Commands for Later: memento, esto
The command in -to: memento, esto.
How It Works
| Verb | One person | Several people |
|---|---|---|
| memini (I remember) | memento | mementote |
| sum (I am) | esto | estote |
| scio (I know) | scito | scitote |
The singular form also serves for the third person: lex esto means let the law be.
A person after memento is in the genitive: memento mei means remember me. A thing that follows can be a clause with quia or an infinitive: memento mori.
The ordinary imperative (ama, amate) is for orders that apply now. For some verbs, such as scio, the -to form is the usual command.
Examples (5)
- Memento mori.
Remember that you must die.
Memento is the command of memini, and mori is the infinitive of morior.
- Memento, homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.
Remember, man, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
The words said on Ash Wednesday. The second half is from Genesis 3:19. Quia starts what is to be remembered.
- Salus populi suprema lex esto.
Let the safety of the people be the highest law.
Cicero, On the Laws 3.8, where the line begins with Ollis, an old form of illis (for them). Esto is third person: let it be.
- Domine, memento mei, cum veneris in regnum tuum.
Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
Luke 23:42. Mei is the genitive after memento. Veneris is the future perfect.
- Estote parati.
Be ready.
Matthew 24:44. Estote is the plural of esto, to several people.
Common Mistakes
Using the singular memento for several people.
Memento, pueri, mori.Mementote, pueri, mori.Memento speaks to one person. For several people the form is mementote.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The future imperative is a second command form.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice Commands for Later: memento, esto in Bubblegum
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