Interchangeability of moods
In prescriptions, physicians use verbs to give instructions to the pharmacist regarding the preparation, dispensing, and labeling of a medication. These instructions can be expressed using two grammatical constructions that are considered completely equivalent:
- Imperative mood (Imperativus). Sounds like a direct command. For example, Misce. Da. Signa. translates as "Mix. Dispense. Label."
- Subjunctive mood (Conjunctivus). Used in the passive voice and translated with the construction "let it be...". For example, Misceātur. Detur. Signētur. means "Let it be mixed, dispensed, labeled" (or simply "Mix! Dispense! Label!").
Other prescription instructions are formed similarly. The word Sterilĭsa (Sterilize!) becomes Sterelisētur! (Let it be sterilized!), and Repěte (Repeat!) is replaced by Repetātur! (Let it be repeated!).
Agreement of verbs with nouns
When using the subjunctive mood, it is important to correctly agree the verb with the subject in number.
Let us take the verb Dare (to dispense) as an example:
- The singular form Detur is used as a standalone verb. In this case, the word medicamentum (medication), which is in the singular, is implicitly implied.
- The plural form Dentur is used when there is a plural noun nearby. The most frequent example is the phrase Dentur tales doses ("Let such doses be dispensed"). The verb adjusts to the word doses (doses).
Features of the verb fio, fieri
Prescriptions frequently feature the verb fio, fiěri, which translates as "to become" or "to be formed". Despite having an exclusively passive meaning, its endings belong to the active voice (this is a so-called irregular verb).
It is needed for standard constructions of the type "Mix so that... is formed". The subjunctive mood form is formed by adding the suffix -a- to the stem fi-. Depending on the number of the pharmaceutical form, we use:
- fiat — for the singular;
- fiant — for the plural.
This construction begins with the verb Misce, followed by the verb fiat/fiant and the name of the pharmaceutical form strictly in the nominative case (Nominativus). The conjunction ut (so that) before fiat is implied but usually omitted.
Example: Misce, ut fiat pulvis. (Mix so that a powder is formed).
Selection of the number of the pharmaceutical form
The verb fieri must obligatorily agree in number with the pharmaceutical form that is to be formed as a result.
- Singular (Singularis). Used for most standard forms: ointments, pastes, powders, emulsions, suppositories, and liniments.
- Plural (Pluralis). Used when prescribing herbal teas (collections). Remember: the noun species, ērum f (collection/herbal tea) belongs to the 5th declension and exists only in the plural in Latin. Therefore, the form fiant is always used with collections.
Briefly: answers to topical questions
How are the passive subjunctive forms formed for verbs of the 1st–4th conjugations in prescriptions?
Subjunctive mood forms (Conjunctivus) are formed by changing the verb stem depending on its conjugation.
- 1st conjugation — the final stem vowel -a is replaced by -e.
- 2nd, 3rd, 4th conjugations — the suffix -a is added to the verb stem.
In prescription writing, these forms are used to express an incentive to action or a command in a passive construction (for example, Detur — let it be dispensed).
How to correctly translate into Latin and write the phrase "Let 10 such doses be dispensed"?
The correct translation of this phrase into Latin is written as Dentur tales doses numero 10.
- Dentur (let be dispensed) — a verb in the subjunctive mood (Conjunctivus) of the passive voice. It is in the plural because it grammatically agrees with the subject.
- tales doses (such doses) — the subject in the plural.
- numero 10 (number 10) — indication of the exact quantity of doses.
What rules for verb abbreviation (e.g., M., D., S.) apply when writing prescriptions?
When writing prescriptions, physicians are required to use only standard, officially approved abbreviations. The following rules apply to verbs and standard prescription formulations:
- Initial letters — an abbreviation usually contains one, two, or three initial letters of a word (e.g., M. — Misce, S. — Signa).
- Consonant cluster — if a word is abbreviated at a syllable containing multiple consonants, all of them must be retained.
Arbitrary abbreviation of words is not permitted.
Class and exam questions
Can imperative and subjunctive moods be mixed in a single prescription?
Within a single formulation, one style is usually adhered to: either all verbs in the Imperativus (Misce. Da. Signa.) or all in the Conjunctivus (Misceātur. Detur. Signētur.). They are completely equivalent.
Why do prescriptions write Detur instead of Dentur when there is no word doses?
When a verb is used without a specifying plural noun, the singular subject medicamentum (medication) is implied. Therefore, the singular form — Detur — is used.
In which case is the pharmaceutical form placed after the verb fiat?
The name of the pharmaceutical form after the verbs fiat or fiant is always placed in the nominative case (Nominativus).
What else to study on this topic
- Endings of Latin verbs in the imperative mood
- Derivation of the passive subjunctive mood
- Conjugation of irregular verbs in Latin
- The fifth declension of Latin nouns
Master the entire topic in the "Latin Language" course
This is a summary. The course covers everything tested in classes and exams.
- Complete study guide on "Verbs in prescription formulations" and 2,323 more subject pages
- Assignments and quizzes after every topic — just like in a colloquium
- AI tutor answers questions on the topic anytime
- 107 video lessons on the subject
Other topics in the section "Verb. Imperativus. Conjunctivus"
Prepared by WhiteCoat Pro faculty in accordance with the medical school curriculum. For educational purposes only.