CI: Lesson - Dependent Clauses with ut - Result Clauses

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Dependent Clauses with ut - Result Clauses

You can almost hear the magister instructing his discipulus in this image: Study these subjunctive uses so well that you can remember them on the test. What will be the result of diligently studying?

Result Clause

The last type of clause introduced by ut is called a result clause because the dependent clause explains the consequence of a particular action. For this reason, the formal name of a result clause is a consecutive clause (derived from the verb conseqor, consequi, consecutus - to follow; the word consequence also derives from this verb). In nearly all examples of a result clause, the introductory clause will contain a form of the adverb so or an adjective that means so: tam, ita, sic, tot (so many), talis (such), tantus (so great), etc. These modifiers provide a set up for the result that is contained in the dependent clause:

  • He was so great
    • How great was he?
  • that as a result, he conquered Spain.                
    • How did he conquer Spain? It was a result of him being so great.

As with purpose clauses and indirect commands, a positive result clause is introduced by ut, which will generally mean that. Unlike the other clauses, a result clause is negated with ut non, which will mean that...not. The verb in the result clause will be in the subjunctive mood.

Examples of Result Clauses
Latin Example English Translation Notes

Selene est tam callida ut veritatem invenire possit.

Selene is so clever that she can find the truth.
  • Sequence: Primary
  • Set-up: so clever
  • Result: she can find the truth

Selene erat tam callida ut veritatem invenire posset.

Selene was so clever that she could find the truth.
  • Sequence: Secondary
  • Set-up: so clever
  • Result: she could find the truth

Sunt tot suggestiones ut nemo responsum viderit.

There are so many clues that no one saw the answer.
  • Sequence: Primary
  • Set-up: so many clues
  • Result: no one saw the answer

Fuerant tot suggestiones ut nemo responsum vidisset.

There had been so many clues that no one had seen the answer.
  • Sequence: Secondary
  • Set-up: so many clues
  • Result: no one had seen the answer

Utinam Iuba sit tantus vir ut Pseudolus ei credat.

May Juba be such a great man that Pseudolus trusts him.
  • Sequence: Primary
  • Set-up: such a great man
  • Result: Pseudolus trusts him

Utinam Iuba esset tantus vir ut Pseudolus ei crederet.

If only Juba were such a great man that Pseudolus would trust him.
  • Sequence: Secondary
  • Set-up: such a great man
  • Result: Pseudolus would trust him

Sequence of Tenses

The verb in the result clause will almost always follow the sequence of tenses, though there are situations in which an actual result is reported with the perfect subjunctive outside of the normal sequence. In other words, you can occasionally see a perfect subjunctive verb in secondary sequence, which would normally be against the rules. This happens only under specific circumstance. All result clauses in this course will follow the sequence of tense, so these exceptions will not apply in this class. It is merely something to take note of for future study.