Uses of the Subjunctive
The Big Five
Cum Clause
There are three types of cum clauses
- Circumstantial - cum is translated as "when"
- Causal - cum is translated as "since"
- Concessive - cum is translates as "although"
It is not important to know the terms but to know that cum may be translated as
WHEN, SINCE, or ALTHOUGH
Example:
cum milites castris appropinqarent, hostem conspexerunt.
When the soldiers were appoaching the city, they caught sight of the enemy
Indirect Question
Indirect Questions are NOT questions, they are statements of fact. i.e. they will end with a period, not a question mark.
It begins with a Mental Action Verb (thinking, speaking or hearing are the major ones)
This verb will be in indicative mood
The indirect question clause will start with a a question word:
e.g. cur (why), quis (who), quid (what), quo modo (how), num (whether)
The subjunctive verb within the Indirect Question will be imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive.
Ex:
centurio nesciebant quis portas cellarum aperuisset.
The centurion was not knowing who had opened the gates of the cells
The part in bold is the indirect Question.
Purpose clauses
Purpose clauses start with either ut (so that) or ne (so that....not / lest)
They will only use imperfect subjunctives.
Ex:
legatus fugit ne hostes se caederent
The legate fled lest the enemies kill him(self).
OR
The legate fled so that the enemies would not kill him(self)
Indirect Command (Substantive Purpose)
Like purpose clauses, it uses ut (so that) and ne (lest, so that...not) to indicate the start of the clause and only use imperfect subjunctive verbs (not pluperfect)
Unlike purpose clauses though, the main verb (indicative verb) MUST BE a verb which means something close to:
Command
Urge
Persuade
(C,U.P. verbs)
Ex:
imperator senatoribus imperavit ut in foro convenirent
The emperor ordered the senators so that they would meet in the forum
Result Clauses
Every "Yo Mama" joke is a result clause.
Like Purpose clauses, they begin with ut (so that), but unlike purpose clauses they are negated with ut...non (so that... not)
Like Purpose clauses they only use imperfect subjunctive verbs.
Unlike purpose clauses, one of seven words will be in the indicative (main) clause of the sentence'
tam, talis, tantus, ita, sic, tot, adeo
Ex:
mater tua tam obesa erat ut solem cauderet.
Your mother was so fat that she blocked the sun.