Rule 28: The Dative of Possession

[@oblivpatt3419]

I was just struggling with this in Wheelock yesterday after a long hiatus and a quick search on google afterwards didn’t provide any clear explanations either; and then here I am, finally enlightened. Thank you so much!

[@dannyallen2894]

You make all of these concepts so simple! Thank you!

[@jasonfunderberker1]

That was so good! I love these videos!!!

[@nothingbutnegativity7495]

For the sentence "tibi est toga", can we say "toga habes"?

[@ravenmight8997]

Question: what about *habeō*? What's the difference between "Canem habeō" and "Mihi canis est"? (In case I messed up my Latin, since I'm very new to Latin, both are supposed to mean "I have a dog.")

[@GadolElohai]

I didn't think anyone would be confused about the difference between this and the genitive (and possessive adjectives) but I certainly thought that the difference between that construction and habeo, habere would be discussed. I'm studying Biblical Greek and the same duality kind of occurs as well, to my understanding, and I can't understand the difference. Would you be so kind as to explain it to us?

[@latintutorial]

So, it happens in Cicero speeches that we see the equivalent of "fratrem habeo" or "filium habeo". Often these sentences are more complex than a simple declarative (e.g., the habeo occurs in a subordinate clause, or an indirect statement, or perhaps there are quite a few other things attached to the object of habeo), but it's common to see this construction. When you're using the dative of possession, since the possession itself is emphasized and the object of possession is introduced, we tend to see a much more basic statement with emphasis on the object of possession. Using habeo + accusative tends to remove the object of possession from the prominent spot as the subject of the sentence. It also looks like it's more colloquial to use the dative of possession - hence seeing it in Plautus. When people speak, they tend to use the dative of possession. Thus, when Juno in the Aeneid talks about having fourteen nymphs, she uses the dative of possession, sunt mihi bis septem nymphae, rather than habeo (habeo bis semptem nymphas). Finally, habeo often carries with it the idea of holding. Hostis habet muros, "the enemy has the walls", but more like "the enemy holds the walls". This doesn't quite work with all uses of habeo (like fratrem habeo), but it's something to keep in mind when you do see habeo used. Okay, does that make sense? I'm throwing out ideas that reflect what I see.

[@latintutorial]

There was another pretty big mistake that necessitated the revision, by the way.

[@RobloxHacksForMac]

Hi Ben! I am an AP latin teacher, and I was wondering how would you recommend to use hexameter.co as extra credit?

[@wagnerprimodearaujo9972]

Can I say: "Sibi nomen est Claudia", referring to a 3rd person?

[@latintutorial]

The 3rd person reflexive doesn’t seem like it would work there (nōmen is the subject, not the person). “Ei”, “huic”, or “illi” are better.