CI: Lesson - Dependent Clauses with ut - Other Result Clauses
Dependent Clauses with ut - Other Result Clauses
One other common use of the result clause is following a verb meaning to happen. This includes verbs such as accidit - it happens/happened and fit - it happens (from the irregular verb: fio, fieri, factus sum). The verb forms will always be 3rd person singular but can be any tense and mood. So, for instance, you will see:
- Indicative Future:
- accidet ut - it will happen that...
- Subjunctive Pluperfect:
- accidisset ut - it could have happened that...
- Indicative Perfect:
- factum est ut - it happened that...
- Subjunctive Present:
- fiat ut - it could happen that...
When acting as a result clause, these verbs are completed with a dependent subjunctive clause introduced by ut to explain the result of an event.
- It happens that we found the truth.
- As a result of this thing happening, we found the truth.
| Latin Example | Translation |
|---|---|
| Accidit ut Pseudolus Selenae dicere non possit. | It happens that Pseudolus cannot speak to Selene. |
| Accidit ut Pseudolus Selenae dicere non posset. | It happened that Pseudolus could not speak to Selene. |
| Fit ut Selene tablinum intret. | It happens that Selene enters the room. (lit. It becomes so that...) |
Nota Bene
- The form accidit could be either the present or perfect form. Use context and the sequence of tenses to determine what tense it is.
- possit = present subjunctive, making this primary sequence. accidit must be present tense.
- posset = imperfect subjunctive, making this secondary sequence. accidit must be perfect tense.