Clauses - Overview

Relative Clauses

Uses a relative pronoun to link the clauses together.

e.g. “Filii, qui praeclari erant, post currum ierunt.”

The sons, who were famous, went behind the charriot.

Indirect Question

b. Indirect Questions

Use an interrogative word (e.g., quid, cur, ubi) with a subjunctive verb.

• Example:
  Nesciebat cur captivi plaustra sequerentur.
  “He didn’t know why the captives were following the wagons.”

Indirect Statement

c. Indirect Statements (Oratio Obliqua)

Use accusative + infinitive after a verb of thinking, saying, perceiving, or knowing.

• Example:
  Scio Paulum triumphavisse.
  “I know that Paulus has triumphed.”

Purpose Clause

Explain why something is done. Usually introduced by ut (positive) or ne (negative), with a subjunctive verb.

• Example:
  Filii venerunt ut curru veherentur.
  “The sons came to be carried in the chariot.”

Result Clause

Show the result of the main clause. Introduced by ut, with a subjunctive verb. Often triggered by tam, tantus, adeo, tot, ita, talis in the main clause.

• Example:
  Tanta erat gloria ut omnes laetarentur.
  “The glory was so great that everyone rejoiced.”

Cum Clause

Can be temporal, causal, or concessive, usually with subjunctive.

• Temporal:
  Cum Paulus triumpharet, populus clamavit.
  “When Paulus was triumphing, the people shouted.”

• Causal:
  Cum hostes timerent, fugerunt.
  “Since the enemies were afraid, they fled.”

• Concessive:
  Cum vinceretur, tamen pugnavit.
  “Although he was being defeated, he still fought.”

Conditional Clause

Use si (if) or nisi (unless). Tense and mood depend on the type:

• Real present/future:
  Si venit, gaudeo. – “If he comes, I rejoice.”

• Unreal present:
  Si veniret, gauderem. – “If he were coming, I would rejoice.”

• Unreal past:
  Si venisset, gavisus essem. – “If he had come, I would have rejoiced.”

Temporal Clause

Establishes the relationship of time:

Use si (if) or nisi (unless). Tense and mood depend on the type:

• Real present/future:
  Si venit, gaudeo. – “If he comes, I rejoice.”

• Unreal present:
  Si veniret, gauderem. – “If he were coming, I would rejoice.”

• Unreal past:
  Si venisset, gavisus essem. – “If he had come, I would have rejoiced.”