DRN: 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 studying so diligently?

Result Clause

Another 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. The verb in the result clause will be in the subjunctive mood.

A result clause in Latin is made negative with the particle ut non, which can be translated that...not. This is unlike the other dependent clauses (purpose and indirect command), which used ne, making this one of the key ways to differentiate result clauses from other dependent subjunctive clauses.

Examples of Result Clauses
Latin Example English Translation Notes

Lucia est tam callida ut veritatem invenire possit.

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

Lucia erat tam callida ut veritatem invenire posset.

Lucia 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 Marcus sit tantus vir ut Titus ei credat.

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

Utinam Marcus esset tantus vir ut Titus ei crederet.

If only Marcus were such a great man that Titus would trust him.
  • Sequence: Secondary
  • Set-up: such a great man
  • Result: Titus 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 circumstances. Most result clauses you encounter will follow the sequence of tenses. This is merely something to take note of for future study.

Practice Activity

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