Classics: Uses of the Latin Subjuctive

How do you translate the subjunctive? It depends!

I. In main clauses

Name	Clausestarter	Negation	Environment	Translate
Wish	---	ne	(utinam)	May X [] Y
Jussive	---	ne	---	Let X [] Y
Potential	---	non	---	X would [] Y
Deliverative	---	---	Question word	Should X [] Y?

II. In subordinate clauses

A. Ut Clauses

Name	Clausestarter	Negation	Environment	Translate
Purpose	ut	ne	---	In order that X may/might [] Y, In order to [] Y
Result	ut	ut non	sic, ita, tam	That X []s/ed Y
Command	ut	ne	vb. of ordering	That X [] Y
Noun clause	(ut)	ne	facio, curo	That X []s Y
Fear clause	ne	ut	vb. of fearing	That X will [] Y

B. Cum Clause

Name	Clausestarter	Negation	Environment	Translate
cum clause	cum	cum non	---	Because X [] Y; Since X [] Y; Although X [] Y

C. Dum Clause

Name	Clausestarter	Negation	Environment	Translate
dum clause	dum	dum non	(modo)	Provided that X [] Y; Until X [] Y

D. Indirect Question

Name	Clausestarter	Negation	Environmsent	Translate
ind. ques.	QU-word	---	vb. of mental act	Trans. like indic.

E. Conditional Sentences

Name	Clausestarter	Negation	Environment	Translate
should/would	si	si nisi; si non	pres/perf subj.	If X should [] Y, then A would [] Y
pres. cont. to fact	"	"	imper. subj.	If X were []ing Y, then A would be []ing B
past cont. to fact	"	"	pluperf. subj.	If X had []ed Y, then A would have []ed B

F. In Relative Clauses

Name	Clausestarter	Negation	Environment	Translate
rel. cl. of purpose	rel. pro.	---	(anteded.)	In order that X [] Y
rel. cl. of cause	"	---	"	Because X []s Y
rel. cl. of result	"	---	"	That X []s Y
rel. characteristic	"	---	interrog	who would [] Y; or indef. ante -- whom X would [] Y

G. Subordinate Clauses Depending On Indirect Statement

Translate as that kind of clause.

Prof. Daniel V. McCaffrey
Randolph-Macon College