DRN: 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.
It happens that... examples
Latin Example Translation
Accidit ut Titus Luciae dicere non possit. It happens that Titus cannot speak to Lucia.
Accidit ut Titus Luciae dicere non posset. It happened that Titus could not speak to Lucia.
Fit ut Lucia tablinum intret. It happens that Lucia 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.

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