524. Conditional clauses of comparison take the subjunctive, usually in the present or perfect unless the sequence of tenses requires the imperfect or pluperfect. Such clauses are introduced by the comparative particles tamquam, tamquam sī, quasi, ac sī, ut sī, velut sī (later velut), poetic ceu (all meaning as if), and by quam sī (than if).
tamquam clausa sit Asia (Fam. 12.9)
as if Asia were
closed
tamquam sī claudus sim (Pl. Asin. 427)
just as if I were lame
Ita hōs [honōrēs] petunt, quasi honestē vīxerint. (Iug. 85)
They seek them (offices) just as if they
had lived honorably.
quasi vērō nōn speciē vīsa iūdicentur (Acad. 2.58)
truly, as if visible things were not
judged by their appearance
Similiter facis ac sī mē rogēs.(N. D. 3.8)
You do exactly as if you asked me.
Crūdēlitātem horrērent velut sī cōram adesset. (B. G. 1.32)
They dreaded his
cruelty (they said), as if he were present in person.
Hīc ingentem pūgnam cernimus ceu cētera nusquam bella forent. (Aen. 2.438)
Here we saw a
great battle, as if there were no fighting elsewhere.
[But sometimes with the indicative in poetry, as id. 5.88.]
Magis ā mē abesse vidēbāre quam sī domī essēs. (Att. 6.5)
You seemed to be absent from
me more than if you were at home.
Note 1— These subjunctive clauses are really future conditions with apodosis implied in the particle itself. Thus in tamquam sī claudus sim the protasis is introduced by sī, and the apodosis implied in tamquam.
Note 2— The English idiom would lead us to expect the imperfect and pluperfect subjunctive (Contrary to Fact) with these particles; but the point of view is different in the two languages. Thus the second example above is translated just as if I were lame—as if it were a Present Contrary to Fact condition; but it really means just as [it would be] if I should [at some future time] be lame, and so is a Future Less Vivid condition requiring the present subjunctive. Similarly quasi honestē vīxerint (as if they had lived honorably) is really as [they would do in the future] if they should have lived honorably and so requires the perfect subjunctive (§ 516.c).
a. Even after a primary tense, the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive (Contrary to Fact) is often used in conditional clauses of comparison.
Aequē ā tē petō ac sī mea negōtia essent. (Fam. 13.43)
I entreat you as much as if it
were my own business.
Êius negōtium sīc velim suscipiās ut sī essetrēs mea (id. 7.20.1)
I would have you
undertake his business as though it were my affair.
Note— The practice differs with the different particles. Thus in Cicero a clause with tamquam or quasi almost always observes the sequence of tenses, but with quam sī the imperfect or pluperfect is the rule.
525. The uses of some of the more common conditional particles may be stated as follows.
a. Sī is used for affirmative, nisi (nī) and sī nōn for negative conditions.
Nisi Conōn adest, maereō.
Unless Conon is here, I mourn.
(i.e. I am always
in a state of grief except in the single case of Conon's presence, in which case I am not)
Sī Conōn nōn adest, maereō.
If Conon is not here, I mourn.
(i.e. I mourn
in the single case of Conon's absence, nothing being said as to other cases in which I may or may not mourn)
Note— It often makes no difference in which of these forms the condition is stated.
nōlī putāre mē ad quemquam longiōrēs epistulās sorībere, nisi sī quis ad mē plūra scrīpsit (Fam. 14.2) except in case one writes more to me
Note— Nī is an old form surviving in a few conventional phrases and reappearing in poets and later writers.
b. Nisi vērō and nisi forte regularly introduce an objection or exception ironically, and take the Indicative.
nisi vērōL. Caesar crūdēlior vīsus est (Cat. 4.13) unless indeed Lucius Cæsar seemed too cruel
nisi forte volumusEpicūrēōrum opīniōnem sequī (Fat. 37) unless, to be sure, we choose to follow the notion of the Epicureans.
Note— This is the regular way of introducing a reductio ad absurdum in Latin. Nisi alone is sometimes used in this sense.
nisi ūnum hōc faciamut in puteō cēnam coquant (Pl. Aul. 365) unless I do this one thing, [make them] cook dinner in the well.
c. Sīve (seu) . . . sīve (seu) whether ... or, introduce a condition in the form of an alternative. They may be used with any form of condition, or with different forms in the two members. Often also they are used without a verb.
Nam illō locō libentissimē soleō ūtī, sīve quid mēcum ipse cōgitō, sīve quid scrībō aut legō. (Legg. 2.1) For I enjoy myself most in that place, whether I am thinking by myself, or am either writing or reading.
Note— Sīve . . . seu and seu . . . sīve are late or poetic.
d. Sīn (
Accūsātor illum dēfendet sī poterit; sīnminus poterit, negābit. (Inv. 2.88) The accuser will defend him if he can; but if he cannot, he will deny.
e. Nisi is often used loosely by the comic poets in the sense of only when a negative (usually nesciō) is expressed, or easily understood, in the main clause.
Nesciō: nisi mē dīxisse nēminī certō sciō. (Ter. Ph. 952) I don't know: only I am sure that I haven't told anybody.
526. The concessive idea is rather vague and general, and takes a variety of forms, each of which has its distinct history. Sometimes concession is expressed by the Hortatory Subjunctive in a sentence grammatically independent (§ 440), but it is more frequently and more precisely expressed by a dependent clause introduced by a concessive particle. The concessive force lies chiefly in the conjunctions (which are indefinite or conditional in origin), and is often made clearer by an adversative particle (tamen, certē) in the main clause. As the subjunctive may be used in independent clauses to express a concession, it is also employed in concessive clauses, and somewhat more frequently than the indicative.
527. The particles of concession (meaning although, granting that) are quamvīs, ut, licet, etsī, tametsī, etiam sī, quamquam, and cum.
Some of these take the subjunctive, others the indicative, according to the nature of the clause which each introduces.
a. Quamvīs and ut take the subjunctive.
quamvīs ipsī īnfantēs sint, tamen, etc. (Or. 76)
however incapable of speaking they
themselves may be, yet, etc.
quamvīs scelerātī illī fuissent (De Or. 1.230)
however guilty they might have
been
quamvīs cōmis in amīcīs tuendīs fuerit (Fin. 2.80)
amiable as he may have been in
keeping his friends
ut nēminem alium rogāsset (Mil. 46)
even if he had asked no other
Ut enim nōn efficiās quod vīs, tamen mors ut malum nōn sit efficiēs. (Tusc. 1.16)
For
even if you do not accomplish what you wish, still you will prove that death is not an evil.
ut ratiōnem Platō nūllam adferret (id. 1.49)
though Plato adduced no
reasons
Note— Quamvīs means literally as much as you will. Thus in the first example above, let them be as incapable as you will, still, etc. the subjunctive with quamvīs is hortatory, like that with nē (§ 440); that with ut (ut nōn) is of uncertain origin.
b. Licet (although) takes the present or perfect subjunctive.
licet omnēs mihi terrōrēs perīculaque impendeant (Rosc. Am. 31)
though all terrors and
perils should menace me
Note— Licet is properly a verb in the present tense, meaning it is granted. Hence the subjunctive is by the sequence of tenses limited to the present and perfect. The concessive clause with licet is hortatory in origin, but may be regarded as a substantive clause serving as the subject of the impersonal verb (§ 565, Note 1).
c. Etsī, etiam sī, tametsī (even if) take the same constructions as sī (see § 514).
Etsī abestmātūritās, tamen nōn est inūtile, etc. (Fam. 6.18.4)
Though ripeness of age is
wanting, yet it is not useless, etc.
Etsī numquam dubium fuit, tamen perspiciō, etc. (id. 5.19)
Although it has never been
doubtful, yet I perceive, etc.
etsī statueram (id. 5.5)
though I had determined
Etsī nihil aliud abstulissētis, tamen contentōs vōs esse oportēbat. (Sull. 90)
Even if
you had taken away nothing else, you ought to have been satisfied.
Etiam sī quod scrībās nōn habēbis, scrībitō tamen. (Fam. 16.26)
Even if you
[shall] have nothing to write, still write.
sed ea tametsī vōs parvī pendēbātis (Sall. Cat. 52.9)
but although you regarded those
things as of small account
Note 1— Tametsī with the subjunctive is very rare.
Note 2— A protasis with sī often has a concessive force.
Ego, sī essent inimīcitiae mihi cum C. Caesare, tamen hōc tempore reī pūblicae cōnsulere . . . dēbērem.
(Prov. Cons. 47)
As for me, even if I had private quarrels with Cæsar, it would still be my duty to serve the best interests of the state at this crisis.
d. Quamquam (although) introduces an admitted fact and takes the indicative.
Omnibus—quamquam ruitipse suīs clādibus—pestem dēnūntiat. (Phil. 14.8)
Though he is
breaking down under his disasters, still he threatens all with destruction.
Note— Quamquam more commonly means and yet, introducing a new proposition in the indicative.
quamquam haec quidem iam tolerābilia vidēbantur, etsī, etc. (Mil. 76)
and yet these, in truth, seemed now bearable, though, etc.
e. The poets and later writers frequently use quamvīs and quamquam like etsī, connecting them with the indicative or the subjunctive, according to the nature of the condition.
quamquam movērētur (Liv. 36.34)
although he was moved
Polliō amat nostram, quamvīs estrūstica, mūsam. (Ecl. 3.84)
Pollio loves my muse,
though she is rustic.
quamvīs pervēnerās (Liv. 2.40)
though you had come
f. Ut (as) with the indicative, may be equivalent to a concession.
Vērum ut errāre potuistī, sīc dēcipī tē nōn potuisse quis nōn videt? (Fam. 10.20.2)
Suppose you could have been mistaken, who does not see that you cannot have been deceived in this way?
For cum concessive, see § 549; for quī concessive, see § 535.e. For concession expressed by the Hortatory Subjunctive (negative nē), see § 440.
528. Dum, modo, dummodo, and tantum ut, introducing a proviso, take the subjunctive. The negative with these particles is nē.
Ōderint dum metuant. (Off. 1.97)
Let them hate, if only they fear.
valētūdō modo bona sit (Brut. 64)
provided the health be good
dummodo inter mē atque tē mūrus intersit (Cat. 1.10)
provided only the wall (of
the city) is between us
tantum ut sciant (Att. 16.11.1)
provided only they know
modo nē sitex pecudum genere (Off. 1.105)
provided [in pleasure] he be not of the herd of cattle.
Id faciat saepe, dum nē lassus fīat.(Cato R. R. 5.4)
Let him do this often, provided he
does not get tired.
dummodo ea (sevēritās) nē variētur (Q. Fr. 1.1.20)
provided only it (strictness) be not allowed to swerve
tantum nē noceat (Ov. M. 9.21)
only let it do no harm
Note— The subjunctive with modo is hortatory or optative; that with dum and dummodo, a development from the use of the subjunctive with dum in temporal clauses, § 553 (compare the colloquial so long as my health is good, I don't care).
a. The Hortatory Subjunctive without a particle sometimes expresses a proviso.
Sint Maecēnātēs, nōn deerunt Marōnēs. (Mart. 8.56.5)
So there be Mœcenases, Virgils will
not be lacking.
b. The subjunctive with ut (negative nē) is sometimes used to denote a proviso, usually with ita in the main clause.
Probāta condiciō est, sed ita ut ille praesidia dēdūceret. (Att. 7.14.1)
The terms were
approved, but only on condition that he should withdraw the garrisons.
Note— This is a development of the construction of characteristic or result. For a Clause of Characteristic expressing Proviso, see § 535.d.
529. The subjunctive in the clause of purpose is hortatory in origin, coming through a kind of indirect discourse construction (for which see § 592). Thus, mīsit lēgātōs quī dīcerent means he sent ambassadors who should say, i.e. who were directed to say; in the direct orders the verb would be dīcite, which would become dīcant in the indirect discourse of narrative (§ 588) or dīcerent in the past (cf. hortatory subjunctive in past tenses, § 439.b). The subjunctive with ut and nē is, in general, similar in origin.
530. A clause expressing purpose is called a Final Clause.
531. Final Clauses take the subjunctive introduced by ut (utī), negative nē (ut nē), or by a relative pronoun or adverb.
Ab arātrō abdūxērunt Cincinnātum, ut dictātor esset. (Fin. 2.12)
They brought
Cincinnatus from the plough that he might be dictator.
Ut sintauxiliō suīs, subsistunt. (B. C. 1.80)
They halt in order to support their
own men.
(be an aid to)
Nē mīlitēs oppidum inrumperent, portās obstruit. (id. 1.27)
He barricaded the gates,
in order that the soldiers might not break into the town.
scālās parārī iubet, nē quam facultātem dīmittat (id. 1.28)
He orders scaling
ladders to be got ready, in order not to let slip any opportunity.
ut nē sitimpūne (Mil. 31)
that it be not with impunity
Note 1— Sometimes the conjunction has a correlative (ideō, idcircō, eō cōnsiliō, etc.) in the main clause (cf. § 561).
Lēgum idcircō servī sumus, ut līberī sīmus. (Clu 146)
For this reason we are subject to the laws, that we may be free.
Cōpiās trānsdūxit eō cōnsiliō, ut castellum expūgnāret. (cf. B. G. 2.9)
He led the troops across with this design—to storm the fort.
Note 2— Ut nōn sometimes occurs in clauses of purpose when nōn belongs to some particular word.
ut plūra nōndīcam (Manil. 44)
to avoid unnecessary
talk
Mittitur L. Dēcidius Saxa quī locī nātūram perspiciat. (B. C. 1.66)
Lucius
Decidius Saxa is sent to examine the ground (who should examine, etc.).
Scrībēbat ōrātiōnēs quās aliī dīcerent. (Brut. 206)
He wrote speeches for other men
to deliver.
eō exstīnctō fore unde disceremnēminem (Cat. M. 12)
that when he was dead there
would be nobody from whom I could learn.
(whence)
Huic nē ubi cōnsisteret quidem contrā tē locum relīquistī. (Quinct. 73)
You have
left him no ground even to make a stand against you.
habēbam quō cōnfugerem (Fam. 4.6.2)
I had [a retreat] whither I might flee
Note— In this construction quī = ut is (etc.), ubi = ut ibi, and so on (§ 537.2).
a. The ablative quō ( = ut eō) is used as a conjunction in final clauses which contain a comparative.
comprimere eōrum audāciam, quō facilius cēterōrum animī frangerentur (Fam. 15.4.10)
to
repress their audacity, that the spirit of the others might be broken more easily
(by which the more easily)
Lībertāte ūsus est, quō impūnius dicāx esset. (Quinct. 11)
He took advantage of liberty,
that he might bluster with more impunity.
Note— Occasionally quō introduces a final clause that does not contain a comparative.
L. Sulla exercitum, quō sibi fīdum faceret, lūxuriōsē habuerat. (Sall. Cat. 11)
Lucius Sulla had treated the army luxuriously, in order to make it devoted to him.
For quōminus ( = ut eō minus) after verbs of hindering, see § 558.b.
532. The principal clause, on which a final clause depends, is often to be supplied from the context.
ac nē longum sit . . . iussimus (Cat. 3.10)
and, not to be tedious, we ordered,
etc.
[Strictly, in order not to be tedious, I say we ordered.]
sed ut ad Dionȳsium redeāmus (Tusc. 5.63)
but to return to Dionysius
Sed ut eōdem revertar, causa haec fuit timōris. (Fam. 6.7.3)
But, to return to the same
point, this was the cause of fear.
Satis incōnsīderātī fuit, nē dīcam audācis. (Phil. 13.12)
It was the act of one rash
enough, not to say daring.
Note 1— By a similar ellipsis the subjunctive is used with nēdum, sometimes nē (still less, not to mention that).
nēdum salvī esse possīmus (Clu. 95)
much less could
we be safe
Nēdum istī nōn statim conquīsītūrī sint aliquid sceleris et flāgitī. (Leg. Agr. 2.97)
Far more will they hunt up at once some sort of crime and scandal.
Nēdum in marī et viā sit facile (Fam. 16.8)
Still less
is it easy at sea and on a journey.
Quippe secundae rēs sapientium animōs fatīgant; nē illī corruptīs mōribus victōriae temperārent. (Sall.
Cat. 11)
For prosperity overmasters the soul even of the wise; much less did they with their corrupt morals put any check on victory.
Note 2— With nēdum the verb itself is often omitted.
aptius hūmānitātī tuae quam tōta Peloponnēsus, nēdum Patrae (Fam. 7.28.1)fitter for your refinement than all Peloponnesus, to say nothing of Patræ.
For Substantive Clauses involving Purpose, see §§ 563 - 566.
533. The purpose of an action is expressed in Latin in various ways; but never (except in idiomatic expressions and rarely in poetry) by the simple Infinitive as in English (§ 460). The sentence, They came to seek peace, may be rendered:
These forms are not used indifferently, but:
a. The usual way of expressing purpose is by ut (negative nē), unless the purpose is closely connected with some one word, in which case a relative is more common.
Lēgātōs ad Dummnorīgem mittunt, uteō dēprecātōre ā Sēquanīs impetrārent. (B. G. 1.9)
They send envoys to Dumnorix, in order through his intercession to obtain (this favor) from the Sequani.
Mīlitēs mīsit uteōs quī fūgerant persequerentur. (id. 5.10)
He sent the soldiers to
follow up those who had fled.
Cūriō praemittit equitēs quīprīmum impetum sustineant. (B. C. 2.26)
Curio sends forward
cavalry to withstand the first attack.
b. The gerund and gerundive constructions of purpose are usually limited to short expressions, where the literal translation, though not the English idiom, is nevertheless not harsh or strange.
c. The supine is used to express purpose only with verbs of motion, and in a few idiomatic expressions (§ 509).
d. The future participle used to express purpose is a late construction of inferior authority (§ 499.2).
For the poetical Infinitive of Purpose, see § 460.c. For the present participle in a sense approaching that of purpose, see § 490.3.
534. The Relative Clause of Characteristic with the subjunctive is a development peculiar to Latin. A relative clause in the indicative merely states something as a fact which is true of the antecedent; a characteristic clause (in the subjunctive) defines the antecedent as a person or thing of such a character that the statement made is true of him or it and of all others belonging to the same class.
Nōn potest exercitum is continēre imperātor quī sē ipse nōn continet. (indicative)
That
commander who does not (as a fact) restrain himself cannot restrain his army.
As opposed to:
Nōn potest exercitum is continēre imperātor quī sē ipse nōn contineat. (subjunctive)
That commander who is not such a man as to restrain himself, etc.,
that is, one who is not characterized by self-restraint.
This construction has its origin in the potential use of the subjunctive (§ 445) Thus, in the example just given, quī sē ipse nōn contineat would mean literally, who would not restrain himself (in any supposable case), and this potential idea passes over easily into that of general quality or characteristic. The characterizing force is most easily felt when the antecedent is indefinite or general. But this usage is extended in Latin to cases which differ but slightly from statements of fact, as in some of the examples below.
The use of the subjunctive to express result comes from its use in clauses of characteristic.
Nōn sum ita hebes ut haec dīcam.
I am not dull in the manner (degree) in which I should say this.
(hence, I am not so dull as to say this.)
Since, then, the characteristic often appears in the form of a supposed result, the construction readily passes over into Pure Result, with no idea of characteristic—
Tantus in cūriā clāmor factus est ut populus concurreret. (Verr. 2.47)
Such an outcry
was made in the senate-house that the people hurried together.
535. A relative clause with the subjunctive is often used to indicate a characteristic of the antecedent, especially where the antecedent is otherwise undefined.
neque enim tū is es quī nesciās (Fam. 5.12.6)
for you are not such a one as not to
know
[Here is is equivalent to such, and is defined only by the relative clause that follows.]
Multa dīcunt quae vix intellegam. (Fin. 4.2)
They say many things which (such as)
I hardly understand.
Quae nihil habitūra sit īnsidiārum semper est cōnsulendum. (Off. 1.35)
We must always
aim at a peace which shall have no plots.
a. A Relative Clause of Characteristic is used after general expressions of existence or non-existence, including questions which imply a negative. So especially with sunt quī [there are (some) who] and quis est quī (who is there who?).
Sunt quī discessum animī ā corpore putent esse mortem. (Tusc. 1.18)
There are some who
think that the departure of soul from body constitutes death.
Erant quī cēnsērent, etc. (B. C. 2.30)
There were some who were of the opinion,
etc.
Erant quī Helvidium miserārentur. (Tac. Ann. 16.29)
There were some who pitied
Helvidius.
[cf. est cum (Note 3, below).]
Quis est quīid nōn maximīs efferat laudibus? (Lael. 24)
Who is there that does not extol
it with the highest praise?
Nihil videō quod timeam. (Fam. 9.16.3)
I see nothing to fear.
Nihil est quod adventum nostrum extimēscās. (Fam. 9.26.4)
There is no reason why you
should dread my coming.
Unde agger comportārī posset nihil erat reliquum. (B. C. 2.15)
There was nothing left
from which an embankment could be got together.
Note 1— After general negatives like nēmō est quī, the subjunctive is regular; after general affirmatives like sunt quī, it is the prevailing construction, but the indicative sometimes occurs; after multī (nōn nūllī, quīdam) sunt quī, and similar expressions in which the antecedent is partially defined, the choice of mood depends on the shade of meaning which the writer wishes to express.
Sunt bēstiae quaedam in quibus inest aliquid simile virtūtis. (Fin. 5.38)
There are certain animals in which there is something like virtue.
BUT—
Inventī multī sunt quī vītam prōfundere prō patriā parātī essent. (Off. 1.84)
Many were found of such a character as to be ready to give their lives for their country.
Note 2— Characteristic clauses with sunt quī etc. are sometimes called Relative Clauses with an Indefinite Antecedent, but are to be carefully distinguished from the indefinite relative in protasis (§ 520).
Note 3— The phrases est cum, fuit cum, etc. are used like est quī, sunt quī.
ac fuit cum mihi quoque initium requiēscendī fore iūstum arbitrārer (De Or. 1.1)
and there was a time when I thought a beginning of rest would be justifiable on my part
b. A Relative Clause of Characteristic may follow ūnus and sōlus.
Nīl admīrārī prope rēs est ūna sōlaque quae possitfacere et servāre beātum. (Hor. Ep. 1.6.1)
To wonder at nothing is almost the sole and only thing that can make and keep one happy.
Sōlus es cûius in victōriā ceciderit nēmō nisi armātus. (Deiot. 34)
You are the only man
in whose victory no one has fallen unless armed.
c. A clause of result or characteristic with quam ut, quam quī (rarely with quam alone), may be used after comparatives.
Canachī sīgna rigidiōra sunt quam ut imitentur vēritātem. (Brut. 70)
The statues of
Canachus are too stiff to represent nature.
(stiffer than that they should)
Mâiōrēs arborēs caedēbant quam quās ferre mīles posset. (Liv. 33.5)
They cut trees too
large for a soldier to carry.
(larger than what a soldier could carry)
Note— This construction corresponds in sense to the English too . . . to.
d. A relative clause of characteristic may express restriction or proviso (cf. § 528.b).
quod sciam
so far as I know
(lit. as to what I know).
Catōnis ōrātiōnēs, quās quidem invēnerim (Brut. 65)
the speeches of Cato, at least such
as I have discovered
servus est nēmō, quī modo tolerābilī condiciōne sitservitūtis (Cat. 4.16)
there is not a
slave, at least in any tolerable condition of slavery
e. A Relative Clause of Characteristic may express cause or concession.
Peccāsse mihi videor quī ā tē discesserim. (Fam. 16.1)
I seem to myself to have done
wrong because I have left you.
[Causal]
Virum simplicem quī nōs nihil cēlet! (Or. 230)
O guileless man, who hides nothing from
us!
[Causal]
egomet quī sērō Graecās litterās attigissem, tamen complūrēs Athēnīs diēs sum commorātus. (De Or. 1.82)
I myself, though I began Greek literature late, yet, etc.
[lit. [a man] who, etc. (Concessive)]
Note 1— In this use the relative is equivalent to cum is etc. It is often preceded by ut, utpote, or quippe.
Nec cōnsul, ut quī id ipsum quaesīsset, moram certāminī fēcit. (Liv. 42.7)
Nor did the consul delay the fight, since he had sought that very thing.
(as [being one] who had
sought, etc.)
Lūcius, frāter êius, utpote quī peregrē dēpūgnārit, familiam dūcit. (Phil. 5.30)
Lucius his brother, leads his household, inasmuch as he is a man who has fought it out abroad.
Convīvia cum patre nōn inībat, quippe qui nē in oppidum quidem nisi perrārō venīret. (Rosc. Am.
52)
He did not go to dinner parties with his father, since he did not even come to town except very rarely.
Note 2— The relative of cause or concession is merely a variety of the characteristic construction. The quality expressed by the subjunctive is connected with the action of the main verb either as cause on account of which (SINCE) or as hindrance in spite of which (ALTHOUGH).
f. Dīgnus, indīgnus, aptus, idōneus take a subjunctive clause with a relative (rarely ut). The negative is nōn.
dīgna in quibus ēlabōrārent (Tusc. 1.1)
(things) worth spending their toil
on
(worthy on which they should, etc.).
Dīgna rēs est ubi tū nervōs intendāstuōs. (Ter. Eun. 312)
The matter is worthy of your
stretching your sinews.
(worthy wherein you should, etc.)
idōneus quī impetret (Manil. 57)
fit to obtain
indīgnī ut redimerēmur (Liv. 22.59.17)
unworthy to be ransomed
Note 1— This construction is sometimes explained as a relative clause of purpose, but it is more closely related to characteristic.
Note 2— With dīgnus etc., the poets often use the infinitive.
fōns rīvō dare nōmen idōneus (Hor. Ep. 1.16.12)
a
source fit to give a name to a stream
aetās mollis et apta regī (Ov. A. A. 1.10)
a time of
life soft and easy to be guided
Vīvere dīgnus erās. (Ov. M. 10.633)
You were worthy to
live.
536. The subjunctive in consecutive clauses is a development of the use of that mood in clauses of characteristic (as explained in § 534).
537. Clauses of result take the subjunctive introduced by ut (so that)—negative, ut nōn—or by a relative pronoun or relative adverb.
Tanta vīs probitātis est uteam in hoste dīligāmus. (Lael. 29)
So great is the power
of goodness that we love it even in an enemy.
Pūgnātur ācriter ad novissimum agmen, adeō ut paene terga convertant. (B. C. 1.80)
There is sharp fighting in the rear, so (to such a degree) that they almost take flight.
Multa rūmor adfingēbat, ut paene bellum cōnfectum vidērētur. (id. 1.53)
Rumor
added many false reports, so that the war seemed almost ended.
nam est innocentia affectiō tālis animī quae noceat nēminī (Tusc. 3.16)
for
innocence is such a quality of mind as to do harm to no one
sunt aliae causae quae plānē efficiant (Top. 59)
there are other causes such as
to bring to pass
Nūlla est celeritās quae possitcum animī celeritāte contendere. (Tusc. 1.43)
There
is no swiftness which can compare with the swiftness of the mind.
Quis nāvigāvit quī nōn sē mortis perīculō committeret? (Manil. 31)
Who went to
sea who did not incur the peril of death?
Note 1— Since the Relative Clause of Result is a development from the Relative Clause of Characteristic (§ 534), no sharp line can be drawn between the two constructions. In doubtful cases, it is better to attempt no distinction or to describe the clause as one of characteristic.
Note 2— Clauses of result are often introduced by such correlative words as tam, tālis, tantus, ita, sīc, adeō, ūsque eō, which belong to the main clause.
a. A Negative result is introduced by ut nōn, ut nēmō, quī nōn, etc., not by nē.
multīs gravibusque volneribus cōnfectus ut iam sē sustinēre non posset (B. G. 2.25)
used
up with many severe wounds so that he could no longer stand.
Tantā vī in Pompêī equitēs impetum fēcērunt ut eōrum nēmō cōnsisteret. (B. C. 3.93)
They
attacked Pompey's cavalry with such vigor that not one of them stood his ground.
Nēmō est tam senex quī sē annum nōn putet posse vīvere. (Cat. M. 24)
Nobody is so old as
not to think that he can live a year.
Note— When the result implies an effect intended (not a simple purpose), ut nē or nē is sometimes used as being less positive than ut nōn.
[Librum] ita corrigās nē mihi
noceat. (Caecina, Fam. 6.7.6)
Correct the book so that it may not hurt me.
b. Frequently a clause of result or characteristic is used in a restrictive sense, and so amounts to a proviso (cf. § 535.d).
Hōc ita est ūtile ut nē plānē inlūdāmur ab accūsātōribus. (Rosc. Am. 55)
This is so far
useful that we are not utterly mocked by the accusers
(i.e. useful only on this condition, that, etc.).
Nihil autem est molestum quod nōn dēsīderēs. (Cat. M. 47)
But nothing is troublesome
which (= provided that) you do not miss.
c. The clause of result is sometimes expressed in English by the infinitive with TO or SO AS TO or an equivalent.
Tam longē aberam ut nōn vidērem.
I was too far away to see
(so far that I did not see; cf. § 535.c).
Note— Result is never expressed by the infinitive in Latin except by the poets in a few passages (§ 461.a).
538. The constructions of purpose and result are precisely alike in the affirmative (except sometimes in tense sequence, § 485.c); but, in the negative, purpose takes nē, result ut nōn etc.
Cūstōdītus est nē effugeret.
he was guarded in order that he MIGHT not
escape.
Cūstōdītus est ut nōn effugeret.
he was guarded so that he DID not
escape.
So in negative purpose clauses nē quis, nē quid, nē üllus, nē quō, nē quandō, nēcubi, etc., are almost always used; in negative result clauses, ut nēmō, ut nihil, ut nūllus, etc.
nē quandō līberīs prōscrīptōrum bona patria reddantur (Rosc. Am. 145)
lest at some time the patrimony of the proscribed should be restored to
their children
Ipse nē quōinciderem, revertī Formiās. (Att. 8.3.7)
That I might not come upon him anywhere, I returned to Formiœ.
dispositīs explōrātōribus nēcubiRōmānī cōpiās trādūcerent (B. G. 7.35)
having stationed scouts here and there in order that the Romans
might not lead their troops across anywhere
quī summum bonum sīc īnstituit ut nihilhabeat cum virtūte coniūnctum
who has so settled the highest
good that it has nothing in common with virtue
For Clauses of Result or Characteristic with quīn, see § 559. For Substantive Clauses of Result, see §§ 567 - 571.
539. Causal clauses take either the indicative or the subjunctive, according to their construction; the idea of cause being contained, not in the mood itself, but in the form of the argument (by implication), in an antecedent of causal meaning (like proptereā), or in the connecting particles.
Quod is in origin the relative pronoun (stem quo-) used adverbially in the accusative neuter (cf. § 214.d) and gradually sinking to the position of a colorless relative conjunction (cf. English that and see § 222). Its use as a causal particle is an early special development. Quia is perhaps an accusative plural neuter of the relative stem qui-, and seems to have developed its causal sense more distinctly than quod, and at an earlier period. It is used (very rarely) as an interrogative, why? (so in classical Latin with nam only), and may, like quandō, have developed from an interrogative to a relative particle.
Quoniam (for quom iam) is also of relative origin (quom being a case form of the pronominal stem quo-). It occurs in old Latin in the sense of when (cf. quom, cum), from which the causal meaning is derived (cf. cum causal). The subjunctive with quod and quia depends on the principle of Informal Indirect Discourse (§ 592).
Quandō is probably the interrogative quam (how?) compounded with a form of the pronominal stem do- (cf. dum, dō-nec). It originally denoted time (first interrogatively, then as a relative), and thus came to signify cause. Unlike quod and quia, it is not used to state a reason in informal indirect discourse and therefore is never followed by the subjunctive.
540. The Causal particles quod and quia take the indicative, when the reason is given on the authority of the writer or speaker; the subjunctive, when the reason is given on the authority of another.
cum tibi agam grātiās quod mē vīvere coēgistī (Att. 3.3)
when I may thank you that
you have forced me to live
Cūr igitur pācem nōlō? Quia turpis est. (Phil. 7.9)
Why then do I not wish for
peace? Because it is disgraceful.
Ita fit ut adsint proptereā quod officium sequuntur, taceant autem quia periculum vītant.(Rosc. Am. 1)
So it happens that they attend because they follow duty, but are silent because they seek to avoid danger.
Mihi grātulābāre quod audīssēsmē meam prīstinam dīgnitātem obtinēre. (Fam. 4.14.1)
You congratulated me because [as you said] you had heard that I had regained my former dignity.
Noctū ambulābat Themistoclēs quod somnum capere nōn posset. (Tusc. 4.44)
Themistocles used to walk about at night because [as he said] he could not sleep.
Mea māter īrāta est quia nōn redierim.(Pl. Cist. 101)
My mother is angry because I
didn't return.
Note 1— Quod introduces either a fact or a statement, and accordingly takes either the indicative or the subjunctive. Quia regularly introduces a fact; hence it rarely takes the subjunctive. Quoniam (inasmuch as, since, when now, now that), has reference to motives, excuses, justifications, and the like and takes the indicative.
Note 2— Under this head what the speaker himself thought under other circumstances may have the subjunctive (§ 592.3, Note).
Ego laeta vīsa sum quia soror vēnisset. (Pl. Mil. 387)
I seemed (in my dream) glad because my sister had come.
So with quod even a verb of saying may be in the subjunctive.
Rediit quodsē oblītum nesciō quid dīceret. (Off. 1.40)
He returned because he said he had forgotten something.
Note 3— Nōn quod, nōn quia, nōn quō, introducing a reason expressly to deny it, take the Subjunctive; but the indicative sometimes occurs when the statement is in itself true, though not the true reason. In the negative, nōn quīn (with the Subjunctive) may be used in nearly the same sense as nōn quod nōn. After a comparative, quam quō or quam quodis used.
Pugilēs ingemēscunt, nōn quod doleant, sed quia profundendā vōce omne corpus intenditur. (Tusc.
2.56)
Boxers groan, not because they are in pain, but because by giving vent to the voice the whole body is put in a state of tension.
nōn quia rēctior ad Alpīs via esset, sed crēdēns (Liv. 21.31.2)
not because the route to the Alps was more direct, but believing, etc.
nōn quīn parī virtūte et voluntāte aliī fuerint, sed tantam causam nōn habuērunt (Phil. 7.6)
not that there were not others of equal courage and goodwill, but they had not so strong a reason
haec amōre magis impulsus scrībenda ad tē putāvī, quam quō tē arbitrārermonitīs et praeceptīs egēre
(Fam. 10.3.4)
This I thought I ought to write to you, rather from the impulse of (prompted by) affection than because I thought
that you needed advice and suggestion.
a. Quoniam and quandō (since) introduce a reason given on the authority of the writer or speaker, and take the indicative.
Locus est ā mē, quoniam ita Murēna voluit, retrāctandus. (Mur. 54)
I must review the point, since Murena has so wished.
Quandō ita vīs, dī bene vortant. (Pl. Trin. 573)
Since you so wish, may the gods bless
the undertaking.
quandō ad mâiōra nātī sumus (Fin. 5.21)
since we are born for greater things
Note— The subjunctive with quoniam is unclassical.Quandō (since) in the causal sense, is mostly archaic or late. Quandō (when) is used as interrogative, relative, and indefinite.
Quandō? hodiē
When? Today
sī quandō
if ever
b. Causal clauses introduced by quod, quia, quoniam, and quandō take the subjunctive in indirect discourse, like any other dependent clause (see § 580).
c. A relative, when used to express cause, regularly takes the subjunctive (see § 535.e).
d. Cum causal takes the subjunctive (see § 549).
For Substantive Clauses with quod, see § 572.
541. Temporal clauses are introduced by particles which are almost all of relative origin. They are construed like other relative clauses, except where they have developed into special idiomatic constructions.1 For list of temporal particles, see § 224.d. Temporal clauses may be classified as follows.
a. Cum temporal (§§ 545 - 548).
b. Cum causal or concessive (§ 549).
542. The particles ubi, ut, cum, quandō, either alone or compounded with -cumque, may be used as indefinite relatives (in the sense of whenever), and have the constructions of protasis (cf. § 514).
cum id malum negāsesse, capior (Tusc. 2.29)
Whenever you (the individual
disputant) deny it to be an evil, I am misled.
[present general condition]
quod profectō cum mē nūlla vīs cōgeret, facere nōn audērem (Phil. 5.51)
which I would
surely not venture to do, as long as no force compelled me
[Present Contrary to Fact: cf. § 517]
Cum videās eōs dolōre nōn frangī, dēbeās exīstimāre, etc.(Tusc. 2.66)
When you see that
those are not broken by pain, you ought to infer, etc.
[present general condition: cf. § 518.a.]
Cum rosam vīderat, tum incipere vēr arbitrābātur. (Verr. 5.27)
Whenever he saw a rose he
thought spring had begun.
[past general condition: cf. § 518.b.]
Id ubi dīxisset, hastam in fīnīs eōrum ēmittēbat. (Liv. 1.32.13)
When he had said this,
he would cast the spear into their territories.
[past general condition, repeated action: see § 518.c.]
543. The particles postquam (posteāquam), ubi, ut (ut prīmum, ut semel), simul atque (simul ac, or simul alone), take the indicative (usually in the Perfect or the Historical Present).
Mīlitēs postquam victōriam adeptī sunt, nihil reliquī victīs fēcēre. (Sall. Cat. 11)
When the soldiers had won the victory, they left nothing to the vanquished.
Posteāquam forum attigistī, nihil fēcistī nisi, etc. (Fam. 15.16.3)
Since you came to
the forum, you have done nothing except, etc.
Ubi omnīs idem sentīre intellēxit, posterum diem pūgnae cōnstituit. (B. G. 3.23)
When he
understood that all agreed (thought the same thing), he appointed the next day for the battle.
Catilīna, ubi eōs convēnisse videt, sēcēdit. (Sall. Cat. 20)
When Catiline sees that
they have come together, he retires.
Pompêius ut equitātum suum pulsum vīdit, aciē excessit. (B. C. 3.94)
When Pompey saw his
cavalry beaten, he left the field.
ut semel ē Pīraeeō ēloquentia ēvecta est (Brut. 51)
as soon as eloquence had set sail
from the Pirœus.
Nostrī simul in āridō cōnstitērunt, in hostīs impetum fēcērunt. (B. G. 4.26)
Our men, as
soon as they had taken a position on dry ground, made an attack on the enemy.
simul atque intrōductus est, rem cōnfēcit (Clu. 40)
As soon as he was brought in, he did
the job.
a. These particles less commonly take the imperfect or pluperfect indicative. The imperfect denotes a past state of things; the Pluperfect, an action completed in past time.
Postquam strūctī utrimque stābant, ducēs in medium prōcēdunt. (Liv. 1.23)
When they
stood in array on both sides, the generals advance into the midst.
P. Āfricānus posteāquam bis cōnsul et cēnsor fuerat (Caecil. 69)
when Africanus had
been (i.e. had the dignity of having been) twice consul and censor.
Postquam id difficilius vīsum est, neque facultās perficiendī dabātur, ad Pompêium trānsiērunt (B. C. 3.60)
When this seemed too hard, and no means of effecting it were given, they passed over to Pompey.
Post diem quīntum quam iterum barbarī male pūgnāverant [ = victī
sunt], lēgātī ā Bocchō veniunt. (Iug. 102)
The fifth day after the barbarians were beaten the
second time, envoys come from Bocchus.
haec iuventūtem, ubi familiārēs opēs dēfēcerant, ad facinora incendēbant (Sall. Cat. 13)
when their inherited resources had given out, etc.
ubi perīcula virtūte prōpulerant (id. 6)
when they had dispelled the dangers by their
valor
For the use of ubi, ut, either alone or compounded with -cumque as indefinite relatives, see § 542 (above).
544. The conjunction cum (quom) is a case form of the relative pronoun quī. It inherits from quī its subordinating force, and in general shares its constructions. But it was early specialized to a temporal meaning (cf. tum, dum), and its range of usage was therefore less wide than that of quī; it could not, for example, introduce clauses of purpose or of result.
With the indicative, besides the simple expression of definite time (corresponding to simple relative clauses with the indicative), it has a few special uses—conditional, explicative, cum inversum—all easily derived from the temporal use. With the subjunctive, cum had a development parallel to that of the quī clause of characteristic, a development not less extensive and equally peculiar to Latin. From defining the time the cum clause passed over to the description of the time by means of its attendant circumstances of cause or concession (cf. since, while).
In particular, cum with the subjunctive was used in narrative (hence the past tenses, imperfect and pluperfect) as a descriptive clause of time. As, however, the present participle in Latin is restricted in its use and the perfect active participle is almost wholly lacking, the historical or narrative cum clause came into extensive use to supply the deficiency. In classical writers the narrative cum clause (with the subjunctive) has pushed back the defining clause (with the imperfect or pluperfect indicative) into comparative infrequency, and is itself freely used where the descriptive or characterizing force is scarcely perceptible (cf. the quī clause of Characteristic, § 534).
Cum Temporal
545. A temporal clause with cum (when) and some past tense of the indicative dates or defines the time at which the action of the main verb occurred.
eō [lituō] regiōnēs dīrēxit tum cum urbem condidit (Div. 1.30)
He traced with it the quarters [of the sky] at the time he founded the city.
Cum occīditur Sex. Rōscius, ibīdem fuērunt servī. (Rosc. Am. 120)
When Roscius was
slain, the slaves were on the spot.
[occīditur is historical present.]
Quem quidem cum ex urbe pellēbam, hōc prōvidēbam animō. (Cat. 3.16)
When I was trying to
force him (Conative Imperfect) from the city, I looked forward to this.
Fulgentīs gladiōs hostium vidēbant Deciī cum in aciem eōrum inruēbant (Tusc. 2.59)
The
Decii saw the flashing swords of the enemy when they rushed upon their line.
tum cum in Asiā rēs māgnās permultī āmīserant (Manil. 19)
at that time, when many had
lost great fortunes in Asia
Note 1— This is the regular use with all tenses in early Latin, and at all times with the perfect and the historical present (as with postquam etc.). With the imperfect and pluperfect the indicative use is (in classical Latin) much less common than the subjunctive use defined below (§ 546, below).
Note 2— This construction must not be confused with that of cum (whenever) in general conditions (§ 542).
a. When the time of the main clause and that of the temporal clause are absolutely identical, cum takes the indicative in the same tense as that of the main verb.
Maximā sum laetitiā adfectus cum audīvīcōnsulem tē factum esse (Fam. 15.7)
I was very
much pleased when I heard that you had been elected consul.
546. A temporal clause with cum and the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive describes the circumstances that accompanied or preceded the action of the main verb.
Cum essem ōtiōsus in Tusculānō, accēpī tuās litterās. (Fam. 9.18.1)
When I was taking my
ease in my house at Tusculum, I received your letter.
cum servīlī bellō premerētur (Manil. 30)
when she (Italy) was under the load of the Servile War
Cum id nūntiātum esset, mātūrat (B. G. 1.7)
When this had been reported, he made
(makes) haste.
Cum ad Cybistra quīnque diēs essem morātus, rēgem Ariobarzānem īnsidiīs līberāvī. (Fam. 15.4.6)
After remaining at Cybistra for five days, I freed King Ariobarzanes from plots.
Is cum ad mē Lāodicēam vēnisset mēcumque ego eum vellem, repente percussus est atrōcissimīs litterīs. (id. 9.25.3)
When he had come to me at Laodicea and I wished him to remain with me, he was suddenly, etc.
Note 1— This construction is very common in narrative, and cum in this use is often called narrative cum.
Note 2— Cum with the imperfect or pluperfect indicative does not (like cum with the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive) describe the time by its circumstances; it defines the time of the main verb by denoting a coëxistent state of things (imperfect indicative) or a result attained when the action of the main verb took place (pluperfect). Thus the construction is precisely that of postquam etc. (§ 543.a).
Note 3— The distinction between the uses defined in §§ 545 - 546 above, may be illustrated by the following examples:
(1) He had a fever when he was in Spain (Shakespeare). Here the when clause defines the time when Cæsar had the fever—namely, in the year of his Spanish campaign (B.C. 49). In Latin we should use cum with the imperfect indicative.
(2) Columbus discovered America when he was seeking a new route to India. Here the when clause does not define or date the time of the discovery; it merely describes the circumstances under which America was discovered—namely, in the course of a voyage undertaken for another purpose. In Latin we should use the imperfect subjunctive.
Note 4— The distinction explained in Note 3 is unknown to early Latin. In Plautus quom always has the indicative unless the subjunctive is required for some other reason.
a. When the principal action is expressed in the form of a temporal clause with cum, and the definition of the time becomes the main clause, cum takes the indicative.
Here the logical relations of the two clauses are inverted; hence cum is in this use called cum inversum.
Diēs nōndum decem intercesserant, cum ille alter fīlius īnfāns necātur. (Clu. 28)
Ten
days had not yet passed, when the other infant son was killed.
[Instead of when ten days had not yet passed, etc.]
iamque lūx appārēbat cum prōcēditad mīlitēs (Q. C. 7.8.3)
and day was already dawning
when he appears before the soldiers
Hōc facere noctū apparābant, cum mātrēs familiae repente in pūblicum prōcurrērunt. (B. G. 7.26)
They were preparing to do this by night, when the women suddenly ran out into the streets.
547. Present time with cum temporal is denoted by the present indicative; future time, by the future or future perfect indicative.
Incidunt tempora, cum ea, quae maximē videntur dīgna esse iūstō homine, fīunt contrāria. (Off. 1.31)
Times occur when those things which seem especially worthy of the upright man, become the opposite.
Nōn dubitābō dare operam ut tē videam, cum id satis commodē facere poterō. (Fam. 13.1)
I
shall not hesitate to take pains to see you, when I can do it conveniently.
longum illud tempus cum nōn erō(Att. 12.18)
that long time when I shall be no
more
Cum vēneris, cōgnōscēs. (Fam. 5.7.3)
when you come (shall have come), you will find out.
548. Cum (whenever) takes the construction of a relative clause in a general condition (see § 542). For present time, either the present or the perfect indicative is used; for past time, regularly the pluperfect indicative. For est cum etc., see § 535.a, Note 3.
Cum Causal
549. Cum causal or concessive takes the subjunctive.
Id difficile nōn est, cum tantum equitātū valeāmus. (B. C. 3.86)
This is not difficult
since we are so strong in cavalry.
[Causal]
Cum sōlitūdō īnsidiārum et metūs plēna sit, ratiō ipsa monet amīcitiās comparāre. (Fin. 1.66)
Since solitude is full of treachery and fear, reason itself prompts us to contract friendships.
[Causal]
Cum prīmī ōrdinēs concidissent, tamen ācerrimē reliquī resistēbant. (B. G. 7.62)
Though
the first ranks had fallen, still the others resisted vigorously.
[Concessive]
Brevī spatiō legiōnēs numerō hominum explēverat, cum initiō nōn amplius duōbus mīlibus habuisset. (Sall. Cat. 56)
In a short time he had filled out the legions with their complement of men, though at the start he had not had more than two thousand.
[Concessive]
Cum causal may usually be translated by since; cum concessive by although or while either, occasionally, by when.
Note 1— Cum in these uses is often emphasized by ut, utpote, quippe, praesertim.
Nec reprehendō: quippe cum ipse istam reprehēnsiōnem nōn fūgerim. (Att. 10.3 A)
I find no fault; since I myself did not escape that blame.
Note 2— These causal and concessive uses of cum are of relative origin and are parallel to quī causal and concessive (§ 535.e). The attendant circumstances are regarded as the cause of the action, or as tending to hinder it.
Note 3— In early Latin cum (quom) causal and concessive usually takes the indicative.
quom tua rēs distrahitur, utinam videam (Pl. Trin. 617)
since your property is being torn in pieces, O that I may see, etc.
a. Cum with the indicative frequently introduces an explanatory statement, and is sometimes equivalent to quod (on the ground that).
Cum tacent, clāmant. (Cat. 1.21)
When they are silent, they cry out.
(i.e.
their silence is an emphatic expression of their sentiments)
Grātulor tibi cum tantum valēsapud Dolābellam. (Fam. 9.14.3)
I congratulate you that you
are so strong with Dolabella.
Note— This is merely a special use of cum temporal expressing coincident time (§ 545.a, above).
b. Cum . . . tum, signifying both . . . and, usually takes the indicative; but when cum approaches the sense of while or though, the subjunctive is used (§ 549, above).
cum multa nōn probō, tumillud in prīmīs (Fin. 1.18)
while there are many things I do not
approve, there is this in chief.
[Indicative]
cum difficile est, tumnē aequum quidem (Lael. 26)
not only is it difficult but even
unjust.
cum rēs tōta ficta sit puerīliter, tumnē efficit quidem quod vult (Fin. 1.19)
while the
whole thing is childishly got up, he does not even make his point
[accomplish what he wishes; subjunctive, approaching cum causal]
550. Antequam and priusquam (before) introduce clauses of time which resemble those with cum temporal in their constructions. Priusquam consists of two parts (often written separately and sometimes separated by other words), the comparative adverb prius (sooner; before), which really modifies the main verb, and the relative particle quam (than), which introduces the subordinate clause. The latter is therefore a relative clause, and takes the indicative or the subjunctive (like other relative clauses) according to the sense intended. The subjunctive with priusquam is related to that of purpose (§ 529) and is sometimes called the Anticipatory or Prospective Subjunctive. Antequam, like priusquam, consists of two words, the first of which is the adverb ante (before) modifying the main verb. Its constructions are the same as those of priusquam, but the latter is commoner in classic prose.
551. Antequam and priusquam take sometimes the indicative sometimes the subjunctive.
a. With antequam or priusquam the perfect indicative states a fact in past time.
Antequam tuās lēgīlitterās, hominem īre cupiēbam. (Att. 2.7.2)
Before I read your
letter, I wished the man to go.
Neque ante dīmīsit eum quam fidem deditadulēscēns. (Liv. 39.10)
And she did not let the
young man go till he pledged his faith.
Neque prius fugere dēstitērunt quam ad flūmen pervēnērunt. (B. G. 1.53)
Nor did they
stop running until they reached the river.
Note— The perfect indicative in this construction is regular when the main clause is negative and the main verb is in an historical tense. The imperfect indicative is rare; the pluperfect indicative, very rare. The perfect subjunctive is rare and ante-classical, except in indirect discourse.
b. With antequam or priusquam the imperfect subjunctive is common when the subordinate verb implies purpose or expectancy in past time, or when the action that it denotes did not take place.
Ante pūgnārī coeptum est quam satis īnstruerēturaciēs. (Liv. 22.4.7)
The fight was
begun before the line could be properly formed.
Priusquam tū suum sibi vēnderēs, ipse possēdit. (Phil. 2.96)
Before you could sell him
his own property, he took possession of it himself.
Priusquam tēlum abicī posset aut nostrī propius accēderent, omnis Vārī aciēs terga vertit. (B. C. 2.34)
Before a weapon could be thrown or our men approached nearer, the whole line about Varus took flight.
Note 1— The pluperfect subjunctive is rare, except in indirect discourse by sequence of tenses for the future perfect indicative (§ 484.c).
Antequam hominēs nefāriī dē meō adventū audīre potuissent, in Macedoniam perrēxī. (Planc. 98)
Before those evil men could learn of my coming, I arrived in Macedonia.
Note 2— After an historical present the present subjunctive is used instead of the imperfect.
Prius Domitiānī mīlitēs discēdunt quam in cōnspectum Caesaris dēdūcātur. (B. C. 1.22)
And the soldiers of Domitius did (do) not leave him until he was (is) conducted into Cæsar's presence.
So, rarely, the perfect subjunctive (as B. G. 3.18).
c. Antequam and priusquam, when referring to future time, take the present or future perfect indicative; rarely the present subjunctive.
Priusquam dē cēterīs rēbus respondeō, dē amīcitiā pauca dīcam. (Phil. 2.3)
Before I
reply to the rest, I will say a little about friendship.
Nōn dēfatīgābor antequam illōrum ancipitēs viās percēperō. (De Or. 3.145)
I shall not
weary till I have traced out their doubtful ways.
Antequam veniatlitterās mittet. (Leg. Agr. 2.53)
before he comes, he will send a
letter.
Note 1— The future indicative is very rare.
Note 2— In a few cases the subjunctive of present general condition is found with antequam and priusquam (cf. § 518.a).
In omnibus negōtiīs priusquam aggrediāre, adhibenda est praeparātiō dīligēns. (Off. 1.73)
In all undertakings, before you proceed to action, careful preparation must be used.
552. As an adverb meaning for a time, awhile, dum is found in old Latin, chiefly as an enclitic (cf. vixdum, nōndum). Its use as a conjunction comes either through correlation (cf. cum . . . tum, sī . . . sīc) or through substitution for a conjunction, as in the English the moment I saw it, I understood. Quoad is a compound of the relative quō (up to which point) with ad. The origin and early history of dōnec are unknown.
553. Dum and quoad (until) take the present or imperfect subjunctive in temporal clauses implying intention or expectancy.
Exspectās fortasse dum dīcat. (Tusc. 2.17)
You are waiting perhaps for him to
say.
[until he says; dum is especially common after exspectō.]
Dum reliquae nāvēs convenīrent, ad hōram nōnam exspectāvit. (B. G. 4.23)
He waited till
the ninth hour for the rest of the ships to join him.
Comitia dīlāta [sunt] dum lēx ferrētur. (Att. 4.17.3)
The election was postponed until a law should be passed.
An id exspectāmus, quoad nē vestīgium quidem Asiae cīvitātum atque urbium relinquātur? (Phil. 11.25)
Shall we wait for this until not a trace is left of the states and cities of Asia?
Epamīnōndās exercēbātur plūrimum luctandō ad eum fīnem quoad stāns complectī possetatque contendere. (Nep. Epam. 2)
Epaminondas trained himself in wrestling so far as to be able (until he should be able) to grapple standing and fight (in that way).
Note 1— Dōnec is similarly used in poetry and later Latin.
et dūxit longē dōnec curvāta coīrent inter sē capita (Aen. 11.860)
and drew it (the bow) until the curved tips touched each other
Note 2— Dum (until) may be used with the present or future perfect indicative to state a future fact when there is no idea of intention or expectancy; but this construction is rare in classic prose. The future is also found in early Latin. Dōnec (until) is similarly used, in poetry and early Latin, with the present and future perfect indicative, rarely with the future.
Ego in Arcānō opperior dum ista cōgnōscō. (Att. 10.3)
I
am waiting in the villa at Arcæ until I find this out.
[This is really dum while.]
Mihi ūsque cūrae erit quid agās, dum quid ēgeris scierō. (Fam. 12.19.3)
I shall always feel anxious as to what you are doing, until I actually know what you have done.
(shall have known)
Dēlicta mâiōrum luēs dōnec templa refēceris. (Hor. Od. 3.6.1)
You shall suffer for the sins of your ancestors until you rebuild the temples.
Ter centum rēgnābitur annōs, dōnec geminam partū dabitĪlia prōlem. (Aen. 1.272)
Sway shall be held for thrice a hundred years, until Ilia shall give birth to twin offspring.
554. Dōnec and quoad (until) with the perfect indicative denote an actual fact in past time.
Dōnec rediitsilentium fuit. (Liv. 23.31.9)
There was silence until he returned.
Ūsque eō timuī dōnec ad rêiciendōs iūdicēs vēnimus. (Verr. 2.1.17)
I was anxious
until the moment when we came to challenge the jurors.
Rōmae fuērunt quoad L. Metellus in prōvinciam profectus est. (id. 2.62)
They remained at
Rome until Lucius Metellus set out for the province.
Note— Dum (until) with the perfect indicative is rare.
Mānsit in condiciōne ūsque ad eum fīnem dum iūdicēs rêiectī sunt. (Verr. 1.16)
He remained true to the agreement until the jurors were challenged.
555. Dum, dōnec, and quoad (as long as) take the indicative.
Dum anima est, spēs esse dīcitur. (Att. 9.10.3)
As long as there is life, there is said
to be hope.
Dum praesidia ūlla fuērunt, in Sullae praesidiīs fuit. (Rosc. Am. 126)
So long as there
were any garrisons, he was in the garrisons of Sulla.
Dum longius ā mūnītiōne aberant Gallī, plūs multitūdine tēlōrum prōficiēbant. (B. G. 7.82)
So long as the Gauls were at a distance from the fortifications, they had the advantage because of their missiles.
Dōnec grātus eramtibī, Persārum viguī rēge beātior. (Hor. Od. 3.9.1)
As long as I
enjoyed thy favor, I flourished happier than the king of the Persians.
Quoad potuitfortissimē restitit (B. G. 4.12)
He resisted bravely as long as he
could.
Note 1— Dōnec in this use is confined to poetry and later writers.
Note 2— Quam diū (as long as) takes the Indicative only.
sē oppidō tam diū tenuit quam diūin prōvinciā Parthī fuērunt (Fam. 12.19.2)
He kept himself within the town as long as the Parthians were in the province.
556. Dum (while) regularly takes the present indicative to denote continued action in past time. In translating, the English imperfect must generally be used.
Dum haec geruntur, Caesarī nūntiātum est. (B. G. 1.46)
While this was going on, a
message was brought to Cæsar.
Haec dum aguntur, intereā Cleomenēs iam ad Elōrī lītus pervēnerat. (Verr. 5.91)
While
this was going on, Cleomenes meanwhile had come down to the coast at Elorum.
Hōc dum nārrat, forte audīvī. (Ter. Haut. 272)
I happened to hear this while she was
telling it.
Note— This construction is a special use of the historical present (§ 469).
a. A past tense with dum (usually so long as) makes the time emphatic by contrast; but a few irregular cases of dum with a past tense occur where no contrast is intended.
Nec enim dum eramvōbīscum, animum meum vidēbātis. (Cat. M. 79)
For while I was with you,
you could not see my soul.
[Here the time when he was alive is contrasted with that after his death.]
Coörta est pūgna, pār dum cōnstābant ōrdinēs. (Liv. 22.47)
A conflict began, well
matched as long as the ranks stood firm.
BUT—
Dum oculōs hostium certāmen āverterat. (id. 32.24)
While the struggle kept the eyes of
the enemy turned away.
Dum ūnum adscendere gradum cōnātus est, vēnit in perīculum. (Mur. 55)
While he attempted
to climb one step [in rank] he fell into danger.
Note— In later writers, dum sometimes takes the subjunctive when the classical usage would require the indicative, and dōnec (until) is freely used in this manner (especially by Tacitus).
dum ea in Samniō gererentur, in Etruriā interim bellum ingēns concītur (Liv. 10.18)
While this was being done in Samnium, meanwhile a great war was stirred up in Etruria.
Illa quidem dum tē fugeret, hydrum nōn vīdit. (Georg. 4.457)
While she was fleeing from you she did not
see the serpent.
Dum per vīcōs dēportārētur, condormiēbat. (Suet. Aug. 78)
While he was being carried through the streets he used to fall dead asleep.
Rhēnus servat nōmen et violentiam cursūs (quā
Germāniam praevehitur) dōnec Ōceanō misceātur (Tac. Ann. 2.6)
The Rhine keeps its name and
rapid course (where it borders Germany) until it mingles with the ocean.
Temporibusque Augustī dīcendīs nōn dēfuēre decōra ingenia dōnec glīscente adūlātiōne dēterrērentur. (id.
1.1)
For describing the times of Augustus there was no lack of talent until it was frightened away by the increasing servility of the age.
For dum, provided that, see § 528.
557. The original meaning of quīn is how not? why not? (quī-nē), and when used with the Indicative or (rarely) with the subjunctive it regularly implies a general negative. Thus, quīn ego hōc rogem? (why shouldn't I ask this?) implies that there is no reason for not asking. The implied negative was then expressed in a main clause, like nūlla causa est or fierī nōn potest. Hence come the various dependent constructions introduced by quīn.
Quōminus is really a phrase (quō minus), and the dependent constructions which it introduces have their origin in the relative clause of purpose with quō and a comparative (see § 531.a).
558. A subjunctive clause with quīn is used after verbs and other expressions of hindering, resisting, refusing, doubting, delaying, and the like, when these are negatived, either expressly or by implication.
Nōn hūmāna ūlla neque dīvīna obstant quīn sociōs amīcōs trahant exscindant. (Sall. Ep. Mith. 17)
No human or divine laws prevent them from taking captive and exterminating their friendly allies.
ut nē Suessiōnēs quidem dēterrēre potuerint quīn cum hīs cōnsentīrent (B. G. 2.3)
that
they were unable to hinder even the Suessiones from making common cause with them
nōn posse mīlitēs continērī quīn in urbem inrumperent (B. C. 2.12)
that the soldiers
could not be restrained from bursting into the city
Nōn recūsat quīn iūdicēs. (Deiot. 43)
He does not object to your judging.
Neque recūsāre quīn armīs contendant. (B. G. 4.7)
And that they did not refuse to
fight.
Praeterīre nōn potuī quīn scrīberemad tē. (Caesar ap. Cic. Att. 9.6A)
I could not
neglect to write to you.
Trēverī tōtīus hiemis nūllum tempus intermīsērunt quīn lēgātōs mitterent. (B. G. 5.55)
The Treveri let no part of the winter pass without sending ambassadors.
[cf. B. G. 5.53; B. C. 1.78.]
Nōn cūnctandum exīstimāvit quīn pūgnā dēcertāret. (B. G. 3.23)
He thought he ought not
to delay risking a decisive battle.
Paulum āfuit quīn Vārum interficeret. (B. C. 2.35)
He just missed killing
Varus
(it lacked little but that he should kill)
Neque multum āfuit quīn castrīs expellerentur. (id. 2.35)
They came near being driven
out of the camp.
Facere nōn possum quīn cotīdiē ad tē mittam. (Att. 12.27.2)
I cannot help sending to you
every day.
Fierī nūllō modō poterat quīn Cleomenī parcerētur. (Verr. 5.104)
It was out of the
question that Cleomenes should not be spared.
ut efficī nōn possit quīn eōs ōderim (Phil. 11.36)
so that nothing can prevent my
hating them.
a. Quīn is especially common with nōn dubitō (I do not doubt) nōn est dubium (there is no doubt) and similar expressions.
Nōn dubitābat quīn eī crēderēmus. (Att. 6.2.3)
He did not doubt that we believed
him.
Illud cavē dubitēs quīn ego omnia faciam. (Fam. 5.20.6)
Do not doubt that I will do
all.
Quis īgnōrat quīn tria Graecōrum genera sint? (Flacc. 64)
Who is ignorant that there are
three races of Greeks?
Nōn erat dubium quīn Helvētiī plūrimum possent. (cf. B. G. 1.3)
There was no doubt
that the Helvetians were most powerful.
Neque Caesarem fefellit quīn ab iīs cohortibus initium victōriae orīrētur. (B. C. 3.94)
And it did not escape Cæsar's notice that the beginning of the victory came from those cohorts.
Note 1— Dubitō without a negative is regularly followed by an indirect question; so sometimes nōn dubitō and the like:
Nōn nūllī dubitant an per Sardiniam veniat. (Fam. 9.7)
Some doubt whether he is coming through Sardinia.
Dubitāte, sī potestis, ā quō sit Sex. Rōscius occīsus. (Rosc. Am. 78)
Doubt, if you can, by whom Sextus Roscius was murdered.
Dubitābam tū hās ipsās litterās essēsne acceptūrus. (Att. 15.9)
I doubt whether you will receive this very letter.
[Epistolary Imperfect (§ 479)]
Quālis sit futūrus, nē vōs quidem dubitātis (B. C. 2.32)
And what it (the outcome) will be, you yourselves do not doubt.
nōn dubitō quid sentiant. (Fam. 15.9)
I do not doubt
what they think.
Dubium illī nōn erat quid futūrumesset. (id. 8.8.1)
It
was not doubtful to him what was going to happen.
Note 2— Nōn dubitō in the sense of I do not hesitate commonly takes the infinitive, but sometimes quīn with the subjunctive.
nec dubitāre illum appellāre sapientem (Lael. 1)
and
not to hesitate to call him a sage
Dubitandum nōn exīstimā vit quīn proflcīscerētur. (B. G. 2.2)
He did not think he ought to hesitate to set out.
quid dubitās ūtītemporis opportūnitāte? (B. C. 2.34)
Why do you hesitate to take advantage of the favorable moment?
[A question implying a negative.]
b. Verbs of hindering and refusing often take the subjunctive with nē or quōminus ( = ut eō minus), especially when the verb is not negatived.
Plūra nē dīcam tuae mē lacrimae impediunt (Planc. 104)
Your tears prevent me from
speaking further.
Nec aetās impedit quōminus agrī colendī studia teneāmus. (Cat. M. 60)
Nor does age
prevent us from retaining an interest in tilling the soil.
Nihil impedit quōminus id facere possīmus. (Fin. 1.33)
Nothing hinders us from being
able to do that.
Obstitistī nē trānsīre cōpiae possent. (Verr. 5.5)
You opposed the passage of the
troops.
(opposed lest the troops should cross)
Note— Some verbs of hindering may take the infinitive.
Nihil obest dīcere. (Fam. 9.13.4)
There is nothing to
prevent my saying it.
prohibet accēdere (Caec. 46)
prevents him from
approaching
559. A clause of result or characteristic may be introduced by quīn after a general negative, where quīn is equivalent to quī (quae, quod) nōn.
nēmō est tam fortis quīn [ = quī nōn] reī novitāte perturbētur. (B. G. 6.39)
No one is so brave as not to be disturbed by the unexpected occurrence.
Nēmō erat adeō tardus quīn putāret, etc. (B. C. 1.69)
No one was so slothful as not
to think, etc.
Quis est tam dēmēns quīn sentiat, etc.? (Balb. 43)
Who is so senseless as not to
think, etc.?
Nīl tam difficilest quīn quaerendō investīgārī possiet. (Ter. Haut. 675)
Nothing's so hard but search will find it out. (Herrick).
Nēmō nostrum est quīn [ = quī nōn] sciat. (Rosc. Am. 55)
There is no one of us who does not know.
Nēmō fuit mīlitum quīn vulnerārētur. (B. C. 3.53)
There was not one of the soldiers
who was not wounded.
Ecquis fuit quīn lacrimāret? (Verr. 5.121)
Was there any one who did not shed
tears?
Quis est quīn intellegat? (Fin. 5.64)
Who is there who does not understand?
Hōrum nihil est quīn [ = quod nōn] intereat. (N. D. 3.30)
There is none of these (elements) which does not perish.
Nihil est illōrum quīn [ = quod nōn] ego illī dīxerim. (Pl. Bac. 1012)
There is nothing of this that I have not told him.
Note— Quīn sometimes introduces a pure clause of result with the sense of ut nōn.
numquam tam male est Siculīs quīn aliquid facētē et commodē dīcant (Verr. 4.95)
Things are never so bad with the Sicilians but that they have something pleasant or witty to say.
For quīn in independent constructions. see § 449.b.
560. A clause which is used as a noun may be called a substantive clause, as certain relative clauses are sometimes called adjective clauses. But in practice the term is restricted to clauses which represent a nominative or an accusative case, the clauses which stand for an ablative being sometimes called adverbial clauses.
Even with this limitation the term is not quite precise (see § 567, footnote 1). The fact is rather that the clause and the leading verb are mutually complementary; each reinforces the other. The simplest and probably the earliest form of such sentences is to be found in the paratactic use (see § 268) of two verbs like volō abeās, dīcāmus cēnseō, adeam optimum est. From such verbs the usage spread by analogy to other verbs (see lists on § 563, footnote 1; § 568, footnote 2), and the complementary relation of the clause to the verb came to resemble the complementary force of the accusative, especially the accusative of cognate meaning (§ 390).
561. A clause used as a noun is called a substantive clause. A substantive clause may be used as the subject or object of a verb, as an appositive, or as a predicate nominative or accusative.
Note 1— Many ideas which in English take the form of an abstract noun may be rendered by a substantive clause in Latin. Thus, he demanded an investigation may be postulābat ut quaestiō habērētur. The common English expression for with the infinitive also corresponds to a Latin substantive clause.
It remains for me to speak of the piratic war.
Reliquum est ut dē
bellō dīcam pīrāticō.
Note 2— When a substantive clause is used as subject, the verb to which it is subject is called impersonal, and the sign of the construction in English is commonly the so-called expletive IT.
562. Substantive clauses are classified as follows.
a. Of purpose (command, wish, fear) (§§ 563 - 564).
b. Of result (happen, effect, etc.) (§ 568).
a. With verbs of ordering, wishing, etc. (§ 563).
b. Indirect discourse (§ 579 ff.).
Note— The Infinitive with subject accusative is not strictly a clause, but in Latin it has undergone so extensive a development that it may be so classed. The uses of the infinitive clause are of two kinds: (1) in constructions in which it replaces a subjunctive clause with ut etc.; (2) in the indirect discourse. The first class will be discussed in connection with the appropriate subjunctive constructions (§ 563); for indirect discourse, see § 579 ff.
563. Substantive Clauses of Purpose with ut (negative nē) are used as the object of verbs denoting an action directed toward the future. Such are, verbs meaning to admonish, ask, bargain, command, decree, determine, permit, persuade, resolve, urge, and wish.1
Monet ut omnēs suspīciōnēs vītet. (B. G. 1.20)
He warns him to avoid all
suspicion.
Hortātur eōs nē animō dēficiant. (B. C. 1.19)
He urges them not to lose heart.
Tē rogō atque ōrō ut eum iuvēs. (Fam. 13.66)
I beg and pray you to aid him.
Hīs utī conquīrerent imperāvit. (B. G. 1.28)
He ordered them to search.
Persuādet Casticō ut rēgnum occupāret.(id. 1.3)
He persuades Casticus to usurp royal
power.
Suīs imperāvit nē quod omnīnō tēlum rēicerent. (id. 1.46)
He ordered his men not to
throw back any weapon at all.
Note— With any verb of these classes the poets may use the Infinitive instead of an object clause.
hortāmur fārī. (Aen. 2.74)
We urge [him] to speak.
Nē quaere docērī. (id. 6.614)
Seek not to be
told.
Temptat praevertere, etc. (id. 1.721)
She attempts to
turn, etc.
For the subjunctive without ut with verbs of commanding, see § 565.a (below).
a. Iubeō (order) and vetō (forbid) take the Infinitive with Subject Accusative.
Labiēnum iugum montis ascendere iubet (B. G. 1.21)
He orders Labienus to ascend the
ridge of the hill.
līberōs ad sē addūcī iussit (id. 2.5)
He ordered the children to be brought to him.
ab opere lēgātōs discēdere vetuerat (id. 2.20)
He had forbidden the lieutenants to leave
the work.
Vetuēre [bona] reddī. (Liv. 2.5)
They forbade the return of the goods.
(that the goods be
returned)
Note— Some other verbs of commanding, etc., occasionally take the Infinitive.
Pontem imperant fierī. (B. C. 1.61)
They order a
bridge to be built.
Rēs monet cavēre. (Sall. Cat. 52.3)
The occasion
warns us to be on our guard.
b.Verbs of wishing take either the infinitive or the subjunctive. With volō (nōlō, mālō) and cupiō the infinitive is commoner, and the subject of the infinitive is rarely expressed when it would be the same as that of the main verb. With other verbs of wishing the Subjunctive is commoner when the subject changes, the infinitive when it remains the same.
Augur fierī voluī. (Fam. 15.4.13)
I wished to be made augur.
Cupiō vigiliam meam tibi trādere. (id. 11.24)
I am eager to hand over my watch to you.
Iūdicem mē esse, nōn doctōrem volō. (Or. 117)
I wish to be a judge, not a teacher.
Mē Caesaris mīlitem dīcī voluī. (B. C. 2.32.13)
I wished to be called a soldier of Cæsar.
Cupiō mē esseclēmentem. (Cat. 1.4)
I desire to be merciful.
[But regularly, cupiō esse clēmēns (see § 457)]
omnēs hominēs, quī sēsē student praestāre cēterīs animālibus (Sall. Cat. 1)
all men who wish to excel other
living creatures
Volō tē scīre. (Fam. 9.24.1)
I wish you to know.
Vim volumus exstinguī. (Sest. 92)
We wish violence to be put down.
Tē tuā fruī virtūte cupimus. (Brut. 331)
We wish you to reap the fruits of your virtue.
Cupiō ut impetret. (Pl. Capt. 102)
I wish he may get it.
Numquam optābō ut audiātis. (Cat. 2.15)
I will never desire that you shall hear.
For volō and its compounds with the subjunctive without ut, see § 565 (below).
c. Verbs of permitting take either the subjunctive or the infinitive. Patior takes regularly the infinitive with subject accusative; so often sinō.
permīsit ut faceret (De Or. 2.366)
permitted him to make
Concēdō tibi ut ea praetereās. (Rosc. Am. 54)
I allow you to pass by these
matters.
Tabernācula statuīpassus nōn est. (B. C. 1.81)
He did not allow tents to be
pitched.
Vīnum importārī nōn sinunt. (B. G. 4.2)
They do not allow wine to be imported.
d. Verbs of determining, decreeing, resolving, bargaining, take either the subjunctive or the infinitive.
cōnstituerant ut L. Bēstia quererētur. (Sall. Cat. 43)
They had determined that Lucius
Bestia should complain.
Proeliō supersedēre statuit. (B. G. 2.8)
He determined to refuse battle.
dē bonīs rēgis quae reddīcēnsuerant (Liv. 2.5)
about the king's goods, which they had
decreed should be restored
dēcernit utī cōnsulēs dīlēctum habeant (Sall. Cat. 34)
decrees that the consuls shall
hold a levy
ēdictō nē quis iniussū pūgnāret (Liv. 5.19)
having commanded that none should fight
without orders
Note 1— Different verbs of these classes with the same meaning vary in their construction (see the Lexicon). For verbs of bargaining, etc., with the Gerundive, see § 500.4.
Note 2— Verbs of decreeing and voting often take the infinitive of the 2nd periphrastic conjugation.
Rēgulus captīvōs reddendōs [esse]
nōn cēnsuit. (Off. 1.39)
Regulus voted that the captives should not be returned.
[He said, in giving his
formal opinion: captīvī nōn reddendī sunt.]
e. Verbs of caution and effort take the subjunctive with ut. But cōnor (try) commonly takes the complementary infinitive.
Cūrā ut quam prīmum intellegam. (Fam. 13.10.4)
Let me know as soon as possible
(take care that I may understand).
Dant operam ut habeant, etc., (Sall. Cat. 41)
They take pains to have
(give their attention that, etc.)
impellere utī Caesar nōminārētur (id. 49)
to induce them to name Cæsar
(that Cæsar should be named)
Cōnātus est Caesar reficere pontīs. (B. C. 1.50)
Cæsar tried to rebuild the
bridges.
Note 1— Cōnor sī also occurs (as B. G. 1.8); cf. mīror sī, etc., § 572.b, Note.
Note 2— Ut nē occurs occasionally with verbs of caution and effort (cf. § 531).
Cūrā et prōvidē ut nēquid eī dēsit. (Att. 11.3.3)
Take
care and see that he lacks nothing.
For the subjunctive with quīn and quōminus with verbs of hindering etc., see § 558.
564. Verbs of fearing take the subjunctive, with nē affirmative and nē nōn or ut negative. In this use nē is commonly to be translated by that, ut and nē nōn by that not.
Timeō nē Verrēs fēcerit, etc. (Verr. 5.3)
I fear that Verres has done, etc.
Nē animum offenderet verēbātur, etc. (B. G. 1.19)
He feared that he should hurt the
feelings, etc.
Nē exhērēdārētur veritus est. (Rosc. Am. 58)
He feared that he should be
disinherited.
Ōrātor metuō nē languēscat senectūte. (Cat. M. 28)
I fear the orator grows feeble from
old age.
Vereor ut tibi possim concēdere. (De Or. 1.35)
I fear that I cannot grant you.
Haud sānē perīculum est nē nōn mortem optandam putet. (Tusc. 5.118)
There is no danger
that he will not think death desirable.
Note— The subjunctive in nē clauses after a verb of fearing is optative in origin. To an independent nē sentence:
Nē accidat.
May it not happen.
A verb may be prefixed (cf. § 560), making a complex sentence. Thus, vidē nē accidat; ōrō nē accidat; cavet nē accidat; when the prefixed verb is one of fearing, timeō nē accidat becomes Let it not happen, but I fear that it may. The origin of the ut clause is similar.
565. Volō and its compounds, the impersonals licet and oportet, and the imperatives dīc and fac often take the subjunctive without ut.
Volō amēs. (Att. 2.10)
I wish you to love.
Quam vellem mē invītāssēs! (Fam. 10.28.1)
How I wish you had invited me!
Māllem Cerberum metuerēs (Tusc. 1.12)
I had rather you feared Cerberus.
Sint enim oportet. (id. 1.12)
For they must exist.
Querāmur licet (Caec. 41)
We are allowed to complain.
Dac dīligās! (Att. 3.13.2)
Do love!
[A periphrasis for the imperative
dīlige love (cf. § 449.c).]
Dīc exeat. Tell him to go out.
Note 1— In such cases there is no ellipsis of ut. The expressions are idiomatic remnants of an older construction in which the subjunctives were Hortatory or Optative and thus really independent of the verb of wishing etc. In the classical period, however, they were doubtless felt as subordinate. Compare the use of cavē and the subjunctive (without nē) in prohibitions (§ 450), which appears to follow the analogy of fac.
Note 2— Licet may take (1) the subjunctive, usually without ut; (2) the simple infinitive; (3) the infinitive with subject accusative; (4) the dative and the infinitive (see § 455.1). Thus, I may go is licet eam, licet īre, licet mē īre, or licet mihi īre.
For licet in concessive clauses, see § 527.b.
Note 3— Oportet may take (1) the subjunctive without ut; (2) the simple infinitive; (3) the infinitive with subject accusative. Thus I must go is oportet eam, oportet īre, or oportet mē īre.
a. Verbs of commanding and the like often take the subjunctive without ut.
Huic mandat Rēmōs adeat. (B. G. 3.11)
He orders him to visit the Remi.
Rogat fīnem faciat. (id. 1.20)
He asks him to cease.
Mnēsthea vocat, classem aptent sociī. (Aen. 4.289)
He calls Mnestheus [and orders
that] his comrades shall make ready the fleet.
Note— The subjunctive in this construction is the Hortatory Subjunctive used to express a command in indirect discourse (§ 588).
Substantive Clause of Purpose with Passive Verbs
566. A substantive clause used as the object of a verb becomes the subject when the verb is put in the passive (Impersonal Construction).
Caesar ut cōgnōsceret postulātum est. (B. C. 1.87)
Cæsar was requested to make an
investigation.
(it was requested that Cæsar should make an investigation)
sī erat Hēracliō ab senātū mandātum ut emeret (Verr. 3.88)
if Heraclius had been
instructed by the senate to buy
sī persuāsum erat Cluviō ut mentīrētur (Rosc. Com. 51)
if Cluvius had been persuaded to
lie
Putō concēdī nōbīs oportēre ut Graecō verbō ūtāmur. (Fin. 3.15)
I think we must be
allowed to use a Greek word.
Nē quid eīs noceāturā Caesare cavētur. (B. C. 1.86)
Cæsar takes care that no harm shall
be done them
(care is taken by Cæsar lest, etc.).
a. With verbs of admonishing, the personal object becomes the subject and the object clause is retained.
Admonitī sumus ut cavērēmus. (Att. 8.11 D. 3)
We were warned to be careful.
cum monērētur ut cautior esset (Div. 1.51)
when he was advised to be more
cautious
Monērī vīsus est nē id faceret. (id. 56) He seemed to be warned not to do it.
b. Some verbs that take an infinitive instead of a subjunctive are used impersonally in the passive, and the infinitive becomes the subject of the sentence.
Loquī nōn concēditur. (B. G. 6.20)
It is not allowed to speak.
c. With iubeō, vetō, and cōgō, the subject accusative of the infinitive becomes the subject nominative of the main verb, and the infinitive is retained as complementary (Personal Construction).
Adesse iubentur postrīdiē. (Verr. 2.41)
They are ordered to be present on the following
day.
Īre in exsilium iussus est. (Cat. 2.12)
He was ordered to go into exile.
Simōnidēs vetitus est nāvigāre. (Div. 2.134)
Simonides was forbidden to sail.
Mandubiī exīre cōguntur. (B. G. 7.78)
The Mandubii are compelled to go out.
567. Clauses of result may be used substantively, (1) as the object of faciō, etc. (§ 568, below); (2) as the subject of these same verbs in the passive, as well as of other verbs and verbal phrases (§ 569, below); (3) in apposition with another substantive, or as predicate nominative etc. (see §§ 570 - 571, below).1
568. Substantive clauses of result with ut (negative ut nōn) are used as the object of verbs denoting the accomplishment of an effort.2 Such are especially faciō and its compounds (efficiō, cōnficiō, etc.).
Efficiam ut intellegātis. (Clu. 7)
I will make you understand.
(lit.
effect that you, etc.)
[So, faciam ut intellegātis (id. 9).]
commeātūs ut portārī possent efficiēbat (B. G. 2.5)
made it possible that supplies could
be brought.
Perfēcī ut ē rēgnō ille discēderet. (Fam. 15.4.6)
I brought about his departure from the
kingdom.
Quae lībertās ut laetior essetrēgis superbia fēcerat. (Liv. 2.1)
The arrogance of the
king had made this liberty more welcome.
ēvincunt īnstandō ut litterae darentur (id. 2.4)
by insisting they gain their point,
that letters should be sent.
[Here ēvincunt = efficiunt]
Note— The expressions facere ut, committere ut, with the subjunctive, often form a periphrasis for the simple verb.
Fēcī ut Flāminium ē senātū ēicerem. (Cat. M. 42)
It was
with reluctance that I expelled Flaminius from the senate.
569. Substantive clauses of result are used as the subject of the following.
Impetrātum est ut in senātū recitārentur. (litterae) (B. C.
1.1)
They succeeded in having the letter read in the senate.
(it was brought about that, etc.)
Ita efficitur ut omne corpus mortāle sit. (N. D. 3.30)
It therefore is made out that every body is mortal.
Accidit ut esset lūna plēna. (B. G. 4.29)
It happened to be full moon.
(it
happened that it was, etc.)
[Here ut esset is subject of accidit]
Reliquum est ut officiīs certēmus inter nōs. (Fam. 7.31)
It remains for us to vie
with each other in courtesies.
Restat ut hōc dubitēmus. (Rosc. Am. 88)
It is left for us to doubt this.
Sequitur ut doceam, etc. (N. D. 2.81)
The next thing is to show, etc.
(it
follows)
Note 1— The infinitive sometimes occurs.
Nec enim acciderat mihi opus esse. (Fam. 6.11.1)
For
it had not happened to be necessary to me.
Note 2— Necesse est often takes the subjunctive without ut.
concēdās necesse est (Rosc. Am. 87)
you must
grant
Est ut virō vir lātius ōrdinet arbusta. (Hor. Od. 3.1.9)
It is the fact that one man plants his vineyards in wider rows than another.
a. Fore (or futūrum esse) ut with a clause of result as subject is often used instead of the future infinitive active or passive; so necessarily in verbs which have no supine stem.
Spērō fore ut contingat id nōbīs. (Tusc. 1.82)
I hope that will be our happy lot.
cum vidērem fore ut nōn possem (Cat. 2.4)
when I saw that I should not be able
570. A substantive clause of result may be in apposition with another substantive (especially a neuter pronoun).
Illud etiam restiterat, ut tē in iūs ēdūcerent. (Quinct. 33)
This too remained— for them
to drag you into court.
571. A substantive clause of result may serve as predicate nominative after mōs est and similar expressions.
Est mōs hominum, ut nōlinteundem plūribus rēbus excellere. (Brut. 84)
It is the way of
men to be unwilling for one man to excel in several things.
a. A result clause, with or without ut, frequently follows quam after a comparative (but see § 583.c).
Canachī sīgna rigidiōra sunt quam ut imitentur vēritātem. (Brut. 70)
The statues of
Canachus are too stiff to represent nature.
(stiffer than that they should)
Perpessus est omnia potius quam indicāret. (Tusc. 2.52)
He endured all rather than
betray, etc.
[Regularly without ut except in Livy.]
b. The phrase tantum abest [it is so far (from being the case)] regularly takes two clauses of result with ut: one is substantive, the subject of abest; the other is adverbial, correlative with tantum.
Tantum abest ut nostra mīrēmur, ut ūsque eō difficilēs ac mōrōsī sīmus, ut nōbīs nōn satis faciatipse Dēmosthenēs. (Or. 104)
So far from admiring my own works, I am difficult and captious to that degree that not Demosthenes himself satisfies me.
Here the first ut clause is the subject of abest (§ 569.2, above); the second, a result clause after tantum (§ 537); and the third, after ūsque eō.
c. Rarely, a thought or an idea is considered as a result, and is expressed by the subjunctive with ut instead of the accusative and infinitive (§ 580). In this case a demonstrative usually precedes:
praeclārum illud est, ut eōs . . . amēmus, etc. (Tusc. 3.73)
This is a noble thing, that
we should love, etc.
vērī simile nōn est ut ille antepōneret (Verr. 4.11)
it is not likely that he
preferred
For relative clauses with quīn after verbs of hindering etc., see § 558.
2.Verbs and phrases taking an ut clause of result as subject or object are accēdit, accidit, additur, altera est rēs, committō, cōnsequor, contingit, efficiō, ēvenit, faciō, fit, flerī potest, fore, impetrō, integrum est, mōs est, mūnus est, necesse est, prope est, rēctum est, relinquitur, reliquum est, restat, tantī est, tantum abest, and a few others.
572. A peculiar form of substantive clause consists of quod (in the sense of that, the fact that) with the indicative. The clause in the indicative with quod is used when the statement is regarded as a fact.
alterum est vitium, quod quīdam nimis māgnum studium cōnferunt, etc. (Off. 1.19)
It is
another fault that some bestow too much zeal, etc.
Here ut cōnferant could be used, meaning that some should bestow; or the accusative and infinitive, meaning to bestow (abstractly); quod makes it a fact that men do bestow, etc.
Inter inanimum et animal hōc maximē interest, quod animal agit aliquid. (Acad. 2.37)
This is the chief difference between an inanimate object and an animal, that an animal aims at something.
Quod rediit nōbīs mīrābile vidētur. (Off. 3.111)
That he (Regulus) returned seems wonderful to us.
Accidit perincommodē quod eum nusquam vīdistī. (Att. 1.17.2)
It happened very unluckily
that you nowhere saw him.
Opportūnissima rēs accidit quod Germānī vēnērunt. (B. G. 4.13)
A very fortunate thing
happened, (namely) that the Germans came.
Praetereō quod eam sibi domum sēdemque dēlēgit. (Clu. 188)
I pass over the fact that she
chose that house and home for herself.
Mittō quod possessa per vim. (Flacc. 79)
I disregard the fact that they were seized by
violence.
Note— Like other substantive clauses, the clause with quod may be used as subject, as object, as appositive, etc., but it is commonly either the subject or in apposition with the subject.
a. A substantive clause with quod sometimes appears as an Accusative of Specification, corresponding to the English whereas or as to the fact that.
Quod mihi dē nostrō statū grātulāris, minimē mīrāmur tē tuīs praeclārīs operibus laetārī. (Fam. 1.7.7)
As to your congratulating me on our condition, we are not at all surprised that you are pleased with your own noble works.
Quod dē domō scrībis, ego, etc. (Fam. 14.2.3)
As to what you write of the house,
I, etc.
b. Verbs of feeling and the expression of feeling take either quod (quia) or the accusative and infinitive (indirect discourse).
Quod scrībis . . . gaudeō. (Q. Fr. 3.1.9)
I am glad that you write.
Faciō libenter quod eam nōn possum praeterīre. (Legg. 1.63)
I am glad that I cannot pass
it by.
Quae perfecta esse vehementer laetor. (Rosc. Am. 136)
I greatly rejoice that this is
finished.
quī quia nōn habuit ā mē turmās equitum fortasse suscēnset (Att. 6.3.5)
who perhaps
feels angry that he did not receive squadrons of cavalry from me.
Molestē tulī tē senātuī grātiās nōn ēgisse. (Fam. 10.27.1)
I was displeased that you did
not return thanks to the senate.
Note— īror and similar expressions are sometimes followed by a clause with sī.1 This is apparently substantive, but really protasis (cf. § 563.e, Note 1).
Mīror sī quemquam amīcum habēre potuit. (Lael. 54)
I
wonder if he could ever have a friend.
[Originally, If this is so, I wonder at it.]
573. An indirect question is any sentence or clause which is introduced by an interrogative word (pronoun, adverb, etc.), and which is itself the subject or object of a verb, or depends on any expression implying uncertainty or doubt. In grammatical form, exclamatory sentences are not distinguished from interrogative (see the third example below).
574. An indirect question takes its verb in the subjunctive.
Quid ipse sentiam expōnam. (Div. 1.10)
I will explain what I think.
[Direct:
quid sentiō?]
Id possetne fierī cōnsuluit. (i. 1.32)
He consulted whether it could be
done.
[Direct: potestne?]
Quam sīs audāx omnēs intellegere potuērunt. (Rosc. Am. 87)
All could understand how bold
you are.
[Direct: quam es audāx!]
Doleam necne doleam nihil interest. (Tusc. 2.29)
It is of no account whether I suffer or
not.
[Double question]
Quaesīvī ā Catilīnā in conventū apud M. Laecam fuisset necne. (Cat. 2.13)
I asked
Catiline whether he had been at the meeting at Marcus Lœca's or not.
[Double question]
Rogat mē quid sentiam. He asks me what I think.
[cf. Rogat mē sententiam He asks me my opinion.]
Hōc dubium est, uter nostrum sit inverēcundior. (Acad. 2.126)
This is doubtful, which of
us two is the less modest.
incertī quātenus Volerō exercēret victōriam (Liv. 2.55)
uncertain how far Volero would
push victory
[As if dubitantēs quātenus, etc.]
Note— An indirect question may be the subject of a verb (as in the fourth example), the direct object (as in the first), the secondary object (as in the sixth), an appositive (as in the seventh).
575. The Sequence of Tenses in indirect question is illustrated by the following examples.
Dīcō quid faciam.
I tell you what I am doing.
Dīcō quid factūrus sim.
I tell you what I will (shall)
do.
Dīcō quid fēcerim.
I tell you what I did.
(have done, was doing)
Dīxī quid facerem.
I told you what I was doing.
Dīxī quid fēcissem
I told you what I had done.
(had been doing)
Dīxī quid factūrus essem.
I told you what I would (should) do.
(was going to do)
Dīxī quid factūrus fuissem.
I told you what I would (should) have done.
a. Indirect questions referring to future time take the subjunctive of the 1st periphrastic conjugation.
Prōspiciō quī concursūs futūrī sint. (Caecil. 42)
I foresee what throngs there will
be.
[Direct: quī erunt?]
Quid sit futūrum crās, fuge quaerere. (Hor. Od. 1.9.13)
Forbear to ask what will be on
the morrow.
[Direct: quid erit or futūrum est?]
Posthāc nōn scrībam ad tē quid factūrus sim, sed quid fēcerim. (Att. 10.18)
Hereafter I
shall not write to you what I am going to do, but what I have done.
[Direct: quid faciēs (or factūrus eris?) quid fēcistī?]
Note— This periphrastic future avoids the ambiguity which would be caused by using the present subjunctive to refer to future time in such clauses.
b. The Deliberative Subjunctive (§ 444) remains unchanged in an indirect question, except sometimes in tense.
Quō mē vertam nesciō. (Clu. 4)
I do not know which way to turn.
[Direct:
quō mē vertam?]
Neque satis cōnstābat quid agerent. (B. G. 3.14)
And it was not very clear what they
were to do.
[Direct: quid agāmus?]
Nec quisquam satis certum habet, quid aut spēret aut timeat. (Liv. 22.7.10)
Nor is any
one well assured what he shall hope or fear.
[Here the future participle with sit could not be used.]
incertō quid peterent aut vītārent (id. 28.36.12)
since it was doubtful what they should seek or shun
(Ablative Absolute)
c. Indirect questions often take the indicative in early Latin and in poetry.
vīneam quō in agrō cōnserī oportet sīc observātō (Cato R. R. 6.4)
in what soil a
vineyard should be set you must observe thus
d. Nesciō quis, when used in an indefinite sense (somebody or other), is not followed by the subjunctive. So also nesciō quō (unde, etc.), and the following idiomatic phrases which are practically adverbs.
mīrum (nīmīrum) quam
marvellously (marvellous how)
mīrum quantum
tremendously (marvellous how much)
immāne quantum
monstrously (monstrous how much)
sānē quam
immensely
valdē quam
enormously
Examples are:
quī istam nesciō quam indolentiam māgnopere laudant (Tusc. 3.12)
who greatly extol that
freedom from pain, whatever it is
Mīrum quantum prōfuit. (Liv. 2.1)
It helped prodigiously
Ita fātō nesciō quō contigisse arbitror. (Fam. 15.13)
I think it happened so by some
fatality or other.
nam suōs valdē quam paucōs habet (id. 11.13A. 3)
for he has uncommonly few of his
own
Sānē quam sum gāvīsus. (id. 11.13A. 4)
I was immensely glad.
immāne quantum discrepat (Hor. Od. 1.27.5)
is monstrously at variance.
576. In colloquial usage and in poetry the subject of an indirect question is often attracted into the main clause as object (Accusative of Anticipation).
Nōstī Mārcellum quam tardus sit. (Fam. 8.10.3)
You know how slow Marcellus
is.
[For nōstī quam tardus sit Mārcellus. Cf. “I know thee who thou art.”]
cf. Potestne igitur eārum rērum, quā rē futūrae sint, ūlla esse praesēnsiō? (Div. 2.15)
Can there be, then, any foreknowledge as to those things, why they will occur?
[A similar use of the Objective Genitive.]
Note— In some cases the object of anticipation becomes the subject by a change of voice, and an apparent mixture of relative and interrogative constructions is the result.
Quīdam saepe in parvā pecūniā perspiciuntur quam sint levēs. (Lael. 63)
It is often seen, in a trifling matter of money, how unprincipled some people are.
(some people are often seen through, how unprincipled they are)
Quem ad modum Pompêium oppūgnārent ā mē indicātī sunt. (Leg. Agr. 1.5)
It has been shown by me in what way they attacked Pompey.
(they have been shown by me, how they attacked)
a. An indirect question is occasionally introduced by sī in the sense of whether (like if in English, cf. § 572.b. Note).
Circumfunduntur hostēs sī quem aditum reperīre possent. (B. G. 6.37)
The enemy pour
round [to see] if they can find entrance.
Vīsam sī domī est. (Ter. Haut. 170)
I will go see if he is at home.
Note— This is strictly a protasis, but usually no apodosis is thought of, and the clause is virtually an indirect question. For the Potential Subjunctive with forsitan (originally an indirect question), see § 447.a.