Latin 103 - Constructions to Know

Vocative Case

Case used for direct address - either in 2nd person singular or plural

Partitive genitive

Use of the genitive that expresses something is a part of a whole/larger sum

Complementary Infinitive

When the infinitive is used to complete the action of the main verb (the main verb takes an infinitive to complete its meaning)

Ablative of means/instrument

use of the ablative to show the object/tool with which something is done

Ablative of manner

The use of the ablative to show how something is done

Ablative of accompaniment

Use of ablative to show who an action is done with/alongside; usually also used with cum

preposition + accusative

Used to show place to which —> indicates motion

preposition + ablative

Shows place from which or place where

Indirect statements

Statements qued off by verbs of thinking, seeing, or knowing; have the subject go in the accusative and the verb in the infinitive

Cum + indicative

“When”; indicates a clause that describes the specific time when the main clause happens

Dum + indicative

“While”; shows a clause happens simultaneously as the main clause

Locative

Special case used for cities, small islands, and towns; looks like genitive (instead of using ablative) and doesn’t use prepositions for expressions of place (even where accusative is being used)

Relative clauses

Uses a relative pronoun to describe a noun in the main clause (i.e. who, which, etc.)

Ablative Absolute

When the ablative of a noun and ablative of a participle are used together to show some type of temporal contingency (trans. when, after, while, etc. based on context); CANNOT be used if this construction refers to the subject of the main clause

Comparative

Shows an adjective one degree above the standard adjective; uses -ior/-ius endings

Superlative

Shows the highest degree of a given adjective (i.e. most, best, happiest, etc.); uses “-issimus, a, um” endings

Quam + superlative

“as ____ as possible”

quam + obj of comparison in the same case as main noun

use of comparative to compare to something

ablative of comparison

Use of the ablative to compare a noun to the main noun; usually used alongside a comparative adjective

Deponents

verbs that appear passive but are actually active

Hortatory/Jussive Subjunctive

Use of the subjunctive that expresses a command, demand, or action; “let us..” subjunctive; negative = ne

Optative Subjunctive

Use of the subjunctive to express a hope or wish; starts with “utinam” and negative = ne

Deliberative Subjunctive

Use of the subjunctive to express doubt; negative = non

Subjunctive of Possibility

Use of the subjunctive to express hypotheticals (in the main clause); can be accompanied by “fortisan” and negative = ne

Purpose Clause

Introduced by ut/uti, this clause uses the pres/imperf subjunctive to show intention of the actions in the main clause (i.e. in order to…); negative=ne

Result clause

Uses the pres/imperf subjunctive (tipped off by ut) to show something that happens as a result of the main clause’s action; negative = ut non

Cum Circumstantial Clause

Uses cum + the subjunctive (perf/pluperf) to show the circumstances under which the main clause happens; translated as “when” or “after”

Cum Causal Clause

Uses cum + the subjunctive (perf/pluperf) to show why something happened in the main clause; translated as “because” or “since”

Cum Concessive Clause

Uses cum + the subjunctive (perf/pluperf) to show the actions of the main clause happened in contrast to something else; translated as “although”

Dum + Subjunctive

Use of the subjunctive (perf/pluperf) to describe temporal anticipation/expectation; translated as “until”

Noun Result Clauses

Result clauses (also indicated by “ut”) that function as the direct object or subject of the main verb; indicated by verbs like “facio” or by impersonal constructions like “mos est”

Indirect Questions

Clauses that could be a question if they weren’t attached to the main clause; dependent use of the subjunctive that is indicated by verbs of asking or verbs of hearing or thinking

Indirect Commands

Introduced by “ut” (negative = ne), these are dependent clauses using the subjunctive that implicitly introduce a command via a work of telling, advising, asking, etc. like “impero, moneo, etc.”

Clauses of Fearing

Use of the subjunctive tipped off by timeo, metuo, or vereor to show something that is feared; negative = ut (something not feared) and positive = ne (something feared)

Simple fact Present

Expresses a true fact in the present; uses two present indicative verbs to show “if…is…”

Simple Fact Past

Expresses a true fact that occurred in the past; uses two imperfect or perfect indicative verbs to show “if ___ did…was…”

Future More Vivid

Expresses something likely to happen in the future by using two future indicative verbs; trans: "“if ____ does… ___ will…”

Contrary to Fact Present

Expresses something that would have happened in the present but didn’t actually happen; uses two imperfect subjunctive verbs to express “if ______ were…____ would…”

Contrary to Fact Past

Expresses something that would have happened in the past but didn’t actually happen; uses two pluperfect subjunctive verbs to express “if ______ had…____ would have…”

Future Less Vivid

Expresses something unlikely to happen in the future by using two present subjunctive verbs; trans: "“if ____ should… ___ would…”

Gerund

A verbal noun that is formed the same way as the future passive participle (except with second declension neuter noun endings) and corresponds to the “-ing” form in English; distinct from the participle because it stands alone and is not used like an adjective

The Gerundive

The use of the future passive participle as an adjective; used in situations where the gerund would have a direct object (object in case gerund should be in + gerundive in matching case)

Passive Paraphrastic

Construction that uses the gerundive and a form of sum to express necessity; the agent of the necessary action is expressed in the dative of agent

Connective Relative Pronoun Clause

Use of the relative pronoun at the start of a sentence to express “and [whatever the pronoun refers to]”

Clauses of Characteristic

Use of the relative pronoun alongside a subjunctive verb to show “the sort of person..” to do something rather than a specific individual

Purpose Clause w/ Relative Pronoun

Purpose clauses where the “ut” us replaced by a relative pronoun

Impersonal constructions

Constructions in Latin that use the dummy subjects of “it” or “one” to express something not constrained to a specific person or subject (i.e. it is necessary, one fights, etc.)