Level 3+; Subjunctive [62] dependent uses [5] verbs of fearing (4) practice [ii]

These exercises are more challenging and designed to give you further practice in recognising different forms of the subjunctive. Again, the translations retain ‘may’ and ‘might’ to convey the subjunctive idea. Complete each exercise with the verbs and phrases listed below.

[1] primary sequence

[a] with the present subjunctive

[i] And I fear that you may think too much │ Metuōque, nē tū nimium __________. (Cicero)

[ii] I fear that I may be either troublesome to you, judges, or (that I may) seem to distrust your intelligence │ Vereor nē aut molestus __________ vōbīs, iūdicēs, aut nē ingeniīs vestrīs  __________ diffīdere. (Cicero)

[iii] I am horribly afraid that I may be overwhelmed at Tusculum. │ Equidem vereor maximē, nē in Tusculānō __________. (Cicero)

[iv] But there is a danger that we may be overwhelmed. │ At __________, nē __________. (Cicero)

[v] I fear that all my old misdeeds may have been discovered. │ Timeō nē male facta antīqua mea __________ omnia. (Plautus)

[vi] But I fear that the woman may have been corrupted in my absence. │ Sed vereor nē mulier mē absente hīc __________. (Terence)

[b] with the perfect subjunctive

[i] What, by Hercules, I fear, is that it may have had more force in deterring … │ Quod mē hercule vereor nē maiōrem vim ad dēterrendum __________. (Cicero)

[ii] So I am afraid that we have lost the tribunes’ favour. (Cicero) │  Vereor nē et studia tribūnōrum __________. (Cicero)

āmīserīmus; corrupta sit; habuerit; opprimāmur; opprimar; perīculum est; putēs; sim; sint inventa; videar

[2] historic sequences

[a] With the imperfect subjunctive

[i] Caesar never feared that the legions would be conquered.

Caesar numquam __________  nē legiōnēs __________ .

[ii] We were afraid that enough grain supply could not be sent.

__________  ut satis reī frūmentāriae mittī __________ .

[iii] The Romans themselves greatly feared that the Helvetii might march [ = make a journey] through the province.

Rōmānī ipsī magnopere __________  nē Helvētiī iter per prōvinciam __________ .

[b] With the pluperfect subjunctive

[i] There was great fear that the enemies might have captured / had captured the city.

__________  nē hostes urbem __________ .

[ii] Great fear arose that the slave might have / had killed his master.

__________  nē servus dominum suum __________  .

[iii] The sailor’s wife was afraid that the ship might have been / had been destroyed.

Uxor nautae __________  nē nāvis __________ .

[iv] I feared that the letter might not have been / had not been sent.

__________  ut epistula __________ .

cepissent; dēlēta esset; facerent; fuit magnus timor; interfēcisset; magnus timor ortus est; missa esset; posset; timēbam; timēbāmus; timuit; verebāntur; verēbātur; vincerentur

____________________

[1]

[a]

[i] Metuōque, nē tū nimium putēs.

[ii] Vereor nē aut molestus sim vōbīs, iūdicēs, aut nē ingeniīs vestrīs videar diffīdere.

[iii] Equidem vereor maximē, nē in Tusculānō opprimar.

[iv] At perīculum est, nē opprimāmur.

[v] Timeō nē male facta antīqua mea sint inventa omnia.

[vi] Sed vereor nē mulier mē absente hīc corrupta sit.

[b]

[i] Quod mē hercule vereor nē maiōrem vim ad dēterrendum habuerit.

[ii] Vereor nē et studia tribūnōrum āmīserīmus.

[2]

[i] Caesar numquam timuit nē legiōnēs vincerentur.

[ii] Timēbāmus ut satis reī frūmentāriae mittī posset.

[iii] Rōmānī ipsī magnopere verēbantur nē Helvētiī iter per prōvinciam facerent.

[iv] Fuit magnus timor nē hostes urbem cepissent.

[v] Magnus timor ortus est nē servus dominum suum interfēcisset.

[vi] Uxor nautae verēbātur nē nāvis dēlēta esset.

[vii] Timēbam ut epistula missa esset.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [61] dependent uses [5] verbs of fearing (3) tense sequences

The subjunctive appears in a variety of constructions, but fear clauses provide a particularly clear way to examine how primary and historic tense sequences affect meaning and how Latin subjunctive verbs can be translated. The accompanying image includes all the subjunctive forms of both active and passive verbs discussed, along with the nuances they convey.

English does not always convey the inherent uncertainty of a fear clause, whereas Latin does through the subjunctive. Therefore, I have used both (1) ‘may’ and ‘might’ to retain the uncertainty, and (2) English verb forms that do not explicitly show it.

Primary Sequence

[a] simultaneous / future action

Timet [present indicative] nē hostēs urbem capiant [present subjunctive]. │ He fears that the enemy (1) may / (2) will capture the city.

Timet nē urbs ab hostibus capiātur [present subjunctive; passive]. │ He fears that the city (1) may be / (2) will be captured by the enemy.

[b] completed action

Timet nē hostēs urbem cēperint [perfect subjunctive]. │ He fears that the enemy (1) may have (2) have captured the city.

Timet nē urbs ab hostibus capta sit [perfect subjunctive; passive]. │ He fears that the city (1) may have been / (2) has been captured by the enemy.

Historic Sequence

[a] simultaneous / future action

Timēbat [imperfect indicative] nē hostēs urbem caperent [imperfect subjunctive]. │ He was afraid that the enemy (1) might / (2) would capture the city.

Timēbat nē urbs ab hostibus caperētur [imperfect subjunctive; passive]. │ He was afraid that the city (1) might be / (2) would be captured by the enemy.

[b] completed action

Timēbat nē hostēs urbem cēpissent [pluperfect subjunctive]. │ He was afraid that the enemy (1) might have / (2) had captured the city.

Timēbat nē urbs ab hostibus capta esset [pluperfect subunctive; passive]. │ He was afraid that the city (1) might have been / (2) had been captured.

The fears of Cicero

One of the most significant figures in Classical Latin literature is Cicero, and his letters and speeches provide very good contextual examples of how the language works. It is important, therefore, to see authentic quotations to take you beyond the text books. Below are examples of the way in which the primary and historic tense sequences operate from some of Cicero’s correspondence with Atticus.

[1] Primary sequence

Timeō, ¦ nē absim │ I am afraid ¦ I may be absent.

Timeō, ¦ nē in eum exsistam crūdēlior │ I fear ¦ that I might come across as too cruel toward him.

Metuō ¦ nē obsit │ I fear ¦ he may cause trouble.

Haec metuō equidem nē sint somnia │ I fear these may be dreams.

Nunc vērō sībilīs volgī, sermōnibus honestōrum, fremitū Ītaliae vereor nē exārserint [perfect subjunctive]. │ But now I am afraid they might have flared up from the hisses of the crowd, the talk of the loyalists, and the murmurs of Italy.

Note the two different ways of expressing the negative i.e. ut or nē … nōn

Et tamen vereor, ¦ ut hīs ipsīs contentus sit │ And yet I fear that he might not be content with these very things.

Sed timeō, ¦ nē nōn impetrem │ I fear I may not succeed.

Vereor, ¦ nē exercitum firmum habēre nōn possit │ I fear he may not be able to have a reliable army. 

[2] Historic sequence

Hanc epistulam … veritus sum ¦ nē solveret │ I was afraid ¦ he might open this letter.

Tū autem veritus es fortasse, nē ego invītus audīrem But perhaps you feared that I should be sorry at the news [literally: … that I might listen unwillingly].

Nē interclūderer, metuēbam │ I was afraid that I might be shut in there.

Nōn sum veritus, nē vidērer adsentārī │ I was not afraid that I might appear / be seen to flatter him.

“Quid vōs, … praesidium ā nōbīs postulābātis? an, nē nummī vōbīs ēriperentur, timēbātis?” │ “Why did you ask us for a guard? Were you afraid that coins would be snatched from you?”

Level 3(+) (review); weather (2); weather (and historical) forecast [ii]; notes

Grātiās tibi agō, Claudī. Tōtam per Ītaliam aestuōsa est hodiē, ut semper hīs temporibus annī. Praesāgia tempestātis crāstinae autem sunt bona. Ventōsum est autem in Graeciā, praesertim hīc in Macedoniā. Alexander Magnus et prīmus Ptolemaeus in Macedoniā nātī sunt. Et ventōsum est apud Actium, ubi Caesar Octāviānus nāvālī proeliō superāvit Cleopatram Antōniumque. In Aegyptō, rēgnō Cleopatrae terrāque pȳramidum āridum est. Ecce Nīlus, fluēns in Mare Nostrum! Ecce Alexandrīa, ubi est bibliothēca clārissima et Pharōs nōtissimus. In Aegyptō autem sunt praesāgia tempestātis futūrae mala.

praesāgium, -ī [2/n]: (literally) premonition; in this text, which is a modern text for learners, a number of words could be used to indicate “forecast” e.g. praedictiō, auspicium. In the Classical period, however, such words referred to ‘premonitions’ or ‘portents’ of future events. Therefore, we are really dealing with a Neo-Latin reinterpretation of the word.

āridus, -a, -um: dry; parched; arid

hodiērnus, -a, -um: today(’s)

crāstinus, -a, -um: tomorrow(’s)

futūrus, -a, -um: [literally] about to be

tempestās hodiērna: today’s weather

tempestās crāstina: tomorrow’s weather

tempestās futūra: future weather

tempus, temporis [3/n]: time; season

hīs temporibus annī [ablative of time when]: at these times of the year

See also:

Topic: celestial sphere

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/topic%3A%20celestial%20sphere

Topic: the Elements

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/topic%3A%20the%20elements

Level 3: seasons

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/12/230225-level-3-reading-four-seasons-1.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/12/270225-level-3-reading-four-seasons-2.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/12/030325-level-3-reading-four-seasons-3.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/12/060325-level-3-reading-four-seasons-4.html

Level 3(+) (review); weather (1); weather (and historical) forecast [i]; listening

Listen to the recording without looking at the transcript and choose [A], [B] or [C]:

[i] Throughout Italy today’s weather is:

[A] warm

[B] sweltering

[C] typical for summer

[ii] At this time of year the weather is:

[A] normal

[B] unusual

[C] sometimes like this

[iii] The forecasts are good for:

[A] later today

[B] the weekend

[C] tomorrow

[iv] In Greece:

[A] it is stormy

[B] it is windy

[C] there’s a gentle breeze

[v] What connection do Alexander the Great and Ptolemy have with Macedonia?

[A] They were both kings there.

[B] They both died there.

[C] They were born there.

[vi] What took place at Actium?

[A] a naval battle

[B] the defeat of Octavian

[C] a great storm

[vii] What two pieces of information are given about Egypt?

[A] kingdom of Cleopatra; land of the pyramids

[B] land of the pyramids; kingdom of Ptolemy

[C] a desert; kingdom of Cleopatra

[viii] What is the weather like in Egypt?

[A] humid

[B] wet

[C] dry

[ix] the Nile flows into:

[A] the Tyrrhenian Sea

[B] the Mediterranean

[C] the Black Sea

[x] At Alexandria there are:

[A] a library and a lighthouse

[B] a lighthouse and a large statue

[C] a library and a tower

[xi] In Egypt the forecasts are:

[A] good for today

[B] bad for the days to come

[C] bad for tomorrow

____________________

Grātiās tibi agō, Claudī. Tōtam per Ītaliam aestuōsa est hodiē, ut semper hīs temporibus annī. Praesāgia tempestātis crāstinae autem sunt bona. Ventōsum est autem in Graeciā, praesertim hīc in Macedoniā. Alexander Magnus et prīmus Ptolemaeus in Macedoniā nātī sunt. Et ventōsum est apud Actium, ubi Caesar Octāviānus nāvālī proeliō superāvit Cleopatram Antōniumque. In Aegyptō, rēgnō Cleopatrae terrāque pȳramidum āridum est. Ecce Nīlus, fluēns in Mare Nostrum! Ecce Alexandrīa, ubi est bibliothēca clārissima et Pharōs nōtissimus. In Aegyptō autem sunt praesāgia tempestātis futūrae mala.

____________________

[i] B

[ii] A

[iii] C

[iv] B

[v] C

[vi] A

[vii] A

[viii] C

[ix] B

[x] A

[xi] B

Level 3+; Subjunctive [60] dependent uses [5] verbs of fearing (2) practice [i]

[1] Complete the Latin translations with one clause from [A] and one from [B]. Remember that nē indicates what is feared may happen, and ut indicates what is feared may not happen.

[i] We fear that the enemies may arrive soon.

[ii] They fear that the reinforcements may not arrive soon.

[iii] He is afraid that the slaves may not be captured.

[iv] You (pl.) fear that the city may be captured.

[v] I’m afraid I may not be able to help you.

[vi] Are you afraid that I may not be willing to help you?

[A]

timētis

timet

timēsne

timeō

timent

timēmus

[B]

ut tē adiuvāre possim

ut servī capiantur

ut auxilia mox adveniant

nē urbs capiātur

nē tē adiuvāre nōlim

nē hostēs mox adveniant

[2] Complete the sentences with the words listed below. All of them require either nē (fearing that something may happen) or ut (fearing that something may not happen):

[i] He fears that the republic may perish. │ Timet _____ rēs pūblica __________.

[ii] They fear that that leader may not protect the city. │ Timent  _____ ille princeps urbem __________.

[iii] I fear that my words may not be understood. │ Vereor _____ verba mea __________.

[iv] The farmer fears that the horse has already been sold. │  Agricola metuit _____ equus iam __________.

[v] We fear that, without help, we may be conquered. │ Metuimus _____ sine auxiliō __________.

[vi] We fear that, without help, we may not conquer the enemy. │ Metuimus _____ sine auxiliō hostēs __________.

for all sentences: either ut or nē

intellegantur; pereat; servet; vēnditus sit; vincāmus; vincāmur

____________________

[1]

[i] Timēmus nē hostēs mox adveniant.

[ii] Timent ut auxilia mox adveniant.

[iii] Timet ut servī capiantur.

[iv] Timētis nē urbs capiātur.

[v] Timeō ut tē adiuvāre possim.

[vi] Timēsne nē tē adiuvāre nōlim?

[2]

[i] Timet nē rēs pūblica pereat.

[ii] Timent ut ille princeps urbem servet.

[iii] Vereor ut verba mea intellegantur.

[iv] Agricola metuit nē equus iam vēnditus sit.

[v] Metuimus nē sine auxiliō vincāmur.

[vi] Metuimus ut sine auxiliō hostēs vincāmus.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [59] dependent uses [5] verbs of fearing (1)

[1] So far, you have seen several uses of the subjunctive in dependent clauses with ut and nē.

ut: indicates a positive action

nē / ut … nōn: indicates a negative action

Purpose

Mīlitēs pugnant ut patriam dēfendant. │ The soldiers fight in order to / so that they may defend the homeland.

Fortiter pugnāvērunt nē hostēs urbem caperent. │ They fought bravely so that the enemies might not capture the city.

Result

Tam stultus est ut hoc semper dīcat. │ He is so foolish that he always says this.

Tam timida est ut nōn respondeat. │ She is so timid that she does not answer.

Indirect command, wishes

Volō ut dicās vēritātem. │ I want you to tell the truth

Cūrā  ut Romae sīs. (Cicero)│ Be sure you’re in Rome.

Moneō nē faciātis. │ I advise you not to do it

[2] With verbs of fearing e.g. timeō, -ēre [2], they are followed, as in English, by an infinitive when the fear refers to the subject:

Natāre ¦ timeō │ I am afraid ¦ to swim

Fear, however, can refer to what somebody else may do e.g. I’m afraid he may be late.

In this type of construction Latin uses nē and ut + subjunctive. We can see a parallel in that English can convey the subjunctive idea with auxiliary verbs because fear of an outcome does not in itself indicate certainty.

I’m afraid he may be late.

I’m worried that she might not have caught the train.

[3] The difference in the use of nē and ut with verbs of fearing is that they are reversed in meaning. It is important to bear in mind the difference between nē and ut here in order not to misinterpret text.

[i] nē: indicates a fear that something may happen

Timeō nē veniat. │ I am afraid that he may come.

[ii] ut: indicates a fear that something may not happen

Timeō ut veniat. │ I am afraid that he may not come.

However, the same negative idea may be equally expressed with nē nōn

Timeō nē nōn veniat. │ I am afraid that he may not come.

Examples

[1] verbs expressing fear

timeō, -ēre, -uī, [no 4^th principal part] [2]

[i] Timeō nē aliud crēdam atque aliud nūntiēs (Terence) │ I fear that I may believe one thing while you (may) report another.

[ii] Timeō ut sustineās (Cicero) │ I fear that you may not endure.

metuō, -ere, metūtus [3]

[i] Metuō nē in aquā summā natet (Plautus) │ I’m afraid it might float higher [literally: it may swim on the top / surface of the water]

[ii] Metuō ut fierī possit (Lucilius) │ I fear that it cannot happen

vereor, -ērī, veritus sum [2/deponent]

[i] Vereor nē ā tē rūrsus dissentiam (Cicero) │ I fear that I may disagree with you again.

[ii] Vereor ut tibi possim concēdere (Cicero) │ I fear that I cannot / may not be able to grant this to you.

[2] The concept of ‘fearing’ may not be confined to a verb but to a noun or phrase conveying fear or risk

Metus oritur nē Caesar potestātem summam teneat. │ A fear arises that Caesar may possess the highest power.

Perīculum est nē in carcerem iaciāmur et lībertātem āmittāmus. │ There is a danger that we may be thrown in jail and lose (our) freedom.

Fuit magnus timor nē hostēs bona nostra et līberōs raperent. │ There was a great fear that the enemy might seize our goods and children.

[3] Note tense sequencing:

Dominus metuit [present indicative] nē servī arma sūmant [present subjunctive]. │ The master fears that the slaves may take up arms.

Dominus metuēbat nē servī arma sūmerent [imperfect subjunctive]. │ The master feared that the slaves might / would take up arms.

Timēmus [present indicative] ut nostri auxilium nobis adferre possint [present subjunctive]. │ We are afraid that our men may not be able to bring aid to us.

Timēbāmus [imperfect indicative] quidem ut nostrī auxilium nōbīs adferre possent [imperfect subjunctive]. │ We were afraid that our men might not be able to bring aid to us.

Level 3+ ACL/NJCL; 2015; Latin III (ii); Questions [1] – [19]; answers

[1] B; [2] D; [3] C; [4] B; [5] B; [6] D; [7] D; [8] C; [9] B; [10] A; [11] D; [12] B; [13] D; [14] A; [15] C; [16] A; [17] C; [18] A; [19] C.

[1] Calamitāte nūntiātā, cīvēs Rōmānī lacrimāvērunt.

B) When the disaster had been announced

ablative absolute:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/ablative%20absolute

[2] Caesar flūmen Rubicōnem trānsīre ausus est.

D) dared

Semi-deponent verb:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/100425-level-3-deponent-verbs-10-semi.html

[3] Ut dē ponte cadēbam, tōta vīta mea ante oculōs meōs sē ostendēbat.

C) As

[4] Līberōs bene edere oportet.

B) Children ought to eat well.

Level 3+ (review); impersonal verbs [4] necessity, obligation and related ideas [i]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/p/level-3-all-posts-on-impersonal-verbs.html

[5] Quis nostrum rēgīnam vīdit?

B) of us

[6] Nēmō praesidiō pontī missus est.

D) as a protection for the bridge

Double dative:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/030525-level-3-verbs-with-dative-case-9.html

[7] Captīvī suās sententiās sine timōre dīcant.

D) Let the captives speak

Subjunctive (jussive):

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/01/280326-level-3-subjunctive-7.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/01/280326-level-3-subjunctive-8.html

[8] Pāx _____ petenda est.

C) dictātōrī

Gerundive; note [vii]:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/020625-level-3-gerundive-1.html

[9] Scītisne cūr hostēs castra moveant?

B) Do you know

[10] Post coniūrātiōnem Catilīnae, Cicerō ā senātū appellātus est ____.

A) Pater Patriae

[11] Ille discipulus eandem quaestiōnem semper rogābat.

D) the same

īdem, eadem, idem: the same; note [2]:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/100725-level-3-labours-of-hercules-vii.html

[12] Hoc aedificium est magis idōneum tabernae quam templō.

B) more suitable

Degrees of comparison; magis + adjective

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/081124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-3.html

[13] Coquus domum properāns īram suae dominae timuit.

D) while hurrying

Present active participle:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/present%20active%20participle

[14] Pater līberīs imperāvit nē panem dēvorārent.

A) not to devour

Subjunctive (indirect command):

19.06.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [53] dependent uses [3] indirect commands (1)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/02/190626-level-3-subjunctive-53-dependent.html

19.06.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [54] dependent uses [3] indirect commands (2); practice [i]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/02/190626-level-3-subjunctive-54-dependent.html

19.06.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [55] dependent uses [3] indirect commands (3); practice [ii]

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2026/02/190626-level-3-subjunctive-55-dependent.html

[15] Ante Bella Pūnica paucae nāvēs Rōmānīs erant.

C) the Romans had few ships

Dative of possession

[16] Senex cōnsilium sōlī fīliae suae nūntiāvit.

A) to his only daughter

Pronominal adjective:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/220725-level-3-pronominal-adjectives-5.html

[17] Senātor et in urbe et rūrī vīllās habuit.

C) in the country

Locative case:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/locative%20case

[18] Sociī ad urbem ad lūdōs spectandōs venient.

A) to watch the games

Gerundive (purpose):

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/080625-level-3-gerundive-5-purpose.html

[19] Nōs gladiātōrem omnēs virōs superatūrum esse putāvimus.

C) would defeat

Indirect statement (future active infinitive):

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/020226-level-3-indirect-statement.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/020226-level-3-indirect-statement.html

Level 3+ ACL/NJCL; 2015; Latin III (i); Questions [1] – [19]; questions

[1] Calamitāte nūntiātā, cīvēs Rōmānī lacrimāvērunt.

A) Intending to announce the disaster

B) When the disaster had been announced

C) Announcing the disaster

D) The disaster had to be announced

[2] Caesar flūmen Rubicōnem trānsīre ausus est.

A) was daring

B) will dare

C) is daring

D) dared

[3] Ut dē ponte cadēbam, tōta vīta mea ante oculōs meōs sē ostendēbat.

A) So that

B) That

C) As

D) For

[4] Līberōs bene edere oportet.

A) Permit the children to eat well.

B) Children ought to eat well.

C) Eating well is challenging for children.

D) It is encouraged for children to eat well.

[5] Quis nostrum rēgīnam vīdit?

A) by us

B) of us

C) we

D) with us

[6] Nēmō praesidiō pontī missus est.

A) the bridge must be protected

B) when the bridge had been protected

C) protecting the bridge

D) as a protection for the bridge

[7] Captīvī suās sententiās sine timōre dīcant.

A) The captives are speaking

B) The captives will speak

C) So that the captives may speak

D) Let the captives speak

[8] Pāx _____ petenda est.

A) dictātōre

B) dictātor

C) dictātōrī

D) dictātōrem

[9] Scītisne cūr hostēs castra moveant?

A) Don’t you know

B) Do you know

C) You don’t know, do you

D) You know, don’t you

[10] Post coniūrātiōnem Catilīnae, Cicerō ā senātū appellātus est ____.

A) Pater Patriae

B) Patris Patriae

C) Patrī Patriae

D) Patrem Patriae

[11] Ille discipulus eandem quaestiōnem semper rogābat.

A) each

B) itself

C) a certain

D) the same

[12] Hoc aedificium est magis idōneum tabernae quam templō.

A) suitable

B) more suitable

C) most suitable

D) more than suitable

[13] Coquus domum properāns īram suae dominae timuit.

A) having hurried

B) to hurry

C) about to hurry

D) while hurrying

[14] Pater līberīs imperāvit nē panem dēvorārent.

A) not to devour

B) that they devour

C) don’t devour

D) they will devour

[15] Ante Bella Pūnica paucae nāvēs Rōmānīs erant.

A) there were few ships in Rome

B) few Romans have ships

C) the Romans had few ships

D) there are few Roman ships

[16] Senex cōnsilium sōlī fīliae suae nūntiāvit.

A) to his only daughter

B) of only his daughter

C) by his only daughter

D) his only daughter

[17] Senātor et in urbe et rūrī vīllās habuit.

A) of the country

B) from the country

C) in the country

D) to the country

[18] Sociī ad urbem ad lūdōs spectandōs venient.

A) to watch the games

B) the games must be watched

C) while watching the games

D) by watching the games

[19] Nōs gladiātōrem omnēs virōs superatūrum esse putāvimus.

A) will be defeated

B) had defeated

C) would defeat

D) is defeating

Level 3 (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [16]: the conspiracy of Dumnorix

Language focus: accusative and infinitive

Intereā Caesar cognōvit [1] Aeduōs frūmentum nōn mīsisse. Itaque multī prīncipēs Aeduōrum, quī erant in castrīs, ad concilium sunt convocātī. Quīdam ex Aeduīs Caesarem certiōrem fēcit [2] nōnnullōs plūs valēre apud multitūdinem quam magistrātūs; propter illōs [3] nullum frūmentum ad Rōmānōs esse comportātum. Posteā Caesar cognōvit [4] initium fugae in proeliō equestrī ā Dumnorige atque ēius equitibus factum esse. Sed Caesar Divitiacum frātrem Dumnorigis offendere nōlēbat.

____________________

Meanwhile Caesar learned [1] that the Aedui had not sent the grain. Therefore many leading men of the Aedui, who were in the camp, were summoned to a council. One of the Aedui informed Caesar [2] that certain men had more influence with the populace than the magistrates; because of them [3] no grain had been brought to the Romans. Afterwards Caesar learned [4] that the beginning of the flight in the cavalry battle had been made by Dumnorix and his horsemen. But Caesar did not wish to offend Divitiacus, the brother of Dumnorix.

____________________

[1]

Caesar cognōvit (1) Aeduōs … (2) nōn mīsisse. │ Caesar learned (1) that the Aedui (2) had not sent …

[2] / [3] two indirect statements dependent upon one verb that introduces them:

Quīdam ex Aeduīs Caesarem certiōrem fēcit … │ One of the Aedui informed Caesar ….

[2] (1) nōnnullōs (2) plūs valēre … │ (1) that certain men (2) had more influence

[3] (1) nullum frūmentum … (2) esse comportātum. │ [and that] (1) no grain (2) had been brought

[4]

Caesar cognōvit (1) initium fugae … (2) factum esse. │ Caesar learned (1) that the beginning of the flight  … (2) had been made

LINKS

All posts: https://adckl.blogspot.com/search/label/indirect%20statement

[i]: present active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/10/311225-level-3-indirect-statement.html

[ii]: perfect active infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/120126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

[iii]: perfect passive infinitive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/240126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

Level 3+; Subjunctive [58] dependent uses [4] verbs of wishing (2)

[1] The present subjunctive of volō i.e. velim is the equivalent of

English: I should / would like

French / Russian (conditional): je voudrais;  ya khotel by [Я хотел бы]

Spanish / German (imperfect subjunctive): quisiera / ich möchte

[2] The verb velim itself is considered in grammar to be a potential subjunctive i.e. something that you would like to do.  However, both in Latin and in the other languages given above, it conveys polite wish rather than a forceful command.

[i] Referring to self + infinitive

Scīre velim. (Cicero)│ I would like ¦ to know.

Aetātem velim servīre (Plautus) │ I would be willing ¦ to be a slave all my life.

[ii] Referring to others

(1)    + ut + subjunctive

Velim ut tibi amicus sit (Cicero) │ I would like ¦ him ¦ to be a friend to you

Velim quidem, hercle, ut ūnō nummō plūs petās (Plautus) │ I would certainly wish, by Hercules, ¦ that you would ask for one coin more.

(2)   + accusative + infinitive

Nunc ego illam mē velim convenīre (Plautus)  │ Now I should like her ¦ to meet me.

Velim tē arbitrārī factum (Plautus) │ I would like you ¦ to consider it done.

[iii] Cicero, for example, frequently omits ut with the subjunctive, but it is the same construction:

Velim ad mē scribās │  I would like you to write to me.

Velim domum ad tē scrībās │ I would like you to write (to your) home.

Et scrībās ad mē velim dē gladiātōribus │ And I would like you to write to me about the gladiators.

Et velim mihi mittās dē tuīs librāriolīs duōs aliquōs│ I would like you to send me two of your library slaves.

Ignōscās mihi velim │ I would like you to forgive me.

Dionȳsium velim salvēre iubeās │ I should like you to send greetings to Dionysius.

Faciās mē certiōrem velim │ I would like you to let me know.

From Plautus:

Nunc ego, ille hūc veniat, velim │ Now I do wish that he would come here.

[3] You will come across further examples of verbs of wishing which will show the features discussed above, but we will focus on:

nōlō, nōlle: to not want / refuse > present subjunctive; nōlim │ I would not wish

mālō, mālle: prefer > present subjunctive: mālim │  I would prefer

[i] Referring to self

Scīre nōlō (Plautus) │ I don’t want ¦ to know

Laudārī multō mālō (Plautus) │ I much prefer ¦ to be praised.

[ii] Referring to others

(1)

Nōlō ut fallās fidem (Hyginus) │ I don't want you to break faith.

Note the more common omission of ut:

Nōlō, inquam, ōrēs (Plautus) │ I wish you would not request me, I tell you. 

Nōlim praetermittās (Cicero) │ I would not want you to overlook (it).

“Tū mālim," inquiēs, "āctum nē agās." (Cicero) │ You will say, “I would prefer you not to do what has already been done.”

(2)

Nōlō ego tē assentārī mihi (Plautus) │ I don’t want you to flatter me.

Nōlō equidem tē afflīgī (Plautus) │ I really don’t want you to be hurt.

Mānīlium Persiumve haec legere nōlō (Gaius Lucilius) │ I do not want Manilius or Persius to read these things.

Num nōn vīs mē obviam hīsce īre? (Plautus) │ Won't you let ¦ me go to find them? [literally: Surely you don’t refuse …]

Nōn vult populus Rōmānus obsolētīs crīminibus accūsārī Verrem (Cicero) │ The Roman people do not want Verres to be accused on the basis of outdated charges.

Tē nōlim discēdere (Cicero)│ I would not want you to leave.

Id caput sānē nōlim novōs tribūnōs plēbis ferre (Cicero) │ That clause I would rather the new tribunes did not propose.

Mālim tē mihi graviter īrāscī quam libenter ignōscere (Fronto) │ I would prefer you to be seriously angry with me than willingly forgive me.

The key “take-away” is to be aware of different structures with verbs of wishing. There are other verbs that operate in similar ways.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [57] dependent uses [4] iubeō, vetō; verbs of wishing (1)

Now that you have seen the subjunctive in the formation of indirect commands, in this post, and in the next, we’ll look at constructions where [1] it is not used and, more widely, [2] there are alternative ways of expressing the same idea depending on the sense.

[1] Although indirect commands are commonly formed with ut + subjunctive, below are important exceptions.

iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussus [2]: to order

vetō, vetāre, vetuī, vetitus [1]: forbid

These verbs most often take:

verb + accusative (person ordered/forbidden) + infinitive (action) i.e. they do not use the subjunctive + ut even though they convey indirect commands.

Examples:

Imperātor mīlitēs [accusative] pugnāre [infinitive] iubet. │ The general orders ¦ the soldiers ¦ to fight.

Magister discipulōs [accusative] loquī [infinitive] vetat.│ The teacher forbids the students to speak.

This construction mirrors English very closely.

Labiēnum … iugum montis ascendere iubet (Caesar) │ He orders Labienus to climb the ridge of the hill

Līberōs … ad sē addūcī iussit (Caesar) │ He ordered the children to be brought to him.

Esse trīstem mē meus vetat Paetus (Martial) │ My friend Paetus forbids me to be sad.

Ab opere lēgātōs discēdere vetuerat (Caesar) │ He had forbidden the lieutenants to leave the work.

Note: vetō is inherently negative: forbidding somebody to do something is equivalent to ordering somebody not to do something.

He told me not to leave = Mē abīre vetuit.

[2] Verbs of wishing take either the infinitive or the subjunctive

Here, we will look only at one verb – volō, velle (want) – in order to focus on the structures being used.

[1] verb + infinitive, for example ‘I want ¦ to do something’  i.e. identical to English, the infinitive referring back to the subject:

Ego sorōrī meae cēnam hodiē dare volō viāticam (Plautus) │ I want ¦ to give my sister dinner and travel provisions today.

Uterque rēgnāre vult (Cicero) │ Each (one) of them wishes ¦ to rule.

Multa scīre volunt (Cicero) │ They want ¦ to know many things.

[2] When the wish is referring to somebody else e.g. “I want you ¦ to do something” then there are two alternatives, the first one of which you have already seen, and the second is the same as English.

(1) volō + ut + subjunctive to express an indirect command:

Volō ut sciās (Plautus) │ I want you to know [literally: I want ¦ that you should know].

Volō ut dicās vēritātem. │ I want you to tell the truth

Volō ut servētis disciplīnam cūriae (Seneca) │ I want you to observe the discipline of the senate-house.

Volō ut illī istōc cōnfugiant (Plautus) │ I want them to take refuge there.

(2) It can also be used with an accusative-infinitive construction, which mirrors the English construction. The accusative noun or pronoun is the logical subject of the infinitive.

Tē [accusative] volō scrībere [infinitive] (Plautus) │ I want you ¦ to write

Tē [accusative] scīre [infinitive] volō (Cicero) │ I want you ¦ to know

Vim [accusative] volumus exstinguī [infinitive] (Cicero) │ We wish violence ¦ to be put down

Spectātōrēs, vōs [accusative] valēre [infinitive] volumus et clārē adplaudere [infinitive] (Plautus) │ Spectators, we wish you ¦ to be well and ¦ to applaud loudly.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [56] dependent uses [3] indirect commands (4); with fac ut and cūrā ut

fac (facite): imperative of faciō, facere
cūrā (cūrāte): imperative of cūrō, cūrāre

Although these imperatives normally mean “do/make” and “take care of”, they are very often used with an ut + subjunctive clause to form indirect commands.

In this construction, the speaker is not ordering the action directly, but instructing someone to see to it that something happens.

These expressions can convey:

• a gentle reminder
• a request e.g. you cannot command gods – either directly or indirectly – but the same construction is used
• a firm instruction
• a hope or concern

The exact English translation varies, but the core idea is:

“Make sure that …” / “See to it that …”

These are still imperatives, but they give the command indirectly rather than as a direct order.

[1]

Cūrā ¦ ut valeās (Cicero)│ literally: Take care ¦ that you may be well = Take care of yourself

Here, valeās is present subjunctive, showing what is desired.

Cūrā ¦ ut Romae sīs. (Cicero)│ literally: Take care ¦ that you may be in Rome = Be sure you’re in Rome.

Quārē cūrā, ¦ ut tē quam prīmum videāmus  │ For that reason, see to it ¦ that we see you as soon as possible [Cicero sometimes uses the 1^st person plural when referring to himself = So let me see you as soon as possible.]

It can exist in the plural, but it’s rare:

Sī nōs amātis, cūrāte ¦ ut valeātis (Cicero)

[2]

Fac ¦ ut ad mē quam prīmum veniās (Cicero)│ See to it ¦ that you come  to me as soon as possible.

Facite ¦ ut cēterīs posthāc īdem liceat (Cicero) │ See to it that the same thing may hereafter be permitted to others.

Practice

This particular construction is a very good way of reviewing present subjunctive forms. Complete the quotations with the verbs listed below.

[i] Make sure that I know │ Cūrā ut __________. (Plautus)

[ii] Let me know [= see to it that we know; example of Cicero’s use of ‘we’ when referring to himself] │ Fac ut __________. (Cicero)

[iii] Take care that you are well, and that you show affection for me and defend me while I am absent. │ Cūra ut __________ et mē absentem __________ atque __________. (Cicero)

[iv] See that you play the man [= … that you are …] │ Cūrā ut vir __________. (Cicero)

[v] Great gods, grant that she may truly be able to make such a promise, and that she may say it sincerely and from the heart. │ Dī magnī, facite ut vērē prōmittere __________ atque id sincērē __________ et ex animō. (Catullus)

[vi] See to it that fury may stir him. │ Fac ut hanc furor __________. (Catullus)

[vii] See to it / Make sure that you stay with me, together with your company. │ Fac ut … apud mē cum tuīs __________. (Cicero)

[viii] See to it that you postpone it to another day. │ Fac ut in alium diem __________. (Cicero)

[ix] Be sure you pay me a visit [literally: See to it that I see  (= we see) you] either at Formiae, or at Antium, or at Tusculum. │ Tē aut in Formiānō aut Antī aut in Tusculānō cūrā ut __________. (Cicero)

agitet; dēfendās; dīcat; differās; dīligās; maneās; possit; sciam; sciāmus; sīs; valeās; videāmus

____________________

[i] Cūrā ut sciam. (Plautus)

[ii] Fac ut sciāmus. (Cicero)

[iii] Cūra ut valeās et mē absentem dīligās atque dēfendās. (Cicero)

[iv] Cūrā ut vir sīs. (Cicero)

[v] Dī magnī, facite ut vērē prōmittere possit atque id sincērē dīcat et ex animō. (Catullus)

[vi] Fac ut hanc furor agitet. (Catullus)

[vii] Fac ut … apud mē cum tuīs maneās. (Cicero)

[viii] Fac ut in alium diem differās. (Cicero)

[ix] Tē aut in Formiānō aut Antī aut in Tusculānō cūrā ut videāmus. (Cicero)

Level 3 (review); a Second Latin Reader (Vincent) [15]: a cavalry skirmish

Language focus: passive

Posterō diē hostēs castra ex eō locō movent. Caesar dē consiliīs hostium cognoscere voluit. Itaque equitātus, quī coactus erat ex omnī prōvinciā et Aeduīs atque eōrum sociīs, praemittitur. Equitēs Rōmānī cum equitātū Helvētiōrum proelium committunt; et paucī dē nostrīs interficiuntur. Caesar, quī impetum contrā hostēs omnibus cum cōpiīs eō tempore facere nōlēbat, suōs ā proeliō continēbat.

____________________

On the following day the enemy move their camp from that place. Caesar wished to learn about the plans of the enemy. Therefore the cavalry, which had been gathered from the whole province and from the Aedui and their allies, is sent ahead. The Roman horsemen engage in battle with the cavalry of the Helvetii; and a few of our men are killed. Caesar, who did not wish at that time to make an attack against the enemy with all his forces, kept his men back from the battle.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [55] dependent uses [3] indirect commands (3); practice [ii]

[1] Complete the Latin translations with the verbs listed below.

[i] The king encourages us to give money to him.

Rēx nōs __________ ut pecūniam eī __________.

[ii] The king encouraged us to give money to him.

Rēx nōs __________ ut eī pecūniam __________.

[iii] Well I neither urge nor ask you to come home anymore.

Ego vērō iam tē nec __________ nec __________ ut domum __________ (Cicero)

[iv] We advised them not to come into the city.

__________ eōs nē in urbem __________

[v] He (1) ordered them (2) to search.

Hīs utī (2) __________ (1) __________

[vi] Let me pass through your land [= I beseech (you) that it may be permitted for me ...]

__________  ut trānsīre mihi __________  per terram tuam. (Vulgate)

[vii] He urgently begged me to go to Laodicea at once.

Magnō opere ā mē __________ ut Laodiceam protinus __________ (Cicero)

rogō; petīvit; obsecrō; monuimus; imperāvit; hortor; hortātus est; hortātur

conquīrerent; darēmus; dēmus; īrem; liceat; redeās; venīrent

[2] Give the Latin translations using one clause from [A] and one from [B]:

[i] He is encouraging me to write to the Senate.

[ii] I beg and pray you to aid him.

[iii] He warns him to avoid all suspicion.

[iv] He ordered his men not to throw back any weapon at all.

[v] But he asked one thing of them: that they should inscribe (it) on his tomb.

[vi] Ariovistus demanded that Caesar bring no foot-soldier to the conference.

[A]

Ariovistus postulāvit

hortātur mē 

monet

sed ūnum ab iīs petīvit

suīs imperāvit

tē rogō atque ōrō

[B]

nē quem peditem ad conloquium Caesar addūceret

nē quod omnīnō tēlum reicerent

ut eum iuvēs

ut in sepulchrō suō īnscrīberent

ut omnēs suspīciōnēs vītet

ut senātū scrībam

____________________

[1]

[i] Rēx nōs hortātur ut pecūniam eī dēmus.

[ii] Rēx nōs hortātus est ut eī pecūniam darēmus.

[iii] Ego vērō iam tē nec hortor nec rogō ut domum redeās (Cicero)

[iv] Monuimus eōs nē in urbem venīrent.

[v] Hīs utī conquīrerent imperāvit (Caesar)

[vi] Obsecrō ut trānsīre mihi liceat per terram tuam. (Vulgate)

[vii] Magnō opere ā mē petīvit ut Laodiceam protinus īrem (Cicero)

[2]

[i] Hortātur mē ut senātū scrībam (Cicero)

[ii] Tē rogō atque ōrō ut eum iuvēs (Cicero)

[iii] Monet ut omnēs suspīciōnēs vītet (Caesar)

[iv] Suīs imperāvit nē quod omnīnō tēlum reicerent (Caesar)

[v] Sed ūnum ab iīs petīvit, ut in sepulchrō suō inscriberent (Nepos)

[vi] Ariovistus postulāvit nē quem peditem ad conloquium Caesar addūceret (Caesar)