How is 'esse' supposed to be used in a sentence? (Grammatical errors found in saint’s writing)

[Francisco_Fernando]

How is ‘esse’ supposed to be used in a sentence? Because it seems like ‘non esse’ is to be translated to ‘It isn’t’. Is ‘non esse’ meaning ‘It isn’t’, correct? If so, why? What’s the grammatically correct way to use 'esse? I’ve noticed that they were supposed to use ‘est’

 

[catholic03]

Esse as a verb is the present infinitive of ‘sum’, the verb to be.

 

[edward_george1]

Esse can be translated in philosophical contexts as “being,” and so “non esse” can be “non-being.”

 

[Francisco_Fernando]

Thank you. That makes me feel so much better.

 

[Francisco_Fernando]

Why would they use ‘esse’ instead of est?

 

[JerryZ]

Well the same reason we use the many variants of the verb “to be” depends on the sentence construct. Is it singular, plural, 1st, 2nd or 3rd person, etc etc.
Peace!

 

[edward_george1]

Because “est” means “he/she/it is,” while “esse” means “to be” or “being.” They serve different grammatical functions. In Spanish it’s the difference between “ser” and “es,” and they would work differently in the sentence. An infinitive can function as a noun, whereas a conjugated verb could not.

 

[Bithynian]

it seems like ‘non esse’ is to be translated to ‘It isn’t’. Is ‘non esse’ meaning ‘It isn’t’, correct? If so, why? W

The infinitive (esse) has a very large number of functions in Latin. I can think of some 15-odd uses, each contextually different from the other.

It very much depends on the particular sentence where it is used. You can consult a Latin grammar manual (such as Allen and Greenough’s) for specifics, but you do require a working knowledge of Latin grammar otherwise the terminology would not make sense.

 

[otjm]

I haven’t conjugated a verb since… well, since Grandma was a young girl.

 

[Maximian]

If Hamlet had been speaking Latin, he would have said

“Utrum esse oporteat necne, illud quaeritur”

or something similar using esse to mean “to be”

 

[Francisco_Fernando]

The passage that I’m talking about with ‘esse’, didn’t make sense and felt like a tongue-twister to read. I want to trust this saint though.

 

[edward_george1]

What’s the passage?

 

[dochawk]

I haven’t conjugated a verb since… well, since Grandma was a young girl.

I count three conjugations in that sentence!
:crazy_face:

 

[Francisco_Fernando]

The passage also has ‘mortale’, I wonder if that means ‘mortal sin’

 

[edward_george1]

That’s exactly what it’s talking about…

 

[Francisco_Fernando]

I’ve looked at 2 dictionaries and I’m still researching. One of the definitions said ‘that which is mortal or perishable’.

 

[edward_george1]

Well, isn’t the context a discussion of what sin is mortal and what isn’t?

And again, you’ve brought up your issues “trusting a saint” that have come up on other threads. Why are you looking into this in such detail? It doesn’t seem healthy or helpful.

 

[Francisco_Fernando]

I want clarity. I don’t want to take them out of context.

 

[otjm]

It would seem that if you want clarity, you might want to pay less attention to what saints say, and more to what the Church says. The Catechism of the Catholic Church would be a good place to start.

 

[Titivillus]

I want clarity. I don’t want to take them out of context.

And yet (with all due respect), you have neither been clear nor provided context, viz. the passage or work under question?