Optative Subjunctive

The next type of independent subjunctive use is called the optative subjunctive. The word optative is an English derivative coming from the Latin verb: opto, optare, optavi, optatus - to wish.

This type of subjunctive expresses a wish or desire. What do you imagine the man pictured on the right to be saying? Perhaps he is calling out to the gods: "May you keep me safe from harm." The Romans offered up their desires to the gods in the form of prayers and sacrifices. The phrase may you keep is an example of how the optative subjunctive is translated into English.

The optative subjunctive utilizes three tenses: present, imperfect and pluperfect. The optative can be used with both the active and passive voice.

Present optative
- The present tense is used for a future hope or desire.
- It is often translated by placing may before the subject:
  - May I discover the truth.
Imperfect optative
- The imperfect tense is used when the wish cannot be accomplished presently, but still could be fulfilled.
- It can be translated with the expression Would that or If only:
  - If only I was investigating the case.
Pluperfect optative
1. The pluperfect tense is used to express a wish in the past which was not fulfilled at the time.
2. It can also be translated with the expression Would that or If only:
  1. Would that I had investigated the case.

In most situations, the optative is introduced by the Latin word utinam, especially in the imperfect and pluperfect. The negative optative is introduced with utinam ne or just ne. In this course, every optative subjunctive will begin with the positive utinam (even in the present tense) or the negative ne.

The 1st person singular present optative can be used in the same sense as an imperative subjunctive (recall that the imperative subjunctive is not used in the 1st person singular):

Utinam sim fortis.
- Standard Optative Translation:
  - I hope I am strong.
- Imperative Subjunctive Style Translation:
  - Let me be strong.

**Exploring Tense in the Optative Subjunctive**
Tense	Latin Optative	English Translation	Analysis of Wish
Present	Utinam cursum vincam.	May I win the race. I wish to win the race. Let me win the race.	Present = possible, future outcome In the present, the wish is a hope for the future. The speaker is saying that they hope to win, but in this case, the race has not yet started.
Imperfect	Utinam cursum vincerem.	If only I was winning the race. Would that I was winning the race. I wish that I was winning the race.	Imperfect = not happening now, still possible in the future In the imperfect, the speaker is not currently having their wish fulfilled, but still could. I wish I was, but I'm not.
Pluperfect	Utinam cursum vicissem.	If only I had won the race. Would that I had won the race. I wish that I had won the race.	Pluperfect = impossible in the past In the pluperfect, there was no possibility that the speaker could have won. I wish I had, but I didn't.

Nota Bene

Note in the first example the possible translation Let me. The optative subjunctive in the present tense can take on this imperative style translation for the 1st person singular.
Have you ever wondered why someone would say I wish I were? This is the only remnant of the subjunctive mood in English. Using were instead of was for the 1st or 3rd person singular is the only way to express possibility outside of helping verbs (a 3rd person example: If only he were coming). Even this use is falling out of popularity, and you can expect to hear I wish I was or If only he was coming more often now. This course has been written with the modern English speaker in mind, so has opted for the more modern non-subjunctive English formation.

Optative Subjunctive Examples

Let's look at a few more examples to get a good idea of how the optative subjunctive is used.

Utinam una iterum simus.
- May we be together again.
- I wish for us to be together again.
Utinam ne hi amici boni pugnarent. (Can also be written without utinam: Ne hi amici...)
- If only these two good friends were not fighting.
- Would that these two good friends were not fighting.
- I wish that these two good friends were not fighting.
Ne Anna necata esses. (Can also be written with utinam: Utinam ne Anna...)
- If only Anna had not been killed.
- Would that Anna had not been killed.
- I wish that Anna had not been killed.
Utinam dubium respondeatur.
- May the question be answered.
- I hope that the question is answered.
Utinam ne malum hanc villam visitavisset. (Can also be written without utinam: Ne malum hunc...)
- If only evil had never visited this house.
- Would that evil had never visited this house.
- I wish that evil had never visited this house.