Be Away, Be Present: absum, adsum

Level 4

Put a prefix before sum and keep its endings; prosum adds d before e.

How It Works

VerbMeaningDictionary forms
absumam awayabesse, afui
adsumam presentadesse, adfui
desumam lackingdeesse, defui
praesumam in chargepraeesse, praefui
prosumam usefulprodesse, profui

The present of prosum is prosum, prodes, prodest, prosumus, prodestis, prosunt. The d comes between pro- and a form of esse that starts with a vowel.

Most of these verbs take a dative for the person or thing: praesum takes the thing in charge (exercitui praeest), and prosum takes the person who gains (mihi prodest). Absum often takes the ablative of separation: domo abest.

Examples (5)

  1. Pater domo abest.

    The father is away from home.

    Abest is third person singular of absum, and domo is the ablative.

  2. Magister adest et vocat te.

    The Teacher is here and calls you.

    From John 11:28. Adest is third person singular of adsum.

  3. Dominus nobiscum adest.

    The Lord is here with us.

    Adest means is present.

  4. Caesar exercitui praeest.

    Caesar is in command of the army.

    Praeest takes the dative: exercitui.

  5. Quid tibi prodest?

    What good is it to you?

    Prodest takes the dative: tibi.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the d in prosum.

    Hoc mihi prosest.
    Hoc mihi prodest.

    Before a form of esse that starts with a vowel, prosum puts a d between pro- and the verb: prodest.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Be Away, Be Present: absum, adsumLevel 4

Learn This First

The compounds of sum put a prefix in front of sum.

Words in This Pattern

absumadsumdesumprosumpraesum