The Purpose clause is a subordinate use of the subjunctive
expressing purpose or obligation.
- “We come to class so that we may learn about Latin.”
A purpose clause answers the question “why” or “for what
purpose” the main action of the sentence is performed
In English, we can express purpose with an infinitive or the
phrases “so that” or “in order that”
Latin, however, uses “ut” or “nē” + the subjunctive
- Ad scholam venimus ut dē Latinā discāmus
Caesar grabs a sword in order to fight
Caesar gladium capit ut pugnet.
Negate a purpose clause by using “nē” in place of “ut”.
Caesar fights so that the country may not be captured.
Caesar pugnat nē patria capiatur.
The result clause is another of the subordinate uses of the
subjunctive mood.
While the purpose clause answers the question of “Why?,”
the result clause answers the question: “What was the
outcome?”
A Result Clause is ALWAYS introduced with ut and has a
subjunctive verb.
The main clause will often have an adverb (ita, tam, sic) or
adj. of degree (tantus/a/um) - this is the “sign word”
sign word + ut + subjunctive verb = Result Clause
If it’s a negative result clause, the dependent clause will
have a negative word (non, nihil, nullus, etc)
All of the “sign words” convey a sense of degree, carrying
meanings like “so” or “such”
“ut,” translated as “that,” marks the start of the result clause
The sign word from the main clause will tell you how to
translate the result clause,
but here’s the basic idea:
“Sign Words”
so….that….
such…that…
so many…that…
tam
so
to such an extent
that…
in such a
way that...
talis, tale
such
tantus, a, um
Examples:
tot
Tanta fēcit ut urbem
servaret.
adeo
so much/great
so many
to such an extent
He did such great sic
things that he savedthus
the city.
ita
in such a manner
Virtus Caesaris tanta est ut vinci non possit.
The virtue of Caesar is so great that he cannot be beaten.
Indirect Questions report QUESTIONS indirectly and they
form using a dependent subjunctive.
To form the indirect question:
Main verb of questioning, etc. + Question Word + Subjunctive
Note on translating IQs: You will always translate an
Indirect Question with an indicative verb in English. The
verb of the IQ will move to the end of the English sentence.
Why does the king fight?
Cur rex pugnat?
Rogant cur rex pugnet. They ask why the king fights.
Ubi puer cucurrit?
Where did the boy run?
Rogant ubi puer cucurrerit. They ask where the boy ran.
Quid est veritas?
What is truth?
Cicero rogavit quid veritas esset.
Cicero asked what truth was.
Words
Defiinitions
quis, quid
who, what
quī, quae, quod
what _______, which
cūr / quārē
Why
quot
how many
ubi
Where
unde
Whence
quando
When
quam
How
uter, utra, utrum
which one (of two)
utrum…an
Whether…or
An Indirect Command, like Indirect Statement and Indirect
Question, is another form of indirect discourse.
Also known as the “Jussive Noun Clause,” this equates to the
indirect report of a command
Formation:
verb of ordering + ut/ne + subjunctive
Translate the subjunctive verb in a IC as: “to…” or “not to…”
The subject of the IC will usually be included as the Direct object or
Indirect object of the main clause
Domīnus nautīs imperat ut ad īnsulam navigent.
The master orders the sailors to sail to the island.
Caesar militēs suōs hortātus est ut hostēs vincerent.
Caesar urged his soldiers to conquer their enemies.
Lēx nōs monet nē civēs nostrōs interficiamus.
The law warns us not to kill our citizens.
The IC extends to cover a wide variety of situations,
including orders, requests, jussive subjunctives, advice,
exhortations, etc.
When we first see the IC, it looks a lot like a Purpose clause.
We can tell them apart by the verb in the main clause and
that an IC answers the question:
“what was ordered/advised/requested/etc?”
This means that the IC is one of many substantive clauses in
Latin, the entire IC clause functions as the object of the
verb of ordering/asking/speaking/thinking/etc.
Any verb of Ordering, Advising, urging, thinking, speaking,
etc., can introduce an IC
The ONE BIG EXCEPTION: iubeo only takes an infinitive
If you’re afraid of something, it functions as a direct object.
ex: I fear the dog. - Timeo canem.
However, if you’re afraid that something will or won’t
happen, that action is a fear clause.
ex: I fear that none of you will study.
Fearing Clauses break down like this:
Verb of Fearing + ut/nē + Subjunctive Verb
Use the ut when you’re afraid something will NOT happen
(and thus you want it to happen!)
Use nē when you’re afraid something will happen
(and thus you don’t want it to happen!)
In fearing clauses, translate:
ut – “that…not” ne – “that” or “lest”
Note: it’s the opposite of what you’d expect!
For the subjunctive verbs: use auxiliaries:
“will” / “may” (prim. seq.) – or – “would” / “might” (Sec. seq.)
Fearing Clauses break down like this:
Verb of Fearing + ut/nē + Subjunctive Verb
ut – “that…not” ne – “that” or “lest”
For the subjunctive verbs: use English auxiliaries:
“will” / “may” (prim. seq.) – or – “would” / “might” (Sec. seq.)
Examples:
Timeō nē id crēdant.
I fear that they may believe this.
Timuī ut id crēdant.
I feared that they might not believe this.
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Now that we have reviewed all the tenses of the Subjunctive, it’s
worth recalling how the Sequence of Tenses works.
Any subordinate use of the subjunctive in Latin will use a specific
tense for the dependent verb as dictated by the Sequence of
Tenses.
The main verb of the sentence will dictate which sequence the
sentence follows:
• Primary Sequence = Main verbs in Present, Future, and Perfect tenses
• Secondary Sequence = Main verbs in Perfect, Imperfect, and
Pluperfect tenses
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You may notice that the perfect tense main verb can be treated as
primary sequence or as secondary sequence, this is due to its
unique emphasis of the “present result” of a “past action,”
suggesting both possible periods of time (primary and historical)
Note, too, that “historical” present tense verbs in historical
narrative are usually treated as secondary sequence. (We will
observe this in the BC)
Primary
Sequence
(Main Verb = Pres.,
Fut., Pf.)
Secondary
Sequence
(Main Verb = Pf.,
Impf., Plupf.)
Simultaneous or
Subsequent Action
(Same time as or time
after main verb)
Prior or Past Action
(Time before main
verb)
Present Subj.
Perfect Subj.
Imperfect Subj.
Pluperfect Subj.
Note, again, that the Sequence of tenses only applies to
Subordinate (aka Dependent) uses of the Subjunctive.