſe, & not in the genitiue by this exception.
In the fourth example Noſtrum eſt iniuriam non inferre, the pronoune noſtrum is the nominatiue caſe after the verbe eſt betokening a part or dutie, by this exception.
In the fift example Tuum eſt omnia iuxta pati, the pronoun tuum comming after the verbe eſt betokening a dutie, is put in the nominatiue caſe, and not in the genitiue caſe by this exception.
Qu. But can you ſhew me any reaſon, why in theſe kindes of ſpeaking, theſe pronounes after the verbe Sum ſhould rather be vſed in the nominatiue caſe, than in the genitiue?
A reaſon why theſe pronounes ſet downe in the former exception are rather put in the nominatiue caſe, thā in the genitiue after the verbe Sum. An other rule, for the genitiue caſe after verbs.An. Theſe pronounes after the verbe Sum, in theſe kindes of ſpeaking, are rather put in the nominatiue caſe than in the genitiue, bicauſe that they hauehave ſubſtantiues alwais as nominatiue caſes vntounto the verb, either expreſſed or vnderſtood, with the which they muſt agrée in caſe, gender, & number, the which ſubſtātiues, if they be expreſſed are many & diuers: if they be vnderſtood, it is for the moſt part this word officiū, in engliſh duty.
Verbes that betoken to eſtéeme or regard, require a genitiue caſe betokening the valew: as, Parui ducitur probitas, Honestie is reckoned little woorth. Maximi penditur nobilitas, Noblenes of birth is very much regarded.
The examples applied.This rule hath two examples. The firſt is Parui ducitur probitas, in the which this word parui betokening the value, is the genitiue caſe after the verbe ducitur, ſignifieng eſtéeming by this rule.
In the ſecond example Maximi penditur nobilitas, Maximi betokening the value is the genitiue caſe after penditur, a verbe of regarding, by this rule.
A note borowed from the latin.Héere is to be noted that this verbe aeſtimo, to esteeme or regard, may hauehave an ablatiue caſe alſo, as well as a genitiue.
An other rule for verbes with a genitiue caſe, and ſometime an ablatiue.Verbs of accuſing, condemning, warning, purging, quiting, or aſſoiling, will hauehave a genitiue caſe, of the crime, or of the cauſe, or of the thing that one is accuſed, condemned, or warned of: or elſe an ablatiue caſe moſt commonly without a prepoſition: as Hic furti ſe alligat, vel furto, This man accuſeth himſelfe of theft. Admonuit me errati, vel errato, He admoniſhed me, or gaue me warning of my fault. De pecunijs reperundis damnatus eſt, He is condemned of briberie.
The examples applied.This rule hath thrée examples, in the firſt wherof Hic furti ſe alligat vel furto, this word furti, the genitiue caſe betokening the crime, is gouerned of the verbe of accuſing alligat, by this rule, and you may ſay it alſo in the ablatiue caſe furto, after the ſame verbe, thus, Hic furto ſe alligat, by this rule.
In the ſecond example, Admonuit me errati, vel errato, admonuit a verbe of warning doth gouerne the word errati betokening the crime, in the genitiue caſe, by this rule, and it may alſo be ſaid errato in the ablatiue caſe thus, admonuit me errato vel de errato, by the ſame rule.
In the third example, De pecunijs repetundis damnatus eſt, the word pecunijs betokening the crime is put in the ablatiue caſe with the prepoſition de after damnatus eſt, a verb of condemning by this rule.
An other rule for verbes with a genitiue caſe.Theſe verbes Satago, to hauehave as much as one can doo, miſereor, to hauehave mercy, miſereſco, to hauehave pittie, require a genitiue caſe: as, Rerum ſuarum ſatagit, He hath as much as he can doo of his owne matters. Miſerere mei deus, HaueHave mercy on me O God.
The examples applied.This rule hath two examples, in the firſt whereof, Rerum ſuarum ſatagit, the word rerum is the genitiue caſe after the verbe ſatagit by this rule.
In the ſecond example Mei is the genitiue caſe after the verbe miſerere, by this rule, but miſercor and miſereſco hauehave ſomtimes alſo a datiue caſe, but this is very ſeldome.
An other rule for verbes with a genitiue, and ſometime an accuſatiue caſe.Theſe verbes Reminiſcor, to remember, obliuiſcor, to forget, recordor, to remember; and memini, to remember, wil hauehave a genitiue or an accuſatiue caſe: as, Reminiſcor hiſtoriae, I remember the hiſtorie. Obliuiſcor carminis, I forget the verſe. Recordor pueritiam, I call to remembrance my childhood. Obliuiſcor lectionem, I forget my leſſon. Memini tui vel te, I remember thee. Memini de te; I ſpake of thee.
The examples applied.The examples of this rule are fiue, wherof the firſt is Reminiſcor hiſtoriae, in the which reminiſcor doth gouerne the word hiſtoriae, in the genitiue caſe by this rule, and you may ſay it by the accuſatiue caſe thus, Reminiſcor hiſtoriam, by the ſame rule.
In the ſecond example Obliuiſcor carminis, the verbe obliuiſcor gouerneth the genitiue caſe carminis, by this rule, and it may be ſaid by the accuſatiue caſe, Obliuiſcor carmen, by the ſame rule.
In the third example Recordor pueritiam, the verbe recordor cauſeth pueritiam to be put in the accuſatiue caſe by this rule, and it may be ſaid by the genitiue caſe recordor pucritiae, by the ſame rule.
In the fourth example Obliuiſcor lectionem, the word lectionem is the accuſatiue caſe after the verb obliuiſcor by this rule, and it may be ſaid by the genitiue caſe Obliuiſcor lectionis, by the ſame rule.
A note for the verbe Memini.In the fift example Memini tui vel te, the verbe memini doth gouerne the genitiue caſe tui, and the accuſatiue caſe te by this rule. And in the other ſentence, Memini de te, the ſame verbe memini doth gouerne the word te in the ablatiue caſe with the prepoſition de, but in another ſignification. For the verbe memini with a genitiue or an accuſatiue caſe doth ſignifie to Remember, and with an ablatiue caſe with the prepoſition de, doth ſignifie to make mention, or to ſpeake of a thing.
Obiection.Qu. But wherefore is this ſentence, Indigeo tui vel te, I hauehave need of thee, ſet here in this place?
Anſwer.An. To ſhew that the verbe indigeo may hauehave either a genitiue caſe, as tui in this example is, or that it may be conſtrued with an ablatiue caſe, as te in the ſame example is: but indéed this example doth more properly belong vntounto the rule of verbs betokening fulnes, emptines, &c. following héerafter.
A rule for the verbe potior.This verbe Potior to conquer, inioy, or obtaine, will hauehave a genitiue, or an ablatiue caſe: as, Potior vrbis, I conquer the citie, Potior voto, I obtaine my deſire.
The examples applied.This rule hath two examples, in the firſt whereof Potior vrbis, the verbe potior hath a genitiue caſe by this rule.
In the ſecond example Potior voto, the verbe potior gouerneth an ablatiue caſe by the ſame rule.