DRN: Lesson - Dependent Clauses with ut - Purpose Clauses

Image: a Roman teacher helps a student to study

Dependent Clauses with ut - Purpose Clauses

In Latin, there is a particle that frequently introduces dependent clauses and especially is used with subjunctive dependent clauses: ut. We have already seen ut when we learned about indirect commands. Now, we will learn two more clauses that are introduced by ut.

You can almost hear the magister instructing his discipulus in the image: "Study this text to learn about Roman history." Why should the student study the text? What is the purpose of studying?

Purpose Clauses

A purpose clause (also called a Final Clause) is used to explain the reason why an action happened:

  • We study Latin to become better at it.
  • We study Latin so that we might get better at it.

In Latin, the purpose clause is introduced by ut when it is positive and ne when it is negative. The verb in the dependent clause is formed in the subjunctive mood. The action in a purpose clause will always be incomplete, so will be present tense in the primary sequence and imperfect tense in the secondary sequence. In English, purpose is often expressed with an infinitive like the first example above, but ut may also be translated so that, so as, in order to/that.

A purpose clause in Latin is made negative with the particle ne, which can be translated so that not or lest.

Purpose Clauses - Examples
Latin Example English Translation Notes

Non haec facio ut te commoveam.
  • I am not doing this to upset you.
  • I am not doing this so that I upset you.
  • Sequence:
    primary (main verb is present tense)
  • What is the main action:
    I am (not) doing
  • What is the purpose of the main action:
    to upset

Non haec feci ut te commoverem.
  • I did not do this to upset you.
  • I did not do this so as to upset you.
  • Sequence:
    secondary (main verb is perfect tense)
  • What is the main action:
    I did (not) do
  • What is the purpose of the main action:
    to upset

Titus faciem suam celat ne Marcus eum videat.
  • Titus hides his face so that Marcus may not see him.
  • Titus hides his face lest Marcus see him.
  • Titus hides his face in order that Marcus not see him.
  • Sequence:
    primary (main verb is present tense)
  • What is the main action:
    hiding
  • What is the purpose of the main action:
    to not be seen

Titus faciem suam celabat ne Marcus eum videret.
  • Titus was hiding his face so that Marcus would not see him.
  • Titus was hiding his face lest Marcus see him.
  • Titus was hiding his face to avoid Marcus seeing him.
  • Sequence:
    secondary (main verb is imperfect tense)
  • What is the main action:
    hiding
  • What is the purpose of the main action:
    to not be seen

Titus cum Lucia in templo conveniet ut de investigatione dicant.
  • Titus will meet with Lucia to talk about the investigation.
  • Titus will meet with Lucia in order to talk about the investigation.
  • Titus will meet with Lucia so that they may talk about the investigation.
  • Sequence:
    primary (main verb is future tense)
  • What is the main action:
    meeting
  • What is the purpose of the main action:
    to talk

Titus cum Lucia in templo convenerat ut de investigatione dicerent.
  • Titus had met with Lucia to talk about the investigation.
  • Titus had met with Lucia so that they could talk about the investigation.
  • Sequence:
    secondary (main verb is pluperfect tense)
  • What is the main action:
    meeting
  • What is the purpose of the main action:
    to talk

Nota Bene

The difference in translation for primary and secondary sequence is often either minor or non-existent. Compare:

  • so that they may talk about the investigation (primary sequence)
  • so that they could talk about the investigation (secondary sequence)

The reason: all purpose clauses are by nature incomplete, so they always reflect this nature in translation. Additionally, since English often translates a purpose with the infinitive, there is no need to distinguish between near future and far future (incomplete action = action that could be completed at some future time).

Practice Activity

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