Heavy Construction

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411.

Opus and usus, signifying neet', take the Ablative: [1][This construction is properly an instrumental one, in which epus and Usus mean work and service, and the ablative expresses that with which the work Is performed or the service rendered. The noun usus follows the analogy of me verb titer, and me Lblative wim OPU8 C8t appeals to be an extension of that with 58U8 est.]

NOTE: The ablative with tisus is not common in classic prose.

a. With opua the aNative of a perfect participle is often found, either agreeing with a noun or used as a neuter abstract noun :

NOTE 1: So rarely with Usus in comedy: as, - quid istis tisust canseriptia (Pl. Bacch. 749), what's the good of having them in writing?

NOTE 2: The omission of the noun gives rise to complex constructions: as, - quid opus factist (ef. B. 0. i. 42), what must be done? [Cf. quid epus eat fleri? with quo* Rct5 opus est?]

b. Opus is often found in the predicate, with the tMng needed 'a the nominative as subject: