Use, Enjoy: utor, fruor
These deponents take the ablative where English has an object.
How It Works
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| utor | I use | libro utitur |
| fruor | I enjoy | pace fruitur |
| fungor | I perform | officio fungitur |
| potior | I gain | imperio potitus est |
| vescor | I feed on | pane vescuntur |
The perfect uses the participle: usus sum, fructus sum, functus sum, potitus sum. Each is active in meaning.
The ablative here is a plain object. It needs no preposition. English uses a plain object, so a learner is tempted to write the accusative. Remember the list and write the ablative.
The subject is the one who uses, enjoys, performs, gains or feeds. The verb has a passive form, but the action is the subject's own.
Examples (5)
- Marcus libro utitur.
Marcus uses the book.
Libro is the ablative of liber. Utitur is a deponent verb, active in meaning.
- Iulia pace fruitur.
Iulia enjoys the peace.
Pace is the ablative of pax, the object of fruitur.
- Multi pane vescuntur.
Many people feed on bread.
Vescuntur is the third person plural of vescor. Pane is the ablative.
- Rex imperio potitus est.
The king gained power.
Potitus est is the perfect of potior, and imperio is the ablative.
- Monachi silentio fruuntur.
The monks enjoy the silence.
Silentio is the ablative of silentium, the object of fruuntur.
Common Mistakes
Putting the object in the accusative.
Marcus librum utitur.Marcus libro utitur.Utor takes the ablative. Libro is the ablative of liber.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Some deponents take the ablative as an object.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice Use, Enjoy: utor, fruor in Bubblegum
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