IIIH.Notes.Purpose Clauses (by Ms. Kate Hattemer)
Purpose Clauses
They’re back.
[Use this outline to take notes.]
[Obviously.]
I. PRACTICE TEST QUESTION: Purpose clauses express
a. fear
b. doubt
c. suggestions
d. purpose
II. Although there are many ways to express purpose in Latin1, one of the most
standard is the Adverbial Clause of Purpose. The basic “formula” for this is
a. main verb +
b. ut or nē +
c. dependent verb
III. ANOTHER PRACTICE TEST QUESTION: Given the fact that y’all just
learned subjunctive forms, and given the fact that the subjunctive is used for
non-factual verbs, and given the fact that the subjunctive is basically the best
thing ever, the dependent verb in a purpose clause is in what mood?
a. indicative
b. imperative
c. infinitive
d. subjunctive
…all of which you will learn during this course… [please, Joey, try to keep your excitement to a
minimum; some of us are trying to learn]
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IIIH.Notes.Purpose Clauses (by Ms. Kate Hattemer)
IV. English phrases that might tip off a purpose clause:
a. “so as to verb”
b. “so that we may/can/might/could verb”2
c. “in order to verb”
d. “in order that we may/can/might/could verb” 3
e. “that we might verb”
f. …and the good old infinitive, “to verb”4
V. “WAIT! WAIT! MS. HATTEMER! How do I know whether to use ut or nē?”
- Nizar Zahed5
a. ut: positive
b. nē: negative
VI. “WAIT! WAIT! MS. HATTEMER! How do I know what tense of the
subjunctive to use?”
a. Sequence of Tenses - it will get a little more complicated in a week or
so, but for now:
i. If the main verb is present, future, or future perfect (zero or
positive on the timeline o’ time), then use the present subjunctive.
ii. If the main verb is imperfect, perfect, or pluperfect (negative on
the timeline o’ time), then use the imperfect subjunctive.
b. See illustrations, infra.6
MAIN VERB
present
future
future perfect
DEPENDENT VERB
present subjunctive
MAIN VERB
imperfect
perfect
pluperfect
DEPENDENT VERB
imperfect subjunctive
Gosh, I love verbing.
I could verb all day long.
4 I mean, seriously - is there anything better than verbing?
5 If he actually says this before he sees the notes, please note that I am clairvoyant and praise me
accordingly.
6 These took an embarrassingly long time. And they aren’t even that cool.
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IIIH.Notes.Purpose Clauses (by Ms. Kate Hattemer)
VII. There’s one other type of purpose clause that uses the subjunctive, and so you
have to learn it now: the Relative Clause of Purpose. Basically, these are just
good old relative clauses. Except they use the subjunctive. And therefore
express purpose.
a. Relative clauses of purpose are used to name the purpose of a specific
antecedent, not of a whole clause.
i. “Haley praises Mr. Chang in order to annoy Ms. Hattemer7” probably not a relative clause of purpose, since it’s the entire
action that set up to annoy me (and oh how it does)
ii. “I sent Nora to give a bomb disguised in fried chicken to Mr.
Chang” - probably is a relative clause of purpose, since Nora’s
specific purpose is to blow him up
b. However, note the twofold occurrence of probably - it’s often difficult nay, impossible - to distinguish between the two. So don’t freak out
about them. But do recognize that when you see a relative pronoun +
subjunctive, it’s not a fact, but (usually) a purpose.
VIII. One more little exception!8 Whenever there’s a comparative adjective or
adverb inside the purpose clause, the clause is introduced by quō.
a. Really this is an ablative of degree of difference…
b. …but you can/should just translate it as “so that” or “in order to” or
whatever.
c. “Jake sent Mr. Chang hate mail so that Ms. Hattemer would like him
more” - ahh! Comparative!  Jacōbus Magistrō Changō nūntium
ōdiī mīsit QUŌ Magistrae Hattemerae magis placēret.
Can I just say that I really hate that Word always tells me my name is spelled wrong? Worse yet, its little
suggestions for how I might spell MY OWN NAME right include “Chatterer” and “Fattener.”
8 Get used to this phrase.
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