There are other ways in which purpose can be expressed:
[1] quī, quae, quod + subjunctive
[i] Instead of saying ut + subjunctive, Latin often uses quī, quae, quod + subjunctive when the purpose is closely tied to a specific noun, especially a person.
Mittitur L. Dēcidius Saxa ¦ quī locī nātūram perspiciat. │ Lucius Decidius Saxa is sent ¦ to examine the ground [literally: Lucius Decidius Saxa is sent¦ who would examine …].
Cūriō praemittit equitēs ¦ quī prīmum impetum sustineant │ Curio sends forward cavalry ¦ to withstand the first attack.
Mīsī legātōs ¦ quī pācem peterent │ I sent ambassadors ¦ to seek peace [literally: … ambassadors ¦ who would seek peace
[ii] ut + subjunctive can also be used, although there is a slight difference in focus:
Either: Caesar mīlitēs mīsit ut senātōrem necārent; the focus is on the purpose of the action i.e. why the soldiers were sent
Or: Caesar mīlitēs mīsit quī senātōrem necārent; the focus is on who was to perform the action
If there were a need to distinguish them in translation:
Caesar mīlitēs mīsit ¦ ut senātōrem necārent │ Caesar sent soldiers ¦ to kill the senator (focus on the purpose)
Caesar mīlitēs mīsit quī senātōrem necārent │ Caesar sent soldiers ¦ who would / who were to kill the senator (focus on who is intended to perform the action)
[iii] Again, note the time sequences i.e. the tense of the verb in the main clause will determine the tense of the subjunctive verb:
[a]
Ēligit [present indicative] mīlitēs ¦ quī pontem custōdiant [present subjunctive] │ He chooses soldiers ¦ to guard the bridge.
Quaerit [present indicative] magistrum ¦ quī puerōs doceat [present subjunctive] │ He is looking for a teacher ¦ to teach the boys.
Mittimus [present indicative] mīlitēs ¦ quī castra defendant [present subjunctive] │ We send soldiers ¦ to defend the camp.
Exiērunt [perfect indicative = English present perfect] senātōrēs quī pācem ab hostibus petant [present subjunctive] │ The senators have gone out ¦ to seek peace from the enemy.
[b]
Dux mīlitēs dēlēgit [perfect indicative] ¦ quī urbem dēfenderent [imperfect subjunctive] │ The general chose soldiers ¦ to defend the city.
Parēns fīlium ad magistrum dūxit [perfect indicative] ¦ quī eum docēret [imperfect subjunctive] │ The parent led the boy to a teacher ¦ to teach him / … who would teach him.
Rēx lēgātōs mīsit [perfect indicative] ¦ quī foedus facerent [imperfect subjunctive] │ The king sent envoys ¦ to make a treaty / … who would make a treaty.
Exiērunt [perfect indicative = English simple past] senātōrēs quī pācem ab hostibus peterent [imperfect subjunctive] │ The senators went out ¦ to seek peace from the enemy.
[iv] Although this type of purpose clause generally refers to a specific person who is (was) to perform the action, it may also be used with an inanimate noun:
Scrībēbat ōrātiōnēs ¦ quās aliī dīcerent. │ He wrote speeches for other men to deliver [ = … speeches ¦ which other men would deliver].
Dux pontem aedificāvit quī exercitum trānsferret │ The general built a bridge ¦ to move the army across [ = …bridge ¦ which would carry across …].
Parāvit arma ¦ quae hostēs terrērent │ He prepared weapons ¦ to frighten the enemy [ = weapons ¦ which would terrify …].
[2] quō + subjunctive
The ablative form quō + subjunctive expresses purpose when a comparative adverb is expressed, an English example being:
I climbed on top of the wall ¦ so that I could see more easily.
Scūtum dēiēcit ¦ quō celerius fugeret. │ He threw away (his) shield ¦ in order that / so that he might escape more quickly.
Mīlitēs mīsit ¦ quō facilius urbem caperent. │ He sent soldiers ¦ so that they might capture the city more easily.
Lentē loquitur ¦ quō melius intellegāmus. │ He is speaking slowly ¦ so that we may understand better.
Lentē loquēbātur ¦ quō melius intellegerēmus. │ He was speaking slowly ¦ so that we might / would / could understand better.
[3] ubi + subjunctive
Ubi is used with the subjunctive to express the intended purpose of a place i.e. it is not describing the place, but what may be done there.
Dēversōrium quaerō ¦ ubi pernoctem. │ I’m looking for an inn to spend the night [ = where I may spend the night].
Amīcus quaerēbat locum ¦ ubi sedēret. │ (My) friend was looking for a place to sit [ = where he might / could sit].
Domum ēlēgērunt ¦ ubi manērent. │ They chose a house to stay in [ = where they might stay].
Latin Tutorial: clauses of purpose
