Independent Uses of the Subjunctive Mood - Review

Independent Uses of the Subjunctive - complete this document to improve your understanding of the independent uses of the subjunctive mood.. Use the chart below to help in filling out this handout.

Because some of the uses discussed in this module share certain similarities, it is useful to summarize the different forms. Pay careful attention to the differences to learn to distinguish the uses. Use the chart below as a final review for the four types of independent subjunctives.

**Summary of Independent Uses of the Subjunctive Mood**
Independent Use	Basic Function	Introduced by	Characteristics	Negation	Basic translation
Potential Subjunctive	Possibilities	none	Tense: Any, but mostly present and imperfect Person and Number: Any	non	Subject + may/might may/might have would/should/could would/should/could have
Imperative Subjunctive	Subjunctive/Polite commands	none	Tense: Present only Person and Number: 1st Person Plural, 3rd Person Singular and Plural	ne	Let us Let him, her, it Let them
Optative Subjunctive	Wishes	Utinam	Tense: Present, Imperfect and Pluperfect Person and Number: Any	ne	May subject... Would that subject... If only subject... I wish that subject...
Deliberative Question	Questions showing doubt or hesitation	Interrogative	Tense: Present and Imperfect Person and Number: Any	non	Formulaic (example: What am I to do?) Subject + should Subject + should have

Nota Bene

In looking at the chart, you should notice that the potential subjunctive and imperative subjunctive can overlap. While this is the case, it will often be clear from context which use is preferred, and if not, then it is likely that either would suffice.
As mentioned previously, this course will use utinam for every optative subjunctive, making clear the difference between optative subjunctives and imperative subjunctives, but they do overlap in the negative (both introduced with ne).
- In real Latin, though, be aware that the optative subjunctive in the present tense may not be distinguishable from the commands:
  - Vincat.
    - Let him win. (imperative)
    - May he win. (optative)
  - The translations have only the most subtle difference.

Practice Activity