CI: Lesson - Summary of Subjunctive Uses

Summary of Subjunctive Uses

In this course, we have met only some of the uses for the subjunctive mood in Latin. As you progress to more advanced Latin courses, you will learn not only additional ways to use the forms you have learned so far, but a few other ways in which the Romans used the subjunctive mood in their writing. What you have now are the basic tools to begin learning the more complex forms that are coming. With that in mind, let us go through, one last time, the various ways in which we have used the subjunctive mood in this course.

Do you suppose that Pseudolus taught his students all these subjunctive uses? The image at the right shows a group of advanced students, learning with their magister - hearkening back to better times when Marcellus and his friends were all still young.

Independent vs. Dependent Uses

The subjunctive mood can be used on its own, in an independent clause, or in a dependent clause. While both have unique features, independent and dependent subjunctive uses all share the same basic forms: the unique set of subjunctive endings for the present, imperfect, perfect and pluperfect tense. The differences lie in how the two types are utilized and in what situations. 

Independent vs. Dependent Subjunctives

Independent	Dependent
Used in an independent clause	Used in a dependent clause
Often used without introductory particle Exceptions: Optative subjunctive is introduced by utinam Deliberative Questions are introduced using interrogatives	Always introduced by a particle: ut/ne interrogative word
Tense indicates specific reference to time: Present - expresses future time Imperfect - expresses present or ongoing past time Perfect - expresses present or completed past time - rare Pluperfect - expresses past time	Tense based on sequence of tenses and indicates whether an action is complete or incomplete: Present - primary sequence - incomplete action Imperfect - secondary sequence - incomplete action Perfect - primary sequence - complete action Pluperfect - secondary sequence - complete action
Used for: 1st and 3rd person commands (imperative subjunctives) questions relating to doubt (deliberative questions) wishes (optative) possibility (potential)	Used for: indirect questions indirect commands purpose clauses result clauses

Comparing the Uses

While the individual uses vary in how they are used, there are also several similarities. The following chart is set up to show both similarities and differences in each type of subjunctive use. Each type also includes one new, unique example to demonstrate the usage.

Summary of Uses of the Subjunctive Mood

Name of Use Basic Function	Dependent vs. Independent	Introduced by	Tense, Person, Number or Sequence	Negation	Example with translation
Potential Possibility	Independent	none	Tense: Any, but mostly present and imperfect Person: Any Number: Both	non	Pseudolus veritatem videat. Pseudolus may see the truth.
Imperative Subjunctive Polite Commands (1st/3rd Person)	Independent	none	Tense: Present Person: 1st, 3rd Number: 1st (plural only), 3rd (both)	ne	Ne in tablinum eamus. Let us not go into the study. Iuba ab accusatione liberetur. Let Juba be freed from accusation.
Deliberative Question Question showing doubt or hestitation	Independent	Interrogative enclitic -ne	Tense: Present and Imperfect Person: Any Number: Both	non	Quomodo Pseudolus sciret? How was Pseudolus to know?
Optative Wish	Independent	Utinam	Tense: Present, Imperfect and Pluperfect Person: Any Number: Both	ne	Utinam Iuba Romam ne venisset. If only Juba had not come to Rome.
Indirect Question Reported Question	Dependent	Interrogative form (quis, cur, ubi, num, utrum, etc)	Available in all sequences, even has a future form	non	Selene mirata est cur Pseudolus non venisset. Selene wondered why Pseudolus had not come.
Indirect Command Reported Command	Dependent	ut	Incomplete sequences only	ne	Pseudolus Iubae imperavit ut maneret. Pseudolus told Juba to stay.
Purpose Clause Explains why independent clause happened	Dependent	ut	Incomplete sequences only	ne	Marcellus Romam properavit ut Selenen videret. Marcellus hurried to Rome to see Selene.
Result Clause Explains the result of the independent clause happening	Dependent	ut form of so present in independent clause	Available in all sequences.	non	Marcellus Selenen tam adoravit ut Iuliam relinquere vellet. Marcellus adored Selene so much that he was willing to leave Julia.

Practice Activity

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