Level 3+: Conditional clauses [12]: mixed conditionals; a word of advice from Utah

The term mixed conditionals simply refers to a feature shared by Latin and English: writers will vary the choice of tense and / or mood depending on what precisely they wish to convey. In other words, they do not adhere rigidly to the patterns of conditional clauses.

Compare:

If you had listened, you would have been safe.

If you had listened, you would be safe.

If I had been there, I would help you.

If I were there now, I could have helped you.

There are so many permutations that it would be unproductive and time-consuming to try to identify every possibility. In such instances, it is better to look at the verbs in the protasis and apodosis separately:

Sī haec verba dīxisset, laetus fuissem.

• If he had said these words, I would have been happy.

i.e. this is the past contrary-to-fact conditional according to the usual patterns

However, both Latin and English frequently mix time references, for example:

Sī haec verba dīxisset, laetus essem.

• If he had said these words, I would be happy (now).

Sī villam emisset, beātam vitam nunc ageret.

• If he had bought the country house, he would now be living a happy life.

i.e. If he had done something in the past, he would be doing something now.

Nisi tam clārus esset, nōn eam fābulam narrāvissem.

• If he were not so famous, I would not have told that story.

Hunc ego sī in praefectīs habuissem, quem tū mē hominem putārēs? (Cicero)

• If I had had this man among my prefects, what sort of person would you think I am?

Nunc, sī iam rēs placeat, agendī tamen viam nōn videō (Cicero)

• Now, even if the matter should please (me), I nevertheless do not see a way of carrying it out.

Pol etsī taceās, palam id quidem est (Plautus)

• By Pollux, even if you were to keep silent, that is indeed common knowledge.

Magister, nisi nimis vīnī bibisset, in scholā nōn errāret.

• If the teacher had not drunk too much wine, he would not be wandering in the school.

So that you avoid wandering around having drunk too many conditionals, a quotation from Utah State University makes a point – and an important one:

“And one more thing to note. In actual practice, conditions in both English and Latin are often “mixed,” which means the protasis will belong to one type of condition, and the apodosis another. In this course, however, you won’t see mixed conditions. Latin’s challenging enough when the conditions are balanced. Let’s leave it at that.”

When studying Latin – not only the topic of conditionals, but other topics too – the prime focus must be on becoming familiar with the ‘patterns’ rather than jumping ahead and examining the ways in which authors manipulate those patterns. Mixed conditionals are not uncommon and, where examples of them occur, they will be noted and explained.

The Latin Tutorial video which summarises the conditionals makes no reference to mixed conditionals. The summary image which is taken from the video gives the key patterns to remember.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96pIN5edS8c

Level 3+: Conditional clauses [11] etsī, etiamsī, tametsī

This topic is already discussed under the heading:

31.07.26: Level 3+; Subjunctive [78] dependent uses [8] concessive clauses (3) etsī, etiamsī, tametsī

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/03/310726-level-3-subjunctive-78-dependent.html

Etsī, etiamsī and tametsī introduce conditions. However, those conditions are concessive, translating as ‘although’ or ‘even if’.

Compare:

(i) [A] If the weather is nice, [B] we’ll go to the seaside.

For [B] to happen, [A] must happen = a conditional clause

(ii) [A] Even if it is raining, [B] we’ll go to the seaside.

This shows a condition which does not affect the outcome.

Indicative or subjunctive may be used with the three conjunctions.

Indicative: the speaker presents the concessive clause as a fact and asserts that it does not affect the action:

Etsī abest mātūritās, tamen nōn est inūtile (Cicero)

• Though / even if ripeness of age is wanting, yet it is not useless

Nam ista vēritās, etiamsī iūcunda nōn est, mihi tamen grāta est (Cicero)

• For that truth, although / even if it is not pleasant, is nevertheless pleasing to me.

Quam ob rem ego tē hoc, soror, tametsī es maior moneō (Plautus)

• For that reason, sister, I give you this advice although / even if you are older.

Subjunctive: used when the speaker introduces a hypothetical or imagined concession and asserts that it would not affect the outcome expressed in the main clause.

Mālō hunc adligārī ad horiam, ... etsī sit tempestās maxima (Plautus)

• I prefer this man to be tied to the small fishing boat ... even if there is a very big storm.

Etiamsī nōn adiuvēs, haec facere possim.

• Even if you were not to help, I would (nevertheless) be able to do this.

Etiamsī hominēs tacērent, rēs ipsa illum cēnsum repudiāret (Cicero)

• Even if people were silent, the very matter itself would repudiate that assessment.

i.e. it does not matter whether the people were silent or not, the outcome would be the same

Level 3 / 3+ (Review); Hillard & Botting [60] Labours of Hercules (1)

 [1] Complete the Latin text with the words given below:

(1) Among the ancient gods (2) no one is (3) more known today (4) than Hercules, the son of Jupiter, (5) about (6) whom (7) many and wonderful stories have been (8) handed down.

(1) __________ deōs antīquōs (2) __________  (3) __________  hodiē nōtus est (4) __________  Iovis fīlius Herculēs, (5) __________  (6) __________  fabulae (7) __________  et mīrae (8) __________  sunt.

trāditae; quō; quam; nēmō; multae; magis; inter; dē

[2] Vī corporis et hominibus et deōbus omnibus praestābat. Paucōs annōs mēnse nātus, dum in cūnīs iacet, in maximum perīculum vēnit: nam Iūnō, quae semper eī inimīcissima erat, duōs serpentēs contrā eum mīsit; suīs autem manibus duōs īnfāns faucēs eōrum ēlīsit.

How does the writer emphasise Hercules’ strength? (6)

[3] Posteā, quod Iūnō mentem eius aliēnāverat, suōs ipse līberōs occīdit. Magnō tum dolōre ultrō in exilium discessit; mox ad Apollinis ōrāculum vēnit ibique auxilium ā deō petīvit. Ab eō iussus est rēgī cuidam Eurystheō duodecim annōs parēre:

In which order are the following first referred to?

voluntary exile _____

seeking a god’s assistance _____

obeying a king _____

killing children _____

driven mad _____

a god’s command _____

[4] Translate:

“Tum dēnique,” inquit deus, “immortālis eris.” Ab hōc rēge Iūnōnis iussū coāctus est Herculēs duodecim labōrēs peragere. (6)

Vocabulary

cūnae, -ārum [1/f/pl]: cradle

ēlīdō, -ere, ēlīsī, ēlīsus [3]: crush

faucēs, -ium [3/f/pl]: throat

mēns, mentis [3/f]: mind

mentem aliēnō, -āre [1]: drive mad / insane

occīdō, occīdere, occīdī, occīsus [3]: kill

pareō, parēre, paruī, — [2]: obey

peragō, peragere, perēgī, perāctus [3]: carry out, complete

petō, petere, petīvī, petītus [3]: seek

ultrō: (here) voluntarily; of one’s own accord

____________________

[1]

Inter deōs antīquōs nēmō magis hodiē nōtus est quam Iovis fīlius Herculēs, dē quō fabulae multae et mīrae trāditae sunt.

[2]

superior in strength to all men and gods (1)

strength evident even when a baby / when he was still in his cradle (1)

threatened by two snakes (1) sent by Juno (1)

throttled them (1) with his hands / i.e. no weapons (1)

[3]

voluntary exile [3]

seeking a god’s assistance [4]

obeying a king [6]

killing children [2]

driven mad [1]

a god’s command [5]

[4]

“Then at last,” said the god (1), “you will be immortal (1).” By this king (1), at the command of Juno (1), Hercules was compelled (1) to carry out twelve labours (1).

____________________

Among the ancient gods no one is more known today than Hercules, the son of Jupiter, about whom many and wonderful stories have been handed down. In strength of body he excelled both men and all the gods. A few months old, when he was lying in his cradle, he came into the greatest danger: for Juno, who was always most hostile to him, sent two snakes against him; but the infant with his own hands crushed the throats of them. Afterwards, because Juno had driven his mind mad, he himself killed his own children. Then, in great grief, he went away into exile of his own accord; soon he came to the oracle of Apollo and there sought help from the god. By him he was ordered to serve a certain king, Eurystheus, for twelve years: “Then at last,” said the god, “you will be immortal.” By this king, at the command of Juno, Hercules was compelled to carry out twelve labours.

Topic; architecture [1]; Comenius (1658) LXVII; domus [1]

The basic Latin nouns that commonly describe the main parts of a house were first referred to here:

25.02.24: plan of a Roman house

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/blog-post_4.html

20.06.24: Level 1; vocabulary; parts of a Roman house [1]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/06/200624-level-1-vocabulary-parts-of.html

23.06.24: Level 1; vocabulary; parts of a Roman house [2]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/06/230624-level-1-vocabulary-parts-of.html

We will look at that vocabulary again. However, it is possible to explore the topic in far greater depth, discussing vocabulary that is more specific and / or technical, which can lead us to consider the ‘psychology’ of Roman architecture. Their grand building projects and statues conveyed messages of power, success and stability, a mindset that was not lost on the wealthy. Hidden behind modest doors in Pompeii were vast properties consciously designed to convey wealth, superiority, opulence and influence.

We will begin with Comenius, whose descriptions of the house are very detailed. Much of the vocabulary equates to Classical Latin although there are some differences.

Part [1] the House / Domus

The porch is before the door of the house.  |  Vestibulum est ante iānuam domūs.

The door hath a threshold, and a lintel, and posts, on both sides.  |  Iānua habet līmen, & superlīmināre, & postēs, utrinque.

[i] iānua, -ae [1/f]: door

[ii] līmen, līminis [3/n]: threshold

[iii] superlīmināre, -is [3/n]: lintel

[iv] postis, -is [3/m]: post; doorpost

trānsībit enim Dominus percutiēns Aegyptiōs cumque vīderit sanguinem in superlīminārī et in utrōque poste trānscendet ōstium et nōn sinet percussōrem ingredī domōs vestrās et laedere

(Vulgate)

For Yahweh will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two side-posts, Yahweh will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come into your houses to strike you.

ōstium, -ī [2/n]: door

[v] domus [f] (house) needs careful study because it has a mixture of second (indicated in green) and fourth (indicated in yellow) declension endings.

Level 3+; Conditional clauses [10]: unreal conditions (2) / (3) practice

Complete the Latin sentences with the verbs listed below. The verbs are grouped according to [A] protasis, and [B] apodosis.

[1] Present contrary-to-fact

[i] If you had help, you would fare better / would be faring better.

Sī auxilium [A] __________, melius [B] __________.

[ii] If I were braver / stronger, the centurions would (be) honour(ing) me.

Sī fortior __________, centuriōnēs mē __________.

[iii] If it were permitted for you to leave, the judges would be afraid.

Sī __________ tibi discēdere, iūdicēs __________.

[iv] If he had power, things would (be) turn(ing) out better.

Sī ille potestātem __________, rēs melius __________.

[v] If you were in Italy, Catullus would dine / would be dining with you.

Sī in Italiā __________, Catullus tēcum __________.

[vi] If we were more powerful, the consuls would envy us.

Sī potentior __________, cōnsulēs nōbis __________.

[vii] If the prisoner were more famous, Augustus would envy him.

Sī captīvus __________ clārior, Augustus eī __________.

[viii] If he stayed / were staying at home, the children would (be) spend(ing) time with him.

Sī ille domī __________, līberī cum eō tempus __________.

[ix] If you (pl.) had freedom, you would fare / be faring better.

Sī lībertātem __________, melius __________.

[x] If we had power, we would fare / be faring better.

Sī potestātem __________, melius __________.

[A] essem; essēmus; essēs; esset; habērēmus; habērēs; habēret; habērētis; licēret; manēret

[B] agerent; cēnāret; ēvenīret; honōrārent; invidērent; invidēret; timērent; valērēmus; valērēs; valērētis

[2] Past contrary-to-fact

[i] If the general had gone away, the citizens would have been afraid.

Sī imperātor [A] __________, civēs [B] __________.

[ii] If the master had come home, the slave would have worked with him.

Sī dominus domum __________, servus cum eō __________.

[iii] If you had been braver, the gods would have praised you.

Sī audācior __________, deī tē __________.

[iv] If I had come to Rome, the enemies would have fought with me.

Sī Rōmam __________, inimīcī mēcum __________.

[v] If it had been permitted for the barbarian to speak, the general would have raged.

Sī __________ barbarō dīcere, imperātor __________.

[vi] If you (pl.) had been captured, you would have raged.

Sī __________, __________.

[vii] If I had been abandoned, I would have wept.

Sī __________, __________.

[viii] If we had been more fortunate, the consul would have approved of us.

Sī fēlīciōrēs __________, cōnsul nōs __________.

[ix] If you (pl.) had come to Troy, the soldiers would have waged war with you.

Sī Trōiam __________, mīlitēs vōbīscum bellum __________.

[x] If the boy had obtained water, he would have fared better.

Sī puer aquam __________, melius __________.

[A] abīsset; captī essētis; fuissēmus; fuissēs; impetrāvisset; licuisset; relicta essem; vēnissem; vēnisset; vēnissētis

[B] furuisset; furuissētis; gessissent; labōrāvisset; lacrimāvissem; laudāvissent; probāvisset; pugnāvissent; timuissent; valuisset

____________________

[1]

[i] Sī auxilium habērēs, melius valērēs.

[ii] Sī fortior essem, centuriōnēs mē honōrārent.

[iii] Sī licēret tibi discēdere, iūdicēs timērent.

[iv] Sī ille potestātem habēret, rēs melius ēvenīret.

[v] Sī in Italiā essēs, Catullus tēcum cēnāret.

[vi] Sī potentior essēmus, cōnsulēs nōbis invidērent.

[vii] Sī captīvus esset clārior, Augustus eī invidēret.

[viii] Sī ille domī manēret, līberī cum eō tempus agerent.

[ix] Sī lībertātem habērētis, melius valērētis.

[x] Sī potestātem habērēmus, melius valērēmus.

[2]

[i] Sī imperātor abīsset, civēs timuissent.

[ii] Sī dominus domum vēnisset, servus cum eō labōrāvisset.

[iii] Sī audācior fuissēs, deī tē laudāvissent.

[iv] Sī Rōmam vēnissem, inimīcī mēcum pugnāvissent.

[v] Sī licuisset barbarō dīcere, imperātor furuisset.

[vi] Sī captī essētis, furuissētis.

[vii] Sī relicta essem, lacrimāvissem.

[viii] Sī fēlīciōrēs fuissēmus, cōnsul nōs probāvisset.

[ix] Sī Trōiam vēnissētis, mīlitēs vōbīscum bellum gessissent.

[x] Sī puer aquam impetrāvisset, melius valuisset.

Conditional clauses [9]: unreal conditions (3) past contrary-to-fact

Past contrary-to-fact: strongly marked in English by ‘had … could / would have …’, it refers to a condition that could have or would have existed in the past – but what actually happened is the opposite of that condition:

Contrary-to-fact: If Marion had not taken a wrong turning, she would not have stopped at the motel.

Fact: But she did take a wrong turning – she did stop at the motel.

Contrary-to-fact: If she had changed her mind, she could have driven back.

Fact: But she didn’t change her mind – she didn’t drive back.

Latin marks such conditionals with the distinctive pluperfect subjunctive.

Contrary-to-fact: Sī magistrum laudāvissem [pluperfect subjunctive], mē bene docuisset [pluperfect subjunctive].

Contrary-to-fact: If I had praised my teacher, he would have taught me well.

Fact: But I did not praise my teacher – he did not teach me well.

Sī id fēcissēs, sapiēns fuissēs.

• If you had done it, you would have been wise.

Sī labōrāvisset, pecūniam optāvisset.

• If he had worked, he would have desired money.

Certō nūntium tibi ad tempus attulissem sī modo potuissem.

• I would certainly have brought the news to you in time if I had been able.

Sī illa cibum impetrāvisset, rēs melius ēvēnisset.

• If she had acquired food, the situation would have turned out better.

Sī vōs omnēs validiōrēs fuissētis, dūcēs vōbīs fāvissent.

• If you had all been stronger, the commanders would have favoured you.

Sī dēceptī essēmus, dēspērāvissēmus.

• If we had been deceived, we would have despaired.

Sī Rōmae fuissem, tē vīdissem cōramque grātiās ēgissem (Cicero)

• If I had been in Rome, I would have seen you and (would have) thanked you in person.

et fuisset ita, sī hominēs trānsitum tempestātis exspectāre potuissent (Cicero)

• and it would have been like that if people had been able to wait / could have waited for the storm to pass

This quotation from Quintilian is a good example that precisely shows how this conditional type is used:

Sī occīdisset [pluperfect subjunctive], rēctē fēcisset [pluperfect subjunctive]: sed nōn occīdit [perfect indicative]

• If he had killed him, he would have done so rightly; but he did not kill him.

Sī meō cōnsiliō pāruissēs, tuās dīvitiās servāssēs.

• If you had followed my advice, you would have kept your wealth.

This last example shows a feature that has been discussed before:

servāssēs is an example of a syncopated verb form: one or more sounds are omitted from a verb; the term ‘contraction’ is also used:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/syncopated%20verb%20forms

Syncopation can occur in a range of verb forms, but it is common with verbs that have a perfect stem in -v-, for example:

perfect: audīvī > audiī

pluperfect: audīveram > audieram

future perfect: audīverō > audierō

Here we have a pluperfect subjunctive:

servāvissēs (you would have kept) > servāssēs [i.e. the -vi- of the stem is dropped completely]

This feature is noticeable in Cicero’s writings:

Mānsissēs profectō, sī haec fore putāssēmus (Cicero) [note: syncopated verb form putā(vi)ssēmus]

• You would certainly have stayed if we had thought it was going to happen.

putāvissem (I should have thought) > putāssem [i.e. the -vi- of the stem is dropped completely]

putāvissēmus (we would have thought) > putāssēmus

Similarly:

labōrāvissem > labōrāssem

accūsāvisset > accūsāsset

nāvigāvissēmus > nāvigāssēmus

suspīrāvissent > suspirāssent

Image: compares the forms and translations of the present and past contrary-to-fact conditionals.

Level 3; Reading (review); [35] [i] Manliāna Imperia II

Post victōriam Titus Mānlius statim patrem, quī nōn sōlum cōnsul, sed etiam vir summae auctōritātis erat, adiit eīque dē pugnā nūntiāvit:

“Prōvocātus”, inquit, “ā Maeciō Tusculānō cum eō pugnāvī eumque virtūte et armīs superāvī; victor ad tē redeō.”

Statim pater cūnctōs mīlitēs advocārī iussit, fīlium in iūs vocāvit, factī ratiōnem postulāvit. Neque iuventūtis neque virtūtis ratiōnem habuit.

 “Quod,” inquit, ”imperātōris imperium et auctōritātem patris nōn cūrāvistī neque disciplīnae ratiōnem habuistī, quā adhūc cūnctās calamitātēs superāvit cīvitās Rōmāna, suppliciō poenās solvēs.”

Iam ipse līctōrem iussit fīlium caedere. Tam dūrō animō fuit ille vir. Cūnctī autem horrēbant haec Mānliāna Imperia.

līctor, -ōris [3/m]: a Roman civil servant who was an attendant and bodyguard to a magistrate

[i] Translate from “Post victoriam …” to “… ad tē redeō.” (10)

[ii] In your own words explain the father’s extreme reaction (16). Again, look at the mark allocation, refer to specific content and, where necessary, quote the Latin. Similarly, include brief information on Roman culture and attitudes.

____________________

[i] After the victory (1), Titus Manlius immediately approached his father (1) —who was not only consul (1) but also a man of the highest authority (1) and reported the fight to him (1):

“Having been challenged,” he said (1), “by Maecius the Tusculan (1), I fought with him (1) and overcame him (1) by courage and arms; as victor I return to you. (1)”

Suggested answer:

[1] The passage reflects key aspects of Roman thinking (1) in terms of discipline and obedience to authority (1).

[2] Manlius is shown no favouritism by his father (1).

[3] The son’s courage and victory are not mitigating factors (1), and the father does not take his son’s youth into consideration (1): Neque iuventūtis neque virtūtis ratiōnem habuit

[4] Manlius is condemned in the presence of all the soldiers (1): Statim pater cūnctōs mīlitēs advocārī iussit, fīlium in iūs vocāvit.

This is a public display, indicating that nobody – not even his own son – is above the law (1). Moreover, it serves as a deterrent to the other soldiers against acting in the same way (1). That the father’s actions are immediate indicates he needs no time for reflection (1).

[5] “Quod,” inquit, ”imperātōris imperium et auctōritātem patris nōn cūrāvistī neque disciplīnae ratiōnem habuistī, quā adhūc cūnctās calamitātēs superāvit cīvitās Rōmāna, suppliciō poenās solvēs.”

There are key charges in this statement:

Manlius has without justification disobeyed the commander’s order: imperātōris imperium (1), and the authority of his own father: auctōritātem patris (1).

Furthermore, he has undermined the mōs maiōrum the ancestral traditions of Rome itself (1), which the Romans believed were the foundation of their success (1): quā adhūc cūnctās calamitātēs superāvit cīvitās Rōmāna.

[6] The enormity of Manlius’ actions warrant the death penalty which is carried out in the father’s presence (1): Iam ipse līctōrem iussit fīlium caedere.

[7] While the father’s actions show his personal and frightening harshness - Tam dūrō animō fuit ille vir – (1) the scene culminates in a symbolic display that the collective good is prioritised over individual heroism (1).

Immediately the father ordered all the soldiers to be summoned, brought his son to trial, and demanded an account of the deed. He showed no regard either for his youth or for his bravery.

“Because” he said, “you did not respect the command of your general nor the authority of your father, and did not observe discipline, by which the Roman state has up to now overcome all disasters, you will pay the penalty with punishment.”

At once he himself ordered the lictor to execute his son. That man was of such a harsh spirit. However, they all shuddered in fear at these Manlian commands.