LATIN FOR RESEARCH IN THE HUMANITIES
SEMINAR 7
RESULT
Adverb clauses of result – which are often called consecutive clauses – express the
consequence of whatever is described in the main clause of a sentence. All result clauses in
Latin are introduced by the conjunction ut. The verb in a result clause is always in the
subjunctive mood, using the same tense as would be employed in an ordinary sentence.
Tam defessus eram ut diu dormiverim.
I was so tired that I slept for a long time.
Note that to form the future subjunctive, the future participle is used with a part of sim.
Tam defessi sumus ut cras laboraturi non simus.
We are so tired that we shall not work tomorrow.
Result clauses and demonstratives
Result clauses often relate to a demonstrative word in the main clause of the sentence (such as
tam in the examples above). Some of the most common demonstrative words are:
talis
tantus
adeo (+ verb)
such (in kind)
so great, such (in amount)
so much, to such an extent
tam (+ adj. or adv.)
so…
ita / sic
so (= in such a way)
tot
so many
Non sum ita hebes ut istud dicam.
I am not so stupid as to say that.
CICERO
Quis tam demens est ut sua voluntate maereat?
Who is so mad as to mourn of his own free will?
CICERO
Nemo adeo ferus est ut non mitescere possit.
No-one is so savage that he cannot soften.
HORACE
It is, however, worth noting that sometimes no demonstrative word is used:
Clare, et ut audiat hospes.
Aloud, and so that a bystander may hear.
PERSIUS
Result clauses can sometimes follow quam + comparative:
Isocrates maiore ingenio est quam ut cum Lysia comparetur.
Isocrates is too great a genius to be compared with Lysias.
CICERO
Result clauses and purpose clauses
Result clauses and purpose clauses can often look quite similar, and so it is important to be
aware of the difference between them when translating. Compare the following:
PURPOSE:
Celeriter cucurrunt ne eos caperemus.
They ran fast so that we could not catch them.
RESULT:
Tam celeriter cucurrerunt ut eos capere non possemus.
They ran so fast that we could not catch them.
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In the second sentence, observe (1) ut + non in the result clause vs. ne in the purpose clause;
(2) the use of the demonstrative tam + adj. in the result clause vs. the bare adjective in the
purpose clause.
Exercises
(1) Tantus erat clamor ut nemo verba regis audiret.
(2) Gladiator spectatores adeo delectavit ut iterum iterumque plauderent.
(3) Tam benignus es ut ab omnibus civibus ameris.
(4) Tot vulnera acceperam ut medicus de vita mea desperaret.
(5) Nullus liber est tam malus ut non aliqua parte prosit. (Pliny)
(6) Eiusmodi tempestates sunt consecutae uti opus necessario intermitteretur. (Caesar)
(7) Siciliam Verres per triennium ita vexavit ac perdidit, ut ea in antiquum statum restitui
nullo modo possit. (Cicero)
q. 5 – alique parte = in some part
q. 5 – prosum, -desse, -fui = to benefit; here, to be profitable
q. 6 – Eiusmodi = tales
q. 6 – consequor, -qui, -cutus = to follow, to pursue
q. 6 – uti = ut
q. 6 – intermitto, -mittere, -misi, -missum = to break off, to interrupt, to neglect, to cease
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