[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.
