Level 3+; Conditional clauses [8]: unreal conditions (2) present contrary-to-fact [ii] further examples

The translations are as close as possible to the original in order to show the subjunctive operating in contrary-to-fact conditionals. Always remember that translators of original works may well vary how ideas are expressed.

[i] Sed scrīberem ad tē dē hōc plūra, sī Rōmae essēs.

• But I would write [I would be writing] more to you about this if you were in Rome.

[ii] Dē tabellāriīs facerem, quod suādēs, sī essent ūllae necessāriae litterae

• About the letter-carriers I would do what you suggest, if there were any urgent letters.

[iii] Nec tibi essem molestus, sī per alium hoc agere possem.

• Nor would I be bothering you [literally: would I be troublesome to you], if I could manage this through somebody else.

[iv] Ferrem graviter, sī novae aegrimōniae locus esset.

• I would bear it heavily if there were a place for new sorrow.

[v] nec, sī possem, vellem

• nor would I, if I could / and if I could, I wouldn’t

[vi] Cicero receives an invitation to stay at Epirus:

Esset cōnsilium mihi quidem optātum, sī licēret ibi omne tempus cōnsūmere

• It would indeed be a pleasant plan for me, if I could [literally: if it would be permitted to] spend all the time there. 

[vii] Fierī nōn poterat, nec, sī posset, ego patī possem.

• It could not happen, nor, if it could, would I be able to permit it.

[viii] Ipse Rōmam venīrem … sī satis cōnsultum quādam dē rē habērem.

• I myself would be coming to Rome, if I had an adequate decision about a certain matter.

[ix] Nōn modo sī mihi tantum esset ōtiī, quantum est tibi, vērum etiam sī tam brevēs epistulās vellem mittere, quam tū solēs, facile tē superārem et in scrībendō multō essem crēbrior quam tū.

• Not only if I had as much leisure as you do, but even if I wanted to send letters as short as you are accustomed to, I would easily surpass you and would be far more frequent than you in writing.

[x] Where’s Brutus going, Cicero asks:

"Quid tū," inquam, "Brūte?" │ “What about you, Brutus,” I said.

"Rōmam," inquit, "sī tibi vidētur." │ “To Rome,” he said “if you think I should” [literally: if it seems to you]

"Mihi vērō minimē; tūtō enim nōn eris." │ “Not at all, for you won’t be safe.”

 "Quid? sī possem esse, placēretne?" │ “"Well, if I could be, would you approve?" 

Level 3+; Conditional clauses [7]: unreal conditions (2) present contrary-to-fact [i]

Known in grammar as either contrary-to-fact or counterfactual, these conditional clauses refer to:

[i] a condition that does not currently exist:

[Contrary-to-fact: If he were here now, we would be dining together.

[Fact: But he isn’t here now – we’re not dining together.]

[Contrary-to-fact: If you weren’t being so noisy, I could be reading in peace.

[Fact: But you are being noisy – I cannot read in peace.]

[ii] a condition that would have or could have existed in the past:

[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.]

[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.]

Latin handles [i] and [ii] using different tenses of the subjunctive. Here, we will look at the first one.

Present contrary-to-fact: a condition that does not currently exist

Contrary-to-fact: If he were here now, we would be dining together.

Fact: But he isn’t here now – we’re not dining together.

What can seem misleading is that a present contrary-to-fact conditional uses the imperfect subjunctive in both clauses:

Contrary-to-fact: Sī hoc faceret [imperfect subjunctive], errāret [imperfect subjunctive].

Contrary-to-fact: If he were doing this (i.e. now), he would be making a mistake.

Fact: But he is not doing this now – he is not making a mistake.

While they may not always be the most appropriate translation, the English progressive forms i.e. if he were doing … he would be making emphasise actions that are happening in the present and so they strongly convey the meaning of the subjunctive in this type of conditional clause.

Sī Marcus Iūliam amāret, ea eum amāret.

• If Marcus loved Julia [but he doesn't love her now], she would love him [but she doesn't love him now].

Sī magistrum laudārem, mē bene docēret.

• If I praised [if I were praising] my teacher, he would teach [he would be teaching] me well.

Sī adesset [imperfect subjunctive], ¦ bene esset [imperfect subjunctive]

• If he were present, ¦ it would be well.

Sī hoc facere possem, statim facerem.

• If I were able to do this, I would do it at once.

Sī vīveret, verba eius audīrētis. 

• If he were alive, you would hear his words.

Sī vīverent, mihi cum illīs nūlla contentiō iam manēret.

• If they were alive, no dispute would now remain between me and them.

Nostrī mīlitēs hostem vincerent sī eī acrēs essent.

• Our soldiers would conquer the enemy if they were fierce.

Meus sī frāter esset, nihilōminus eum damnārem.

• If / even if he were my brother, I would nevertheless condemn him.

Note the translation of this final example which emphasises the current nature of the scenario:

Ego sī somnum capere possem, tam longīs tē epistulīs nōn obtunderem (Cicero)

• If I could sleep, I would not be bothering you with such long letters.

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

This is a true story reported by Livius about the consul Manlius:

[1] Bellum erat inter Rōmānōs et Tusculānōs. Iusserat Mānlius cōnsul nēminem extrā ōrdinem cum Tusculānīs pugnāre. Tamen Titus Mānlius, cōnsulis fīlius, parvō cum agmine statiōnī eōrum appropinquāvit. Dux Tusculānōrum, vir nōmine Maecius, Titum Mānlium adiit eumque irrīsit:

[2] “Tam parvō agmine nōbīscum pugnābis? Utrum haec est multitūdō cōpiārum Rōmānārum, decus imperiī vestrī, an (sunt) cōpiolae dēspērātae?”

[3] Titus “Aderunt”, inquit, “in tempore cōnsulēs mīlitēsque, et cum illīs aderit Iuppiter, foederum ā vōbīs violātōrum testis.”

[4] Ad ea autem Maecius: “Tibi nōmen clārum est; nōnne mēcum armīs pugnābis? Num in corpore tam firmō timidus animus est?”

[5] Hīs verbīs incitātus Mānlius cum Maeciō pugnāvit brevīque eum superāvit.

extrā ōrdinem: outside of the troop’s battle order

cōpiolae: “bunch” (small number) of troops

[i] Which of sections [1] – [5] above first refers to:

accusations of cowardice

approaching an outpost

bearing witness

broken treaties

mocking the number of the Roman forces

help from a god

quick defeat

suggesting the Romans are desperate men

the consul’s orders

war between the Romans and the Tusculans

[ii] Hīs verbīs incitātus

Explain in your own words and with reference to the Latin text why Manlius would feel this way (15). Note the number of marks that reflect the number of points of information; the answer requires close reading and comments not only on content but also style and cultural background.

____________________

[i]

accusations of cowardice [4]

approaching an outpost [1]

bearing witness [3]

broken treaties [3]

mocking the number of the Roman forces [2]

help from a god [3]

quick defeat [5]

suggesting the Romans are desperate men [2]

the consul’s orders [1]

war between the Romans and the Tusculans [1]

[ii]

This is a suggested answer. Begin with a general statement and show that you understand the meaning of the quotation.

[1] “Hīs verbīs incitātus” Manlius is stirred up (1) by his sense of honour (1) owing to the provocative and mocking manner of Maecius (1).

Then go to specific text references that support your argument.

[2] Utrum haec est multitūdō cōpiārum Rōmānārum, decus imperiī vestrī, an (sunt) cōpiolae dēspērātae?”

Maecius insults the small number of the Roman forces (1), stating that they are a “desperate bunch” (1) that do not reflect Rome’s glory (1).

[3] Note here the wider cultural implications that can be included in the answer.

Manlius is the son of a consul (1) and is well known - Tibi nōmen clārum est – (1). However, Maecius suggests he is unwilling to fight (1). This is a slur on his personal reputation (1), a characteristic highly valued in Roman culture (1).

[4] Maecius taunts him that, while he is strong in body (1), he is weak in spirit (1): Num in corpore tam firmō timidus animus est?

Make a concluding statement:

[5] The cumulative effect (1) of mockery of the army and, by implication, mockery of Rome, accusations of cowardice and attacking personal reputation (1) incite Manlius to fight with Maecius.

There was a war between the Romans and the Tusculans. The consul Manlius had ordered that no one should fight with the Tusculans outside the ranks. Nevertheless, Titus Manlius, the consul’s son, approached their outpost with a small troop. The leader of the Tusculans, a man named Maecius, approached Titus Manlius and mocked him:

“Will you fight with us with so small a force? Is this the great number of Roman troops, the glory of your empire, or are they just a few desperate men?”

Titus said, “They will be here in time — the consuls and the soldiers — and with them Jupiter will be present, the witness of treaties violated by you.”

But to this Maecius replied: “You have a famous name; will you not fight with me in arms? Is there a cowardly spirit in so strong a body?”

Stirred by these words, Manlius fought with Maecius and quickly defeated him.

Level 3+; Conditional clauses [6]: unreal conditions (1) introduction; future less vivid

Unreal conditions refer to :

[1] hypothetical or ideal situations i.e. imagining a scenario that, in the speaker’s mind, is unlikely to happen. They are sometimes referred to as improbable conditions:

(Psycho)

Wouldn't it be better if you put her in... someplace...?

Sam, if you owned a useless business like this motel... what would you need to get away?

It might save me a lot of leg-work if I could just talk to your mother.

(Wizard of Oz)

SCARECROW

Oh, I'm a failure, because I haven't got a brain.

DOROTHY

Well, what would you do with a brain if you had one?

(Fiddler on the Roof)

Would it spoil some vast eternal plan
If I were a wealthy man?

(Cabaret)

Go on, tell me
I will listen

What would you do
If you were me?

All of the conditions quoted above refer to an imagined or ideal future scenario.

Equally, unreal conditions can refer to the present or to the past:

If he were here now, we would be drinking wine together.

If he had arrived sooner, we could have gone to the cinema.

Latin conveys all these ideas using the subjunctive. We will look at them separately:

future less vivid

[1] In the previous posts, the term future more vivid was discussed. The terms future more vivid and future less vivid, although rather clumsy, are the ones commonly used in Latin grammar books.

Compare:

[i] Future more vivid: If you give me the money, I’ll buy a cake; Latin: indicative mood

[ii] Future less vivid: If you gave me the money, I would buy a cake; Latin: subjunctive mood

Even if English does not use a subjunctive form, it changes tense forms to convey the different perspectives of the speaker.

Both sentences describe a possible result, but the shift in verb forms shows that the speaker sees the situation in [i] as more likely than [ii].

[i] the speaker treats the scenario as open / likely = real condition

[ii] the speaker conveys an ideal scenario that is underpinned by doubt = unreal condition

In other words, as soon as doubt creeps in, so does the subjunctive!

[2] The future less vivid conditional is expressed by the present subjunctive:

Sī vīcīnus tuus equum meliorem habeat [present subjunctive] quam tuus est, tuumne equum mālīs [present subjunctive] an illīus? (Cicero)

• If / supposing your neighbour had a better horse than yours, would you prefer your horse or his?

i.e. this is a hypothetical scenario, Cicero supposing a situation that may occur in the future, but which he considers is unlikely to happen.

If your neighbour had a better horse …

In English, the simple past (‘had’) can often be replaced by were to (do something) or should (do something). Although it can sound rather formal or archaic, it is useful to remember that as a way of “testing” what type of conditional is being used:

If you gave / were to give / should give me the money, I would buy a cake.

Sī nunc mē suspendam [present subjunctive], meīs inimīcīs voluptātem creāverim [perfect subjunctive] (Plautus)

• If I were to hang myself now, I would simply have created pleasure for my enemies.

i.e. the character in the play refers to an action in the future – even if it is imminent – but his use of the subjunctive shows that he has no real intentions of doing it!

Examples

Note that translations may convey the subjunctive idea in different ways.

Sī crās adsit, hanc rogātiōnem suādeat

• If he were / should be present tomorrow, he would speak for this bill.

Sī quis eum cōnspiciat, comprehendātur.

• If anyone caught sight / should catch sight / were to catch sight of him, he would be arrested.

Sī auxilium Poenīs submittāmus odium Rōmānōrum subeāmus.

• If we were to send help to the Carthaginians we would incur the hatred of the Romans.

 Sī ille eō dēscendat, contrā dīcī nihil possit (Cicero)

• If he were to condescend, nothing could be said against it.

Quod ille sī faciat, iam iam ā bonīs omnibus summam ineat grātiam (Cicero)

• And if he were to do that, he would win the highest favour from all the best men.

Sī illinc beneficium nōn sit, rēctius putem quidvīs domī perpetī (Cicero)

• If there should be no favour from that side, I should think it better to endure whatever comes at home.

Level 3+; Conditional clauses [5]: real conditions (3) practice

[1]

Complete the Latin sentences with verbs from the list below.

(1) [A] If you do this, [B] you are wrong.

[A] Sī hoc __________ [B] __________

(2) [A] If you did this, [B] you were wrong.

[A] Sī hoc __________ [B] __________

(3) [A] If you (will) do this, [B] you will be wrong.

[A] Sī hoc __________ , [B] __________

(4) [A] If they were asked for help, [B] they gave it willingly.

[A] Sī auxilium __________ , [B] libenter id __________.

(5) [A] Unless you (will) give me the money, [B] I won’t be able to buy the horse.

[A] Nisi mihi pecūniam __________, [B] equum emere __________.

(6) [A] If you have not sent the letter, [B] he won’t know what has happened.

[A] Sī litterās __________, [B] __________ quid acciderit.

(7) [A] If we reach [will have reached] the camp, [B] we will be safe.

[A] Sī ad castra __________, [B] tūtī __________.

(8) [A] If they (will) take up arms against the country, [B] they will all be killed.

[A] Sī arma __________ contrā patriam, [B] omnēs __________.

(9) [A] If he saw a poor man, [B] he always tried to help him.

[A] Sī pauperem __________, [B] semper eum adiuvāre __________.

(10) [A] If we head straight for Rome, [B] we will dine on the Capitol tonight.

[A] Sī rēctō cursū Rōmam __________, [B] hāc nocte in Capitōliō __________.

[A]

dabis; faciēs; facis; fēcistī; nōn mīseris; pervēnerimus; petēmus; rogābantur; sument; vidēbat

[B]

cēnābimus; cōnābātur; dabant; erimus; errābis; errās; errāvistī; interficientur; nesciet; nōn poterō

[2]

In this exercise, look out for:

sī quandō: if ever

sī / nisi quis (nom.) / quem (acc.): if / unless anybody

sī quid: if anything

sī modo: if only; provided that; as long as …

(1) I never make a promise unless I can keep my word.

Numquam  __________ __________ fidem praestāre __________

(2) Do not leave the house unless I tell you to.

__________ domum __________ __________ __________

(3) They always gave money to the poor, if they seemed to need it.

Pauperibus, __________ indigēre __________, semper pecūniam __________.

(4) If anyone has wronged me, I take my revenge on him by law.

__________ mihi iniūriam __________, lēgibus poenās dē eō __________.

(5) Neverthless, I would like you to write to me, if there is anything, about Antony’s arrival.

__________ tamen, __________ est, dē Antōnī adventū … __________ ad mē

(6) If only [ = as long as / provided that] we have entered Italy, I will lead you straight to Rome.

__________ Ītaliam __________, rēctō itinere Rōmam vōs __________.

(7) Unless someone studies carefully, he understands nothing.

__________ dīligenter __________, nihil __________.

(8) If he saw anyone enduring wrongs, he always wanted to help him.

__________ indigna patientem vidēbat, eum semper adiuvāre volēbat.

(9) If ever I am reciting, she sits nearby separated by a curtain.

Eadem, __________ __________, in proximō discrēta vēlō __________ (Pliny)

(10) If ever our men … had tied up a ship, from every side (the enemy) ran to the aid of their struggling comrades.

__________ nostrī... nāvem __________, undique suīs labōrantibus __________ (Caesar)

nisi; nisi; nisi quis; sī; sī modo; sī quandō; sī quandō; sī quem; sī quid; sī quis

dedērunt; discit; dūcam; fēcit; intellegit; intrāverimus; iusserō; nōlī … relinquere; possum; prōmittō; recitō; religāverant; scrībās; sedet; succurrēbant; sūmō; velim; vidēbantur; vidēbat; volēbat

____________________

[1]

(1) [A] facis [B] errās

(2) [A] fēcistī [B] errāvistī

(3) [A] faciēs [B] errābis

(4) [A] rogābantur [B] dabant

(5) [A] dabis [B] nōn poterō

(6) [A] nōn mīseris [B] nesciet

(7) [A] pervēnerimus [B] erimus

(8) [A] sument [B] interficientur

(9) [A] vidēbat [B] cōnābātur

(10) [A] petēmus [B] cēnābimus

[2]

(1) Numquam prōmittō nisi fidem praestāre possum.

(2) Nōlī domum relinquere nisi iusserō.

(3) Pauperibus, sī indigēre vidēbantur, semper pecūniam dedērunt.

(4) Sī quis mihi iniūriam fēcit, lēgibus poenās dē eō sūmō.

(5) Velim tamen, sī quid est, dē Antōnī adventū … scrībās ad mē.

(6) Sī modo Ītaliam intrāverimus, rēctō itinere Rōmam vōs dūcam.

(7) Nisi quis dīligenter discit, nihil intellegit.

(8) Sī quem indigna patientem vidēbat, eum semper adiuvāre volēbat.

(9) Eadem, sī quandō recitō, in proximō discrēta vēlō sedet (Pliny)

(10) Sī quandō nostrī... nāvem religāverant, undique suīs labōrantibus succurrēbant.

Level 3; Reading (review); [34] [1] Scipio’s triumph

Scipio had managed to beat Rome’s most dangerous enemy, the Carthaginian Hannibal, in Africa. This is a description of his arrival in Rome afterwards:

Iam nōnnūllās hōrās magna multitūdō hominum victōrem legiōnēsque eius exspectat. Subitō ūnus ex multitūdine:

“Vidētisne agmen prīmum? Iam tubae, iam carmina mīlitum sonant! Āfricāne! Āfricāne!”

“Quid clāmant hominēs? Num Scīpiōnī novum nōmen datum est?”

“Certē! Victor Āfricānī bellī ā senātōribus nōmine Āfricānī honōrātus est, quod Poenōs foedere coercuit.”

“Spectā corpora elephantōrum! Quanta quamque firma sunt! Nōnne tū quoque terrēris?”

“Utrum mīlitēs nostrī magis rōbore eōrum an strīdōre territī sunt?”

“Ignōrō. Equidem et magnitūdine corporum et strīdōre terreor.”

“Ecce! Scīpiō ipse adest! Macte, Āfricāne! Ē summō discrīmine Rōmam servāvistī! Lūmen et decus populī Rōmānī es!”

“Bonīs cum ōminibus Rōmam intrās! Nunc tempora laeta erunt, nunc bellō et operibus Mārtis līberātī erimus!”

coerceō, -ēre, -uī, coercitus [2] (here) restrain; control; as in the English derivative coerce, /oe/ in the Latin verb are pronounced as separate vowels i.e. co-er-ceō

decus, -oris [3/n]: honour; glory

discrīmen, -inis [3/n]: (here) crisis; danger; risk

foedus, -eris [3/n]: treaty; alliance; agreement

rōbur, -oris [3/n]: [i] oak tree [ii] (here) strength; compare the English phrase “hearts of oak”

strīdor, -ōris [3/m]: harsh or shrill noise; (here) trumpeting (of the elephants)

macte: bravo! well done!

Careful reading needed:

Bonīs cum ōminibus Rōmam intrās!

Not a form of omnis, -e (all; every) but of ōmen, -inis [3/n]: omen

Notes:

[1] Iam nōnnūllās hōrās magna multitūdō hominum victōrem legiōnēsque eius exspectat.

Latin: expression of duration of time + present tense is conveyed by English present perfect continuous tense [has / have been doing something for a period of time]

For several hours now, a great crowd of people has been waiting.

[2] [i] Quanta [ii] quamque firma sunt!

quantus, -a, -um: how much, (pl.) how many; (here) how big i.e. quantus functions alone as an adjective specifically referring to size

quam (indeclinable) + other adjectives i.e. quam firma … sunt │ how strong they are

Both have an exclamatory function here, expressing a feeling e.g. wonderment in this context:

Spectā corpora elephantōrum! Quanta quamque firma sunt! │ Look at the bodies of the elephants! How big and (how) strong they are!

[3] bellō et operibus Mārtis līberātī erimus

The ablative – sometimes with prepositions – is used when x is “separated” from y, that separation being physical or abstract, positive or negative.

We will be free / will have been freed from war and (from) the works of Mars!

17.06.25: Level 3; summary of the uses of the ablative case [15]: the ablative of separation

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/170625-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html

[4] Review: asking questions

[i] Nōnne tū quoque terrēris?

nōnne: surely …?; the question expects a positive reply

Surely, you’re frightened too? / You’re frightened too, aren’t you?

[ii] Num Scīpiōnī novum nōmen datum est?

num: surely …not?; the question expects a negative reply

Surely a new name hasn’t been given to Scipio? / A new name hasn’t been given to Scipio, has it?

Bear in mind, however, that translations may not distinguish these so precisely, and that, even if a question expects  either a positive or negative reply, it does not necessarily receive one.

Num Scīpiōnī novum nōmen datum est?│ A new name hasn’t been given to Scipio, has it?

Certē! Victor Āfricānī bellī ā senātōribus nōmine Āfricānī honōrātus est …”│“Certainly / of course (it has)! The victor of the African war has been honoured by the senators with the name ‘Africanus’”

[iii] Utrum mīlitēs nostrī magis rōbore eōrum an strīdōre territī sunt?”

utrum … an …: introduces an alternative or double question e.g. Is it X or Y? Do you have A or B? In this type of question utrum is not translated into English.

Were our soldiers more frightened [X] by their strength or [Y] by their trumpeting?”

25.07.25: Level 3; pronominal adjectives [6](2); utrum … an …; double questions

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/250725-level-3-pronominal-adjectives-62.html

[5] review: 3^rd declension neuter nouns; patterns

Remember that the term pattern does not imply that every noun is declined in the same way,  but note the common features of certain types of neuter nouns which do have consistent stem changes: there may be exceptions, but they are rare.

(a) -en > -inis

agmen, agminis

carmen, carminis

discrīmen, discrīminis

lūmen, lūminis

nōmen, nōminis

ōmen, ōminis

(b)   -us > -eris / -oris

corpus, corporis

decus, decoris

tempus, temporis

foedus, foederis

opus, operis

____________________

For several hours now, a great crowd of people has been waiting for the victorious general and his legions. Suddenly, one man from the crowd says:

“Do you see the first column? Already the trumpets, already the songs of the soldiers are sounding! Africanus! Africanus!”

“What are the people shouting? A new name hasn’t been given to Scipio, has it?”

“Certainly (it has)! The victor of the African war has been honoured by the senators with the name ‘Africanus,’ because he subdued the Carthaginians by a treaty.”

“Look at the bodies of the elephants! How large and how strong they are! Surely, you’re frightened too?”

“Were our soldiers more frightened by their strength or by their trumpeting?”

“I don’t know. I myself am frightened both by the size of their bodies and by their noise.”

“Look! Scipio himself is here! Well done, Africanus! You have saved Rome from the greatest danger! You are the light and glory of the Roman people!”

“With good omens you enter Rome! Now there will be happy times; now we will be free from war and the works of Mars!

Level 3+; Conditional clauses [4]: sī + quis, quid, quandō

[1] Conditional clauses can be indefinite, i.e. they do not refer to any specific person, thing, or time, but express general or open-ended reference.

[i]

(a) sī + quis (which can decline): if anyone / someone

Ac sī quis est tālis … nōn est ista mea culpa (Cicero)

• But if there is anyone of that sort … that’s not my fault.

Sī quī exīre volunt, cōnīvēre possum (Cicero)

• If anyone wishes to leave, I can look the other way.

(b) Similarly with nisi:

Nisi quis retinet, īdem suāsor auctorque cōnsiliī erō (Tacitus)

• Unless someone holds (me back), I shall be the proposer and instigator of the plan.

Quid igitur? quī nunc vocāre? / Nēmō nisi quem iusseris (Plautus)

• Well then — who am I to summon now? / No one, unless you order someone.

[ii]

(a) sī + quid: if anything / something

• Sī quid est ... prōvidendum est (Cicero)

If there is anything, it should be guarded against.

Ego ad tē, sī quid audierō citius, scrībam (Cicero)

• If I hear anything, I shall write to you first.

(b) Similarly with nisi:

Ego eō ad forum, nisi quid vīs (Plautus)

• I’m going to the forum unless you want anything.

Ego, nisi quid mē vīs, eō lavātum (Platusu)

• If you do not want me for anything / Unless you want me for something, I’m going to get washed.

[iii] sī + quandō: if ever

In senātū sī quandō praeclārē prō rē pūblicā dīxerō (Cicero)

• If I ever make a notable speech in the Senate on behalf of the republic

Sī quandō opus erit, … (Cicero)

• If there is ever a need …

Examples:

Sī quis ¦ quid reddit, magna habenda est grātia (Terence)

• If anyone gives anything back, one should be very grateful

Sī quid in tē peccāvī … ignōsce (Cicero)

• If I have wronged you in any respect, forgive me.

Dumtaxat rūmōrēs, vel etiam sī qua certa habēs dē Caesare, exspectō (Cicero)

• At the very least, I am waiting for rumours or even if you have any certain (news) about Caesar

Nec posthāc quisquam damnābitur, nisi quī hominem occīdent (Cicero)

• And from now on, no one shall be condemned, except those who kill a man.

Cicero referring to statues:

Illa omnia in Tusculānum dēportābō. Cāiētam, sī quandō abundāre coeperō, ōrnābō.

• I’ll bring all those to my place at Tusculum. If I ever start filling it too much [ = literally: if I ever start to overflow], I’ll decorate Caieta.

Level 3+; Conditional clauses [3]: nisī; sī … nōn

[1] A negative conditional clause is expressed in English “if … not” or “unless”

If you do not give me the money, I cannot buy the tickets.

Unless you give me the money, I cannot buy the tickets.

The equivalents in Latin are expressed by:

[i] sī … nōn; [ii] nisi

Eō sī ante eam diem nōn vēneris, ¦ Rōmae tē fortasse vidēbō (Cicero)

• If you do not get there before that date, perhaps I shall see you at Rome.

Velim, sī tibī grave nōn erit, certiōrem mē faciās (Cicero)

• I would like, if it is not [will not be] any trouble to you, you to let me know.

"Dēsilite", inquit, "mīlitēs, nisi vultis aquilam hostibus prōdere" (Caesar)

• '"Jump down, soldiers," he said, "unless you wish to betray the eagle to the enemies"'

“Nisi mē frūstrantur,” inquit, “oculī, māter tibī coniūnxque et līberī adsunt” (Livy)

• “unless my eyes are deceiving me,” he said, “your mother and wife and children are here”

Dēcēdēs, cum volēs, nisi forte iam dēcessistī (Cicero)

• You will depart when you wish — unless perhaps you have already departed / if you haven’t already departed.

Level 3; Reading (review); [33] [ii] The siren’s song

During his journey home, Odysseus also passes the island of the Sirens (Sīrēnēs), who lure sailors to the shore with their songs and then kill them.

In order to be able to listen to the singing without danger, Odysseus has his men tie him to the mast and orders them to obstruct their ears. He himself listens:

“Salvē, Ulixēs, imperātor et rēx! Tē, victōrem magnī bellī Ithacaeque rēgem, salūtāmus; et victōrī et rēgī iūstum honōrem tribuimus. Tū mīlitibus Graecīs bene suāsistī, tū multōs labōrēs sustinuistī. Tū es summus cūnctōrum ducum et imperātōrum, et beātus est ille senex, Lāertēs pater tuus. Magnum erit gaudium patrisque mātrisque, sī tē integrum salūtābunt, sī Ithaca rēge servātō gaudēbit! Proinde appropinquā et auscultā, nam nōbīs nihil ignōtum est: Nārrābimus tibi dē virīs clārīs, quōs superāvistī; nōn ignōrāmus tē magnam multitūdinem hominum prōstrāvisse. Cūnctae regiōnēs sunt plēnae tuae laudis.”

Dum virginēs sīc cantant, Ulixēs comitēs vocat; nam diūtius auscultāre studet. Illī autem rēmōs dūcere pergunt.

Sīrēn, -is [3/f]: (Greek mythology) Siren

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siren_(mythology)

Images #1 and #2: 370 BC; 1^st century BC

Image #3: the Sirens may be equally depicted as having the features of fish, such as this example from the Bestiary of AD 1235

pergō, pergere, perrēxī, perrectus [3]: continue, proceed, go on

rēmus, -ī [2/m]: oar

Note: apposition

Appposition refers to two or more words – nouns or pronouns – which are adjacent to one another and refer to the same person / thing:

I live in Paris. I live in the capital of France.

> I live in [i] Paris, [ii] the capital of France. In the sentence ‘Paris’ and ‘the capital of France’ are in apposition.

[i] Henry the Eighth, [ii] the King of England ¦ at that time, …

[i] You, [ii] Joe, are a great athlete.

When this occurs, both parts of the apposition are in the same case:

Salvē, [i] Ulixēs, [ii] imperātor et [iii] rēx! │ “Greetings, [i] Ulysses, [ii] commander and [iii] king!

• All are in the vocative case, addressing Ulysses directly.

[i] Tē, [ii] victōrem magnī bellī Ithacaeque [iii] rēgem, salūtāmus; │ We greet [i] you as [ii] victor of the great war and [iii] king of Ithaca;

• All are in the accusative case, the direct object of salūtāmus

beātus est ille [i] senex, [ii] Lāertēs [iii] pater tuus │ blessed is that [i] old man, [ii] Laertes [iii] your father.

• All are in the nominative case, the subject of the sentence

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/07/230824-level-2-practice-in-reading_18.html

Exercises

[1] Give the nominative singular of the nouns from the text:

[i] ducum

[ii] hominum

[iii] laudis

[iv] mīlitibus

[v] multitūdinem

[vi] regiōnēs

[vii] virginēs

[2] Identify the word type in bold and explain why it is being used:

[i] Proinde appropinquā et auscultā

[ii] nōn ignōrāmus tē magnam multitūdinem hominum prōstrāvisse

[4] What tense is being used and how does that differ from English usage?

Magnum erit gaudium patrisque mātrisque, sī tē integrum salūtābunt, sī Ithaca rēge servātō gaudēbit!

____________________

[1]

[i] dux

[ii] homō

[iii] laus

[iv] mīles

[v] multitūdō

[vi] regiō

[vii] virgō

[2]

[i] imperative; giving a command

[ii] perfect active infinitive in an indirect statement

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

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/150126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/180126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/210126-level-3-indirect-statement.html

[iii] future tense; in the conditional clause, English would normally use the present

It will be a great joy for both father and mother if they (will) greet you safe and whole, if Ithaca rejoices [will rejoice] …

____________________

“Greetings, Ulysses, commander and king! We greet you as victor of the great war and king of Ithaca; and to both victor and king we grant just honour. You have served the Greek soldiers well; you have endured many hardships. You are the greatest of all leaders and commanders, and blessed is that old man, your father Laertes. It will be a great joy for both father and mother if they greet you safe and whole, if Ithaca rejoices now that the king has been saved! Therefore, come nearer and listen, for nothing is unknown to us: we will tell you about the famous men whom you have defeated; we are not unaware that you have overthrown a great multitude of men. All regions are full of your praise.”

While the maidens sing thus, Ulysses calls his companions; for he wishes to listen longer. But they continue to row the oars.

Level 3+; Conditional clauses [2]: real conditions (2) further examples

In these clause types, English and Latin writers vary the indicative tenses, and there are numerous permutations. They may choose a specific tense since they have a particular idea in mind that they wish to convey, for example:

If you read that book, you will love it.

If you haven’t read that book, then I’m disappointed.

[i] There is often a parallel between the Latin verb usage and the English translations, for example:

Sī mē amās [present], ¦ cūrā [imperative], ut ... (Cicero)

• If you love me [present], ¦ [imperative] see to it that …

Tū sī litterās ad Sicyōniōs habēs [present], advolā [imperative] in Formiānum (Cicero)

• If you have [present], a letter to send to the Sicyonians, hasten [imperative] to Formiae.

Quid faciēmus [future], sī aliter nōn possumus [present]? (Cicero)

• What shall we do [future], if we cannot (do) otherwise [present]?

Sī fuit [perfect] invidiōsa senātūs potentia… quid iam cēnsēs [present] fore? (Cicero)

• If the power of the Senate was [simple past] unpopular … what do you think [present] it will be like now?

[ii] Where it differs most is when the conditional clause refers to the future. The distinction between the future and the future perfect in the conditional clause is whether the speaker is focussing on the action being carried out [future], or on the completion of the action [future perfect].

Mihi crēde, ¦ sī legēs [future] haec, ¦ dīcēs [future] mīrābilis vir est (Cicero)

• Trust me, if you read [present; La: will read] them, ¦ you will say “The man is a wonder.”

Latīnum sī perfēcerō [future perfect], ¦ ad tē mittam [future] (Cicero)

• [Latin (literally): If I shall have finished the Latin version, I shall send it to you.]
• If I finish [present] / If I have finished [present perfect] the Latin version, ¦ I shall send [future] it to you.

[iii] A subjunctive verb may be used in the apodosis:

Sī quid habēs certius, velim scīre (Cicero)

• If you have anything more certain, I would like to know.

The subjunctive in this context is not affecting the conditional clause but is simply being used independently to convey a polite request.

In this next example, a jussive subjunctive is used:

Quī hominēs quam prīmum, sī stāre nōn possunt, corruant (Cicero)

• If these men cannot stand, let them fall as soon as possible.

____________________

Below are further examples; compare and contrast the verb usage.

Nunc, sī quid in eā epistulā, quam ante diem XVI Kal. Maiās dedistī, fuit historia dignum, scrībe quam prīmum (Cicero)

• So, if there was anything worth saying in the letter of the 16th of April, write at once.

Sī quī Graecī iam Rōmam ex Asiā … vēnērunt … (Cicero)

• If any Greeks have already come to Rome from Asia …

Quid iīs fīet, sī hūc Paulus vēnerit (Cicero)

• What will happen to them if Paulus comes [will have come] here?

Sī quid rēs feret, cōram inter nōs cōnferēmus (Cicero)

• If any point arises [will arise], we will discuss it together face-to-face.

Aliī sī scrīpserint, mittēmus ad tē (Cicero)

• If others (will) have written (about it), we shall send them to you.

Tū, sī tibi placuerit liber, cūrābis ut … (Cicero)

• If the book pleases [will have pleased] you, you will see to it that …

Eō sī ante eam diem nōn vēneris, Rōmae tē fortasse vidēbō (Cicero)

• If you do not get [will not have come] there before that date, perhaps I shall see you at Rome.

Sī dīxerō mendācium, solēns meō mōre fēcerō (Plautus)

• If I tell [shall have told] a lie, I shall have done so as I usually do according to my custom.

Tū, sī ūnō in locō es futūrus, crēbrās ā nōbīs litterās exspectā (Cicero)

• If you are going to be in one place, expect many letters from us.

Intereā scrībās [subjunctive], sī quid intellegēs (Cicero)

• Meanwhile, if you learn anything, you should write to me

Sī iam es Rōmae … velim [subjunctive] mittās … (Cicero)

• If you are already in Rome, I would like you to send …

An overdose of conditional clauses:

Quam ob rem, sī mē amās tantum, quantum profectō amās, sī dormīs, expergīscere, sī stās, ingredere, sī ingrederis, curre, sī curris, advolā. (Cicero)

Quam ob rem, sī mē amās tantum, quantum profectō amās, … │ Therefore, if you love me as much as you really love me …

sī dormīs, expergīscere │ if you are sleeping, wake up

sī stās, ingredere │ if you are standing, get moving

sī ingrederis, curre │ if you are moving, run

sī curris, advolā │ if you are running, fly

Level 3+; Conditional clauses [1]: introduction; real conditions (1)

Take your life in your hands and suggest to Norman, the owner of the Bates Motel in Hitchcock’s Psycho how he should deal with his “mother” …

MARION

You know, if anyone ever talked to me, the way I heard... the way she spoke to you, …

NORMAN

When you love someone, you don't do that to them, even if you hate them. Oh, I don't hate her.  I hate... what she's become. I hate... the illness.

MARION (Slowly, carefully)

Wouldn't it be better if you put her in... someplace...

Ah well, if Marion hadn’t taken a wrong turning, she would not have met Norman – but she did take a wrong turning, and she did meet him and, well, you’ll need to watch the movie…

Among all Latin clause types, conditional clauses show the closest parallel with English: in both languages, verb forms change to express the speaker’s perspective.

Image #1: conditional clauses can be broadly classified according to type.

Here, we will look at the types under the overall heading of real conditions: the speaker treats the situation in the conditional clause as true, rather than as imaginary or unreal, and are used with the indicative mood in Latin:

(a) General truths:

If you heat ice, it melts.

If he (ever) saw a poor man in the street, he used to give him some money.

(b) Specific situations considered likely in context, whether present or past:

If he thinks that, he is mistaken.

If he did that, he made a mistake.

(c) Specific situations in the future which, again, the speaker treats as likely to happen:

If gives me the money, I will buy the cake.

Grammar books may give slightly different terms for these conditional types, but the key point is that none of the conditions express any doubt, but rather as true or likely to be true.

[1] present / past

[A] Sī tū exercitusque valētis [present indicative], ¦ [B] bene est [present indicative] (Cicero)

• If you and the army are well, ¦ it is well.

[A] Sī iam melius valēs [present indicative], ¦ [B] vehementer gaudeō [present indicative] (Cicero)

• If you are in better health now, ¦ I am very glad.

[A] Sī quī māgnīs in eō genere exstitērunt [perfect indicative], ¦ [B] nōn satis Graecōrum glōriae respondērunt [perfect indicative] (Cicero)

• If any have shown themselves of great genius in that department, ¦ they have not competed sufficiently with the glory of the Greeks. 

[A] Sī peccāvī [perfect indicative], ¦ [B] īnsciēns fēcī [perfect indicative] (Terence)

• If I did / have done wrong, ¦ I did / have done so unwittingly.

The sentences above have two clauses:

[A] The conditional clause introduced by sī (if); this is called the protasis and states the condition on which [B] depends.

[B] The main clause is called the apodosis.

It is useful to remember those two terms, since they are commonly used in grammar books.

[A: PROTASIS] Sī illum relinquō,¦ [B: APODOSIS] eius vītae timeō (Terence)

• If I abandon him, ¦ I fear for his life.

[A: PROTASIS] Sī quī exīre volunt,¦ [B: APODOSIS] cōnīvēre possum (Cicero)

• If any wish to depart, ¦ I can keep my eyes shut.

[A: PROTASIS] Sī est in exsiliō [PROTASIS], … ¦ B: APODOSIS] quid amplius postulātis? (Cicero)

• If he is in exile, ¦ what more do you ask?

[2] future more vivid

[i] In grammar the term future more vivid conditional refers to an outcome that the speaker thinks / perceives is more likely to happen

[ii] Unlike English, a future condition in the protasis is expressed by sī + the future or future perfect tense:

[A] Quod sī legere aut audīre volētis [future indicative] . . . [B] reperiētis [future indicative] … (Cicero)

• If you (will) want to read or hear it … you will find …

[A] Egō ad tē, ¦ [B] sī quid audierō [future perfect indicative] citius, ¦ scrībam [future indicative]. (Cicero)

• I shall write to you ¦ if I hear [literally: shall have heard) anything sooner.

[A] Haec sī attulerīs [future perfect indicative], [B] cēnābis [future indicative] bene (Catullus)

• If you bring [literally: will have brought] these things, ¦ you will dine well.

[3] general / iterative:

[i] When (if) you love someone, you don't do that to them.

Whenever he saw / If he ever saw a poor man …; the term iterative may be applied to this type of condition to define an action that happens / happened repeatedly:

English can convey these conditions, with ‘when(ever)’ rather than ‘if’; Latin uses sī:

Sī pēs condoluit, sī dēns, ferre nōn possumus (Cicero)

• If (ever) a foot or a tooth has begun to ache, ¦ we can't bear it.

[ii] The idea may be emphasised by the addition of quandō, but not as a replacement for sī:

Sī quandō in puerīs ante alter dēns nāscitur ... (Celsus)

• If ever in children a second tooth appears  …

[iii] When referring to the past, the imperfect or pluperfect tense can be used in the conditional clause:

Sī legēbant, inveniēbant disciplīnam.

• If (whenever) they read, they acquired / used to acquire knowledge.

Sī pauperem in viā vidēbat / vīderat, semper eum adiuvāre cōnābātur.

• If he saw a poor man in the street, he would always try to help him.

Sī tribūnī, sī legiō industriam innocentiamque adprobāverant, retinēbat ōrdinem (Tacitus)

• If the tribunes or legion approved of his industry and innocence, he would retain his rank.

[4]  ‘if’ is also used in English to ask an indirect question e.g. I want to know if he’s arrived = I want to know whether he’s arrived (or not).

Latin does not use sī to convey that idea, but num and utrum … an

Level 3+; Subjunctive [68] dependent uses [6] indirect questions (5); num

Level 3+; Subjunctive [69] dependent uses [6] indirect questions (6); utrum … an …

[5] In all conditional constructions [A] and [B] may, as in English, be reversed:

[B] Experiar et dīcam [future indicative], ¦ [A] sī poterō [future indicative], plānius (Cicero)

• I shall try and explain, ¦ if I can [literally: if I shall be able; future indicative] more clearly (Cicero)

[5] tenses can be mixed:

Convincam [future indicative], ¦ sī negās [present indicative] (Cicero)

• I shall prove it, ¦ if you deny it.

Sī pēs condoluit [perfect indicative], sī dēns, ¦ ferre nōn possumus [present indicative] (Cicero)

• If (ever) a foot or a tooth has begun to ache, ¦ we can't bear it.

Cēnābis [future indicative] bene, mī fabulle, apud mē / paucīs, ¦ sī tibi dī favent [present indicative], ¦ diēbus (Catullus)

• You will dine well, my Fabullus, at my house, ¦ in a few days’ time if the gods favour you.

Sī ille exitum nōn reperiēbat [imperfect indicative], ¦ quis nunc reperiet [future indicative]? (Cicero)

• If he was not able to find any way out, ¦ who will find one now?

Misera plūs perdidī [perfect indicative], sī nēmō crēdit [present indicative] (Quintilian)

• Wretched I have lost more ¦ if noone believes me.