MAR: Lesson - Grammar - Future More Vivid Conditional Sentences (Indicative)

Future More Vivid Conditional Sentences (Indicative)

Conditional sentences in Latin can be in either the indicative mood or the subjunctive mood. The first indicative mood conditional sentence is called Future More Vivid.

Future More Vivid Conditional Sentences

In earlier Latin courses, it is highly likely that you encountered sentences like the following:

  • Si responsa petiveris, veritatem invenies.
  • Translation: If you seek answers, you will find the truth.

This type of conditional is called future more vivid. The phrase "more vivid" refers to a situation in which both the protasis and apodosis deal with actual actions and consequences:

  • "looking for answers" = future action that will occur
  • "finding the truth" = guaranteed (real) outcome

Note the tenses of the protasis and apodosis in Latin: petiveris is future perfect (meaning a future action that is happening before another future action) while invenies is future tense. This relationship (future perfect protasis and future apodosis) is one of the most common indicative conditional sequences. The action of the protasis (look for answers) is occurring before (and in order to bring about) the consequence of the apodosis (finding the truth), which is why the future perfect is used. In other words, the protasis is a necessary precondition for bringing about the apodosis: one action leads to the other.

Because all of the actions are actually going to happen, or are based on what will happen given a particular action, the indicative mood is used.

Visual Representation of the Sentence
You (in the sentence), right now: If you: protasis (look for answers) Leads to: apodosis (find the truth)
Image: clip art showing a confused person Image: clip art showing someone trying to find answers Image: a chalkboard with the word Truth written on it

Additional Examples

The protasis will not always be future perfect in a Future More Vivid construction, but can also be future tense, if the actions are occurring at the same time in the future. Let's look at a few additional examples of Future More Vivid:

  • Si domo ero, laetus ero.
    • If I am at home, I will be happy.
    • Alternative translation: I will be happy if I am at home.
      • Note: The happiness and the being at home are happening simultaneously, so future tense is used for both protasis and apodosis.
  • Nisi discipuli audiverint, magister irascet.
    • Unless the students listen, the teacher will become angry.
    • If the students don't listen, the teacher will become angry.
  • Si copiae a castris mox non exiverint, ad Galliam non pervenient.
    • If the troops don't leave the camp soon, they will not reach Gaul.
  • Example from Classical Literature:
    • Sanabimur, si volemus. (Cicero, Tusculanae Disputationes, 3.13)
    • If we wish, we shall be healed.