Uses of the Present Subjunctive
The present tense of the subjunctive can be used in the following
subjunctive clauses:
Hortatory Subjunctive*
Jussive Subjunctive*
Deliberative Subjunctive* (uses imp. also)
Potential Subjunctive*(uses imp. & plup. also)
Optative Subjunctive* (uses Imp. & plup. also)
Purpose Clauses (uses imp. also)
Result Clauses (uses imp. also)
Indirect Command (uses imp. also)
Fearing Clauses (uses imp., perf., & plup. also)
Indirect Question (uses imp., perf., & plup. also)
Cum clauses (uses imp., perf., & plup. also)
Relative Clause of Purpose (uses imp. also)
*these are the new subjunctive uses for us!*
Hortatory/Jussive (the “LETT’UCE”
Subjunctive. )
• Hortatory:
used when the speaker is “ordering” or “encouraging” himself or
one or more other people to do something. e.g. “Eat Well!” “Let us all work out!”
It’s “like” a
command.
• Hortatory FORMS/TRANSLATIONS: 1st person pl. subj = “LET
subject verb.” (we)
• Jussive: same use as Hortatory but with the 2nd/3rd person
form of verbs (you, he,she,it,they)
• Jussive FORMS/TRANSLATIONS: 3rd person subjects =
VERB!!! (as if it were an imperative)
e.g. ad urbem ambulēmus. - HORTATORY
LET us walk to the city!
e.g. statim redeat! - JUSSIVE
LET him return at once!
e.g. patriam tuam dēfendās! - JUSSIVE
DEFEND your fatherland!
e.g. cīvēs bonī sītis.
BE good citizens!
Deliberative Subjunctive
• Generally used with the 1st person subjects when the
speaker is trying to decide what to do or when he wishes
to express doubt or disbelief; questions
• Uses PRESENT or IMPERFECT subjunctive tenses
• TRANSLATION = can use “should”
e.g. quid faciam?
What am I to do? What should I
do?
• quid facerem?
What was I to do/should I do?
• tradantne sē?
Are they to surrender? Should
they surrender?
• unde auxilium petamus?
From where should we
seek help?
• iam verō quid egō dē valvīs illīus templī
commemorem?
• But now, what should I relate about the doors of that
temple?
Potential & Optative Subjunctive
POTENTIAL: having or showing the capacity to develop into something
• Used as the main verb to express a possibility
• TRANSLATION: “would”
• e.g. credās non dē puerō scriptum est sed ā puerō.
• You would think it was written not about a boy but by a boy.
OPTATIVE: expressive of a wish or desire
• Used to express wishes
• Often used with the word, “utinam = would that, I wish that” to introduce the
verb
• Used with “ne” for negative wishes
• Present Subjunctive – used for a wish for a thing that IS possible (“may”)
• E.g. utinam mox adveniat.
May she arrive soon.
• E.g. ne discedant.
May they not leave.
• Imperfect (“might”/”were”) & Pluperfect (“had”) Subjunctive – used for wishes
for a thing that are IMPOSSIBLE
e.g. utinam Vergilius viveret.
Would that Vergil were alive.
e.g. utinam ne Hannibal effugisset.
Would that Hannibal had not
escaped.
e.g. Adfuisses!
I wish you had been there.