oportet

Oportet is an impersonal Latin verb meaning it is necessary or one ought to do something. It expresses external necessity or propriety rather than a subject’s personal obligation. In Latin, the verb is used without a grammatical subject and typically governs an infinitive or a clause, rather than a specific noun.

Etymology and forms: Oportet comes from the verb opportere, and in classical use it behaves as an impersonal form. The present tense oportet is the most common: “it is necessary.” Other tenses (imperfect oportebat, future oportebit, perfect oportuit) exist and are used to indicate different times of necessity or propriety. Because it is impersonal, typical Latin syntax places the infinitive or a following clause after oportet rather than matching a subject noun with a finite verb.

Usage and patterns: Oportet is frequently followed by an accusative object and an infinitive, or by a clause with ut or ne and the subjunctive in some authors. A standard pattern is oportet + te + venire, meaning it is necessary for you to come. Other examples include oportet eum venire (it is fitting for him to come) and oportet nos periculum evitare (we must avoid danger). In contrast to obligational verbs like debere, oportet conveys a sense of appropriateness or external necessity.

Translations and nuance: In English, oportet is commonly rendered as it is necessary, one must, or it is fitting. It often carries a normative sense—what ought to be done in a given situation—rather than a speaker’s personal obligation.

See also: Latin grammar, impersonal verbs, debeo, oportere in ecclesiastical Latin.