Level 3+; Subjunctive [90] dependent uses [15] reported / indirect reason: quod and quia

If a journalist in a UK newspaper writes …

“The manager resigned because he stole money”

…he may well be sued! If it was never proved, then the journalist – to protect himself – would write:

“The manager resigned because he allegedly stole money”

Now the journalist is safe: he is reporting what the reason may have been or what somebody else claimed rather than a factual statement that is the journalist’s personal opinion. In other words, it becomes an indirect reason.

Similarly:

He could not have been guilty because he was abroad at the time.

He could not have been guilty because, he said / he claimed, he was abroad at the time.

The inclusion of a parenthetical he said, or he claimed moves the statement from a factual reason to one that is alleged, one that somebody else said rather than what the speaker believes.

That ‘shift’ cannot be conveyed in English by means of a verb form. In Latin, however, a shift from the indicative to the subjunctive mood can do precisely that.

[i] The conjunctions quod and quia are – by far – most often found with the indicative mood:

Quia ego hanc amō et haec mē amat (Plautus)

• Because I love her and she loves me.

Cūr igitur pācem nōlō? Quia turpis est. (Cicero)

• Why then do I not wish for peace? Because it is disgraceful.

Hoc ad tē scrīpsī, quod is mē accūsāre dē tē solēbat (Cicero)

• I wrote this to you because he was in the habit of grumbling to me about you.

Ita fit ut adsint proptereā quod officium sequuntur, taceant autem quia periculum vītant (Cicero)

• So it happens that they attend because they follow duty but are silent because they are avoiding danger.

In these examples Cicero gives his own reasons.

[ii] However, when the speaker is not giving his own reason, but the reason of somebody else, quod and quia will be with a verb in the subjunctive:

Noctū ambulābat Themistoclēs quod somnum capere nōn posset [subjunctive] (Cicero)

• Themistocles used to walk about at night because he could not sleep.

i.e. the speaker is recounting the reason given by Themistocles; the speaker is not offering his own reason.

We can describe this as a reported reason or an indirect reason. It does not have to be an “allegedly” statement such as you would find in a newspaper!

Compare: Noctū ambulābam quod somnum capere nōn poteram [indicative].

• I used to walk about night because I could not sleep.

This example from Cicero shows both indicative and subjunctive, the subjunctive stating an alleged or unreal reason as oppposed to factual reason i.e. the reason he himself gives:

• Haec idcircō omittō quod nōn gravissima sint [subjunctive], sed quia nunc sine teste dīcō [indicative] (Cicero)

And I omit these matters not because they are not very serious, but because now I am declaring without any witness.

[iii] Further examples

(1) With indicative

[i] Sōla hic mihi nunc videor, quia ille hinc abest quem ego amō praeter omnēs (Plautus)

• I do seem so lonely here now, because the one I love best is gone. 

[ii] Cūr negās? / Quia vēra didicī dīcere (Plautus)

• Why do you deny it? / Because I’ve learned to tell the truth.

[iii] Quia diēī extrēmum erat, proelium nōn inceptum [est] (Sallust)

• As it was almost the end of the day, the battle did not  start.

[iv] Quem locum Marius, quod ibi rēgis thēsaurī erant, summā vī capere intendit (Sallust)

• Marius tried to take this place with all of his forces, because the king’s treasures were there.

[v] Quia id quod neque est neque fuit neque futūrum est mihi praedicās (Plautus)

• Because what you tell me is not so, nor has it been, nor will it be.

[vi] Sed senātūs cōnsulta duo iam facta sunt odiōsa, quod in cōnsulem facta putantur (Cicero)

• But two decrees of the Senate which have already been passed are unpopular because they are thought to be directed against the consul.

(2) With subjunctive; although far less common, the subjunctive is being used to refer to what somebody else ‘claimed’ or thought:

[i] Mea māter īrāta est quia nōn redierim (Plautus)

• My mother is angry because I did not return.

[ii] Rediit quod sē oblītum nesciō quid dīceret (Cicero)

• He returned because he said he had forgotten something.

Note: nesciō quid; nesciō is not functioning here as a verb but as part of a set expression meaning ‘something’ [literally: I don’t know what]

[iii] Reprehendit, quia nōn semper quiērim (Cicero)

• He blames me because I have not always been able.

i.e. Cicero recounts somebody else’s reason for the blame; he is not saying that it is factual.

[iv] Sī quis requīrit, cūr Rōmae nōn sim … quia frequentiam illam nōn facile ferrem.

• If anyone asks why I am not in town … "because I could not put up with the crowd of visitors."

This is a nice example where the translator “quotes” what, in Cicero’s mind, other people might be ‘alleging’.

[v] What somebody saw in a dream:

Ego laeta vīsa sum quia soror vēnisset (Plautus)

• I seemed happy because my sister had come.

[vi] A two part statement from Cicero that describes allegations made against Manlius by Pomponius, a tribune of the plebs:

L. Mānliō … cum dictātor fuisset, M. Pompōnius tr(ibūnus). pl(ēbis). diem dīxit, (1) quod is paucōs sibi diēs ad dictātūram gerendam addidisset; crīminābātur etiam, (2) quod Titum fīlium … ab hominibus relēgāsset et rūrī habitāre iussisset.

L. Mānlīō … cum dictātor fuisset │ When L. Manlius … had been dictator, …

M. Pompōnius, tribūnus plēbis, diem dīxit │ M. Pomponius,  a tribune of the plebs named the day [i.e. for his trial = indicted him]

(1) quod is paucōs sibī diēs ad dictātūram gerendam addidisset;

• because he (Manlius) had added a few days for conducting his dictatorship [ = had extended his dictatorship beyond its expiration]

crīminābātur etiam │ he was also accused

(2) quod Titum fīlium … ab hominibus relēgāsset et rūrī habitāre iussisset.

• because he had banished his son Titus … from people [ = from having companionship with others] and had ordered him to live in the countryside.

[iv] Be careful not to misinterpret the use of quod in indirect statements. In certain circumstances quod can be translated as the conjunction ‘that’ but they are (1) referring to known facts or (2) offering reasons rather than reporting what, for example somebody said or thought:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/170226-level-3-indirect-statement.html

(1) quod: (the fact) that …

quod rediit ¦ nōbīs mīrābile vidētur (Cicero)

• (the fact) that he returned ¦ seems marvellous to us

praetereō ¦ quod eam sibī domum dēlēgit (Cicero)

• I pass over ¦ the fact that he chose that house for himself

i.e. these two do not ‘report’ an event, but express a reaction to something already known

(2) verbs of emotion / feeling are followed by either quod or quia; a way of differentiating the use of quod (or quia) in this context is mostly to interpret the meaning as because rather than ‘that’.

Quod scrībis . . . gaudeō.

• I am glad ¦ that you write.

i.e. The writer is offering a reason why he is glad; “I am glad because you are writing”

Gaudēmus quod ad tempus adestis.

• We rejoice ¦ that you are here on time.

Faciō libenter quod eam nōn possum praeterīre.

• I am glad ¦ that I cannot pass it by.

Gaudet quod vivit.

• He rejoices ¦ that he is alive.

Opportūnissima rēs accidit quod Germānī vēnērunt.

• A very fortunate thing happened, ¦ (namely) that the Germans came.

Optimum, quod sustulistī.

• It is a very good thing ¦ that you have removed [him].

Dolet mihi quod tū nunc stomachāris (Cicero)

• I'm sorry ¦ that you're angry now.

… quī ¦ quia nōn habuit ā mē turmās equitum ¦ fortasse suscēnset (Cicero)

• … who perhaps feels angry ¦ that he did not receive squadrons of cavalry from me.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [89] dependent uses [14] quīn and quōminus; clauses of prevention

[i] quīn and quōminus: similarities and differences

Firstly, briefly review the use of quīn with verbs of hindering and preventing:

Nōn recūsat ¦ quīn iūdicēs (Cicero)

• He does not object ¦ to your judging.

Prōrsus nihil abest ¦ quīn sim miserrimus (Cicero)

• Absolutely nothing prevents me ¦ from being utterly wretched.

Tenērī nōn potuī ¦ quīn tibi apertius illud īdem … dēclārārem.

• I could not restrain myself ¦ from expressing that very thing to you more openly ...

[ii] Quōminus functions in a similar way to quīn with verbs that express ‘hindering’ or ‘preventing’ except that – with quōminus – the verb in the main clause can be positive or negative.

Compare the uses of [A] quīn and [B] quōminus:

[A] quīn is used only with negative verbs in the main clause:

Negative: Nōn tē dēterreō quīn hoc faciās.

• I do not prevent you from doing this.

Negative: Mē homō nēmō dēterrēbit, quīn ea sit in hīs aedibus (Plautus)

• No man will prevent me from having her in this house.

[B] Quōminus can be used with either negative or positive verbs in the main clause.

Negative: Nōn tē dēterreō quōminus hoc faciās.

• I do not prevent you from doing this.

However, when the verb in the main clause is positive, only quōminus can be used.

Positive: Mē dēterruit quōminus Romam abīrem. 

• He prevented me from departing to Rome.

[iii] The literal translation of quōminus is “by which the less” i.e. the action in the main clause prevents / does not prevent the action in the quōminus clause from being ‘less’ done.

Mē impedīvit quōminus in urbem inīrem.

[Very literally: He prevented me ¦ by which I would enter the city ‘less’.]

• He prevented me ¦  from entering the city.

Impedīvit eam pater ¦ quōminus puerum vīseret.

[Very literally: The father prevented her ¦ by which she would see the boy ‘less’.]

• The father prevented her ¦  from seeing the boy.

Note in the next example that who is (not) being prevented may not be specifically stated in the main clause but can be deduced from the verb in the quōminus clause.

Nihil impedit ¦ quōminus id facere possīmus (Cicero)

[Very literally: Nothing prevents ¦ by which we could do this ‘less’.]

• Nothing prevents us ¦  from being able to do that.

[iv] A wide range of verbs and expressions are used in this construction:

dēterreō, -ēre, -ui, deterritus [2]: deter; discourage

impediō, -īre, -īvī, impeditus [4]: hinder

prohibeō, -ēre, -uī, prohibitus [2]: forbid; prohibit; prevent

recūsō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: refuse; object

Tempestās imperātōrem dēterruit ¦ quōminus Graeciam nāvigāret.

• The bad weather discouraged the commander ¦ from sailing to Greece.

Nec aetās impedit ¦ quōminus agrī colendī studia teneāmus (Cato)

• Nor does age prevent ¦ us from retaining an interest in tilling the soil.

Quōminus ad ultimam senectūtem perveniant, ¦ nōn prohibentur (Celsus)

• They are not prevented ¦ from reaching the last stage of old age.

Omnia ... cōnfessus est neque recūsāvit ¦ quōminus lēgis poenam subīret (Nepos)

• He … confessed everything and he did not refuse ¦ to submit to the punishment of the law.

[v] Further examples; quōminus may appear in texts as two separate words:

[1] Primary tense sequence

Itaque interclūdor dolōre, quō minus ad tē plūra scrībam (Cicero)

• Therefore, I am prevented by grief from writing more to you.

Tē iūstā causā impedīrī, quō minus ad nōs veniās, videō (Cicero)

• I see that you are prevented by a good reason from coming to us.

Nōn impedit, quō minus adsim (Cicero)

• He does not prevent me from being present.

Neque tē dēterreō, quō minus id disputēs (Cicero)

• Nor am I stopping you from arguing that.

Nōn dēterret sapientem mors quō minus in omne tempus reī pūblicae suisque cōnsulat (Cicero)

• Death does not deter the wise man from looking after the interests of the state and his family for all time.

[2] Secondary / historic tense sequence:

Tē impedīret, quō minus mēcum essēs (Cicero)

• It would prevent you from being with me.

Dēterrēre eum voluit ... quōminus medicāmentum biberet (Rufus)

• He wanted to dissuade him from drinking the medicine.

Impedīre coepērunt quōminus sē in castra reciperent (Bellum Africum)

• They began to prevent them from entering the camp.

Q. Cicerōnī obsistī nōn potuit, quō minus Thyamim vidēret (Cicero)

• Q. Cicero could not be stopped from seeing the (river) Thyamis.

Itaque dēterritus nōn est quōminus … reliqua pars exercitūs opus faceret (Bellum Alexandrinum)

• And so he was not deterred from the rest of the army carrying out the work…

Level 3+; Subjunctive [88] dependent uses [14] quīn (2) practice

[1]

Primary sequence: complete the translations of the quīn clauses with the phrases given below.

[i] Quārē nōn dubitō, quīn tibi quoque id molestum sit.

Therefore I do not doubt that __________.

[ii] Nōn dubitō quīn Gnaeus in fugā sit; 

I do not doubt that __________.

[iii] Nōn dubitō, quīn ad tē statim veniam.

I do not doubt that __________.

[iv] Nec vērō dubitō, quīn exitiōsum bellum impendeat.

Nor indeed do I doubt that __________.

[v] Nōn dubitō quīn istum offenderim.

I don’t doubt that __________.

[vi] Sed nōn dubitō, quīn senātus cōnsultum expedītum sit.

But I do not doubt that __________.

[vii] Nec dubitat Dēiotarus … quīn cum omnibus cōpiīs ipse … Euphrātēn trānsitūrus sit.

And Deiotarus does not doubt … that the king himself with all his forces __________.

[viii] Illud cavē dubitēs quīn ego omnia faciam. 

Do not doubt that __________.

a disastrous war is imminent

is going to cross the Euphrates

I have offended him

I shall come to you immediately

Gnaeus is fleeing

I will do all

it is also unpleasant for you

the senate decree has been issued

[2] Secondary / historic sequence: complete the Latin quotations with the verbs listed below.

[i] He did not doubt that we believed him.

Nōn dubitābat quīn eī __________.

[ii] We did not doubt that you had already reached Brundisium.

Nōn dubitābāmus, quīn tū iam Brundisium __________.

[iii] None of us doubted that Caesar had halted the marches.

Dubitābat nostrum nēmō, quīn Caesar itinera __________.

[iv] There was no doubt that the Helvetii were the most powerful.

Nōn erat dubium quīn Helvētiī plūrimum __________.

[v] I did not doubt that he would see you … at Dyrrachium.

Nōn dubitābam, quīn tē ille … Dyrrachī __________.

[vi] I had no doubt that I would see you either at Tarentum or at Brundisium.

Nōn fuerat mihi dubium, quīn tē Tarentī aut Brundisī __________.

[vii] There seemed to be no doubt that he would come before that date.

Nōn vidēbātur esse dubium, quīn ante eam diem __________.

[viii] For no one doubted that the house had been awarded to us.

Nēmō enim dubitābat, quīn domus nōbīs __________.

pervēnissēs; crēderēmus; esset adiūdicāta; possent; repressisset; ventūrus esset; vīsūrus essem; vīsūrus esset

[3] Note how English translations will often reword the clause with quīn to avoid it sounding too literal. Complete the translations with clauses and phrases from [A] the main clause and [B] the quīn clause.

[i] [A] Quis autem est, tantā quidem dē rē [B] quīn variē sēcum ipse disputet?

But [A] __________ [B] __________ with himself in various ways over such a great matter?

[ii] [A] Diēs ferē nūllus est, [B] quīn hic Satyrus domum meam ventitet.

There is [A] __________ [B] __________ Satyrus __________.

[iii] [A] Nūllum adhūc intermīsī diem, [B] quīn aliquid ad tē litterārum darem.

[A] __________ [B] __________.

[iv] [A] Facere nōn possum [B] quīn cotīdiē ad tē mittam.

[A] I __________ [B] __________ you (something) every day.

[v] [A] Tenērī nōn potuī, [B] quīn tibi apertius illud īdem hīs litterīs dēclārārem.

[A] I could not __________ [B] __________ that very thing to you more openly in these letters.

[vi] [A] Paulum āfuit [B] quīn Vārum interficeret.

[A] __________ [B] __________ Varus.

[vii] [A] Neque multum āfuit [B] quīn castrīs expellerentur. 

[A] __________ [B] __________ from the camp.

[A]

he just missed

cannot help

hardly a day

they came near

I have not yet let a day pass

restrain myself

who is there

[B]

but send

From expressing

to being driven out

that … does not pay me a visit

who does not argue

without writing something to you

killing

____________________

[1]

[i] … it is also unpleasant for you.

[ii] … Gnaeus is fleeing.

[iii] … I shall come to you immediately.

[iv] … a disastrous war is imminent.

[v] … I have offended him.

[vi] … the senate decree has been issued.

[vii] … is going to cross the Euphrates.

[viii] … I will do all.

[2]

[i] crēderēmus

[ii] pervēnissēs

[iii] repressisset

[iv] possent

[v] vīsūrus esset

[vi] vīsūrus essem

[vii] ventūrus esset

[viii] esset adiūdicāta

[3]

[i] But who is there who does not argue with himself in various ways over such a great matter?

[ii] There is hardly a day that Satyrus does not pay me a visit.

[iii] I have not yet let a day pass without writing something to you.

[iv] I cannot help but send you (something) every day.

[v] I could not restrain myself from expressing that very thing to you more openly in these letters.

[vi] He just missed killing Varus.

[vii] They came near to being driven out of the camp.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [87] dependent uses [14] quīn (1)

quīn

quīn can function in different ways. We will look at these separately.

[1] The “confusion” that can occur with the use of quīn is that, based on its formation, it is already negative < quī (adverb: why)  + nē (not)

In the examples below it is functioning as an adverb with the meaning “Why … not?” It is not asking a question but making a suggestion. Compare English: “Why don’t we go to the cinema?” = “How about we go…” or (more informally) “How about us going …?”

Quīn tū tacēs! (Plautus)

• Why don't you shut up!

Quīn urbēs et moenia adgredimur? (Livy)

• Why don't we attack the cities and walls?

Quīn… cōnscendimus equōs? (Livy)

• Why don’t we mount the horses?

[2]

[i] Its second use is as a conjunction with negative verbs of doubt. Here, it is better not to be influenced by the first usage since it is a separate construction.

In this construction the verb in the clause introduced by quīn is in the subjunctive.

Nōn dubitō ¦ quīn fortis sit.

• I do not doubt ¦ that he is brave; not: “I do not doubt that *he is not* brave.”

Therefore, it is better simply to think of quīn as “that” in this context.

Nōn / haud dubium erat ¦ quīn milēs fortis esset.

• There was no doubt ¦ that the soldier was brave.

[ii] Similarly, when the ‘doubt’ is being questioned, quīn is also used:

Quis dubitat ¦ quīn mīles fortis sit?

• Who doubts ¦ that the soldier is brave?

In other words, the speaker “challenges” any suggestion that the soldier may not be brave; he expects the answer to be negative.

Num quisquam dubitāre potuit ¦ quīn fortis esset?

• Surely no one could have doubted ¦ that he was brave?

Dubitās igitur, quīn nōs in hostium numerō habeat?

• Do you doubt, therefore, that he considers us [Cicero: me] as one of his enemies?

[iii] The sequence of tenses i.e. (1) primary and (2) secondary / historic applies:

(1) Primary Sequence:

Nōn dubitō [present indicative] ¦ quīn milēs fortis sit [present subjunctive].

• I do not doubt ¦ that the soldier is brave.

Mihi nōn dubium est [present indicative] ¦ quīn mīles fortiter pugnāverit [perfect subjunctive].

• I have no doubt ¦ that the soldier has fought bravely.

Nōn dubitō [present indicative], quīn tū Pompēium exspectāris [= exspectāverīs; perfect subjunctive].

• I don’t doubt that you have waited for Pompey.

(2) Secondary / Historic Sequence:

Nōn dubitābam [imperfect indicative] ¦ quīn mīles fortis esset [imperfect subjunctive].

• I did not doubt ¦ that the soldier was brave.

Haud dubium erat ¦ quīn hostēs fugissent [pluperfect subjunctive].

• There was no doubt ¦ that the enemy had fled.

[iv] Although quīn is particularly common with negative verbs of doubt, it does occur with:

(1) other negative verbs that convey ideas such as not refusing, not preventing, not delaying etc.

The verbs and expressions which are followed by quīn are too varied to provide a definitive list. In broad terms, whatever is stated in the clause with quīn is not refused or denied or prevented by the speaker in the main clause. Translations may rephrase the clause to express the idea more fluently.

Nōn recūsat ¦ quīn iūdicēs (Cicero)

• He does not object ¦ (literally) that you are judging = He does not object to your judging.

Praeterīre nōn potuī ¦ quīn scrīberem ad tē (Cicero)

• I could not neglect writing to you. 

Prōrsus nihil abest, ¦ quīn sim miserrimus (Cicero)

• nihil abest often has the sense of ‘there is nothing missing / lacking’

There is absolutely nothing lacking to make me utterly wretched.

• = Absolutely nothing prevents me from being utterly wretched.

(2) when the statement is being challenged:

Quis īgnōrat ¦ quīn tria Graecōrum genera sint? 

• Who does not know ¦ that there are three types of Greeks?

[v] There are constructions which allow for a double negative; in these examples the original negative idea of quīn can be translated:

Nēmō est ¦ quīn hoc sciat.

• There is nobody ¦ who does not know this = Everybody knows this.

Nūllus est ¦ quīn hoc videat.

• There is no one ¦ who does not see this = Everybody sees this.

Nihil est ¦ quīn intellegī possit.

• There is nothing ¦ that cannot be understood = Everything can be understood.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [86] dependent uses [13] comparative clauses

[1] quasi; tamquam; tamquam sī; velut (sī); ac sī; ut sī

All of the above mean ‘as if’ or ‘as though’ and can introduce clauses of comparison. When used with a subjunctive verb, they express a comparison that is not factual but imagined or supposed or unreal.

We’ll begin with examples of quasi from Plautus.

The English prefix quasi-, derived from Latin, conveys that something is almost, but not completely, the thing described or it resembles something else: The school uniform is quasi-military in style, i.e. it has a military appearance, or it can almost be compared to a military uniform.

[2] In the quotations below, the speaker is not saying the comparison is true, only that the situation seems that way.

[i] The subjunctive is normally present or perfect:

Sepultust [= sepultus est] quasi sit mortuus (Plautus)

• He’s been buried as if he were dead.

Sedent quasi sint frūgī (Plautus)

• They sit as if they were worthy men.

Vērum quasi adfuerim tamen simulābō (Plautus)

• Oh well, I'll pretend that [literally: as if] I had been there just the same.

Obsecrō ēcastor, quid tū mē dērīdiculī grātiā sīc salūtās atque appellās, quasi dūdum nōn vīderīs quasique nunc prīmum recipiās tē domum hūc ex hostibus? (Plautus)

• I beg you, by Castor, why are you greeting and addressing me like this just for the sake of a joke—as if you hadn’t seen me for a long time, and as if you were only now coming back home here from the enemy for the first time?

There are, however, examples where the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive may be used in primary sequences although they are rare.

Aequē ā tē petō ac sī mea negōtia essent (Cicero)

• I entreat you as much as if they were my affairs.

Eius negōtium sīc velim suscipiās ut sī esset rēs mea (Cicero)

• I would like you to undertake his business as if it were my affair.

[ii] The subjunctive is imperfect or pluperfect if the sequence of tenses is secondary (historic):

Aedēs [plural] tōtae cōnfulgēbant tuae, quasi essent aureae (Plautus)

• Your whole house was shining just as if it were gold.

[iii] Note: in general, do not be misled by English translations. In many of the examples above ‘were’ e.g. ‘as if he were’ is an actual English subjunctive form rather than a simple past tense.

Sepultust [= sepultus est] quasi sit mortuus (Plautus)

• He’s been buried as if he were dead.

Aedēs [plural] tōtae cōnfulgēbant tuae, quasi essent aureae (Plautus)

• Your whole house was shining just as if it were gold.

These sentences could equally translate as “as if he is dead” and “as if it was gold”, but more formal / precise English style would prefer ‘were’. You will see this in some of the examples below.

[3] Further examples:

Sed quid ego hīs testibus ūtor quasi rēs dubia aut obscūra sit?

• But why do I use these witnesses, as if the matter were doubtful or obscure? (Cicero)

Tam quasi mē ēmerīs argentō, … serviam tibi (Plautus; slightly adapted)

• I will serve you as though you had bought me for money.

Nihil est: tamquam sī claudus sim (Plautus)

• It’s no good: (it’s) as if I were lame.

Hoc ergō sīc audiēmus, tamquam sī dīcerēs … (Quintilian)

• Therefore, we shall listen to this as if you were saying …

ille … īnsolentissimus adulēscēns obticuit, tamquam sī … ab Hērōde in eum ipsum dicta essent. (Gellius)

• That very arrogant youth was mute, just as if all of this had been said… against himself by Herodes.

Sed, quotiēnscumque occurret memoria illōrum, velut sī adhortantēs signumque dantēs videātis eōs, ita proelia inīre (Livy)

• But, whenever the memory of them comes up, just as if you saw them urging you on and giving the signal, go into battle in this way. [Again, note the English use of saw; ‘see’ would also be correct as would ‘as if you were to see…]

Velut sī prōlāpsus cecidisset, terram ōsculō contigit (Livy)

• As if, having slipped forward, he had fallen, he touched the earth with a kiss

Tantus metus patrēs cēpit velut sī iam ad portās hostis esset (Livy)

• Such great fear overcame the senators as if the enemy were already at the gates.

Quae ubi vīdit audīvitque senex, velut sī iam agendīs quae audiēbat interesset, āmēns metū (Livy)

• When the old man saw and heard that, (he was) beside himself with fear, as if he were already present at the execution of the plan which he was listening to.

Ut sī medicus … īrāscī velit (Cicero)

• (It’s) as if a doctor wanted to get angry …

Velim domum ad tē scrībās … ac sī ipse adessēs (Cicero)

• I would like you to write home … just as though you were there.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [85] dependent uses [12] proviso

[1] The conjunction dum has an additional meaning not included in the previous section. We’ll begin with the famous quotation from Accius beloved by all tyrants:

Ōderint dum metuant │ Let them hate provided that they fear.

This is an example of a proviso clause.

[i] A proviso clause sets a specific and necessary condition that must be fulfilled for the action in the main clause to take place.

[ii] It is most commonly translated as ‘provided that’ although ‘as long as’ can convey the same idea.

[iii] It is introduced by:

dum

modo

dummodo (or dum modo)

[iv] The verb in the clause of proviso is in the subjunctive.

Licet enim lascīvīre, dum nihil metuās (Cicero)

• You may enjoy yourself provided that you have nothing to fear [literally: you fear nothing]

Modo Iuppiter adsit … (Vergil)

• Provided that Jupiter is present …

Modo inter mē atque tē mūrus intersit (Cicero)

• Provided that only the wall is between me and you.

Sed est tantī, dummodo ista sit prīvāta calamitās (Cicero)

• But it is worthwhile provided that this misfortune is private.

Dummodo sit dīves barbarus ille placet (Ovid)

• Provided that he is wealthy, that foreigner is pleasing.

Dum modo mōrāta rēctē veniat, dōtāta est satis (Plautus)

• So long as / provided that she comes with the right morals, that is dowry enough.

Ingenuamne an lībertīnam? / Aequī istūc faciō, dum modo eam dēs quae sit quaestuōsa (Plautus)

• Freeborn or freedwoman? / Either is fine with me provided you give me one who’s after money.

Dum modo doleant aliquid, doleant quidlibet (Cicero)

• Provided that / so long as they suffer something, let them suffer anything.

adprobātor certē fuistī, dum modo Kal. Ian. Rōmae essem (Cicero)

• You were certainly agreeable [literally: somebody who agrees (noun)] provided I was in Rome on January 1^st.

[2]

Negative proviso clauses will include nē:

Id faciat saepe, dum nē lassus fīat (Cato)

• Let him do this often provided he does not become tired.

Nūbant, dum dōs nē fīat comes (Plautus)

• Let them marry, provided their dowry doesn't go along with them [literally: does not become a companion]

[3]

Note these examples from Cicero where a proviso clause is expressed, but the verb is not used:

Rescrībēs igitur, quicquid volēs, dum modo aliquid.

• So, write back, whatever you want, provided (it is) something.

Tū mihi, etiamsī nihil erit, quod scrībās, … tamen id ipsum scrībās velim, tē nihil habuisse, quod scrīberēs, dum modo nē hīs verbīs.

• As for you, even if you have nothing to write, … I would nevertheless like you to write that you had nothing to write, provided you don't use those very words [literally: as long as not with those words]

Level 3+; Subjunctive [84] dependent uses [11] dum / dōnec / quoad (2) practice

Apart from completing the Latin quotations with the verbs listed below, the purpose of this exercise is to illustrate a point that was made at a very early stage when the lengthy topic of the subjunctive began.

At times, English can convey subjunctive ideas with the use of auxiliary verbs such as “could”, “might”, “may”, and “would”. Professional translations will very often do this if it is stylistically appropriate i.e. it does not sound clumsy or archaic. However, that is not guaranteed and the examples below show, at this level, where you need to consider the thinking that underpins the usage of moods. In [A] the actions are presented as factual, whereas in [B] the actions are treated as prospective i.e. they refer to actions that are expected or intended.

[A] Indicative

[i] There was silence until he returned.

Dōnec __________ silentium fuit (Livy)

[ii] While these things are being done, your father is brought alongside in a very small boat; and nobody has caught sight of the man until he boards the ship.

Dum haec __________, lembō advehitur tuus pater pauxillulō, neque quisquam hominem cōnspicātust [ = cōnspicātus est], dōnec in nāvem __________ (Plautus)

[iii] I was anxious until the moment when we came to challenge the jurors.

Ūsque eō timuī dōnec ad reiciendōs iūdicēs __________ (Cicero)

[iv] But if I cannot completely persuade you, at least (wait) until what we are doing about Spain is known

Quod sī tōtum tibi persuādēre nōn possum, saltem, dum, quid dē Hispāniīs agāmus, __________ (Cicero)

[v] For, while I was dealing with that … I was as if nurturing my own pains

Nam, dum illud __________ … quasi fovēbam dolōrēs meōs (Cicero)

[vi] As long as the king was with me ….

Quoad mēcum rēx __________… (Cicero)

[vii] Take a look at our house whenever you can [ = as long as you will be able].

Domum nostram, quoad __________, invīsās (Cicero)

[viii] As long as you wish me to hope, I shall comply with your wishes.

Quoad mē vōs spērāre __________, vōbīs obtemperābō (Cicero)

[ix] I have all the account books both of this man and of his father, and I have read and studied them with utmost care — of the father for as long as he lived, yours for as long as you say you kept them.

Habeō et ipsīus et patris eius acceptī tabulās omnīs, quās dīligentissimē lēgī atque dīgessī, patris, quoad __________, tuās, quoad __________ tē cōnfēcisse (Cicero)

[x] They remained at Rome until Lucius Metellus set out for the province.

Rōmae fuērunt quoad L. Metellus in prōvinciam __________ (Cicero)

aguntur; ais; fuit; poteris; profectus est; rediit; scītur; subit; tractābam; vēnimus; vīxit; vultis

[B] Subjunctive; examples with dōnec + subjunctive are rare

[i] Now, don’t wait for me to return [literally: until I return] home by this street.

Nunc nē expectētis, dum hāc domum __________ viā (Plautus)

[ii] The matter will be solved in the blink of an eye [literally: by the time you sneeze]

Dum tū __________, rēs erit solūta (Plautus)

[iii] And so I sat down in the middle of the road until I could write out a summary of these things for you.

Itaque subsēdī in ipsā viā, dum haec… summātim tibi __________ (Cicero)

[iv] And I have not moved from Thessalonica …until you (could / might) write something to me about him.

He ought to have been a little quieter until he received a reply [literally: until replies were brought back]

Dēbuit esse paulō quiētior, dum respōnsa __________ (Cicero)

[v] For I did not have to wait until he returned from Cosa.

Nōn enim ego … illum expectāre, dum dē Cosānō __________, dēbuī, (Cicero)

[vi] As I had decided to await Pomptinus, I thought it most convenient, until he arrived, to spend the days with Pompey.

Nec mē Thessalonīcā commōvī … quoad aliquid ad mē dē eō __________ (Cicero)

[vii] Quod Pomptīnum statueram exspectāre, commodissimum dūxī diēs eōs, quoad ille __________, cum Pompēiō cōnsūmere (Cicero)

[viii] He will need to hold out until Pompey arrives.

Erit ad sustentandum, quoad Pompēius __________ (Cicero)

[ix] Continue to feed clover until it dries out

Usque ōcinum datō, dōnec __________ (Cato)

[x] When Pompey was arriving, the townspeople allowed him to approach nearer and nearer, until he came close to the very gates and the wall.

Pompēiō adveniente oppidānī usque eō passī propius accēdere, dōnec ad ipsās portās ac mūrum __________ (Bellum Africum)

adpropinquāret; ārēscat; perscrīberem; redeam; redīret; referrentur; scrīberēs; sternuās; veniat; venīret

____________________

[A]

[i] rediit

[ii] aguntur; subit

[iii] vēnimus

[iv] scītur

[v] tractābam

[vi] fuit

[vii] poteris

[viii] vultis

[ix] vīxit; ais

[x] profectus est

[B]

[i] redeam

[ii] sternuās

[iii] perscrīberem

[iv] referrentur

[v] redīret

[vi] scrīberēs

[vii] venīret

[viii] veniat

[ix] ārēscat

[x] adpropinquāret 

Level 3+; Subjunctive [83] dependent uses [11] dum / dōnec / quoad (1)

dum; dōnec; quoad

[1] All three are conjunctions meaning ‘until’ or ‘as long as’ and introduce a subordinate clause of time.

[2] The use and meaning of ‘dum’ extends beyond [1]; there will be additional information on ‘dum’ in the next section of dependent uses

dum

while

[i] 2 actions taking place simultaneously or overlapping in time e.g. While X was happening, I was doing Y / Y happened

Dum spīrō ¦ spērō (Latin phrase)

• While I breathe ¦ I hope.

Dum erō Lāodicēae (Cicero)

• While I am [shall be] at Laodicea …

Dum hī apud mē sunt (Cicero)

• While these people are around me …

Tū, sī quid dē Hispāniīs certius et sī quid aliud, dum adsumus, scrībēs (Cicero)

• If you get more certain news about Spain or any other matter, write and tell me while I am here

Ego, dum pānis et cētera in nāvem parantur, excurrō in Pompēiānum (Cicero)

• While bread and provisions are being put on board, I am going off to my estate at Pompeii. 

Dum ades, quicquid prōvidērī poterit, prōvidē (Cicero)

• While you’re here, see to whatever arrangements can be made.

Ego, dum in prōvinciā omnibus rēbus Appium ōrnō, subitō sum factus accūsātōris eius socer (Cicero)

• While in my province I show Appius every honour, I’ve suddenly become father-in-law of his accuser.

Quamquam istōs ferre nōn possum, quī, dum sē pācem velle simulant, ācta nefāria dēfendunt (Cicero)

• However, I cannot put up with those people who, while they pretend that they want peace, defend criminal actions.

[ii] Unlike English, dum in this context is often with the present tense even if the verb in the main clause is in a past tense; this gives a more ‘immediate’ feel. However, past tenses may also be used:

Alexim … nisi forte dum ego absum [present], adulēscēns factus est … salvēre iubeās velim (Cicero)

• Please remember me to Alexis … unless perhaps while I have been away, he has become a man

Sed, dum redeō [present], Hortēnsius vēnerat (Cicero)

• But while I was returning, Hortensius had come.

Tamen, dum impendēre Parthī vidēbantur, statueram frātrem relinquere (Cicero)

• Still, while the Parthians seemed threatening, I had decided to leave my brother in charge.

(2) until

[i] In English translation the distinction between ‘while’ and ‘until’ may not always be clear.

Ēligās cēnseō aliquod oppidum vacuum ā bellō, dum haec dēcernuntur (Cicero)

• I think you should choose some town remote from the war, until these matters are settled.

Or: …while these matters are being settled

However, it is best to determine whether the writer is referring to an event in the future – an end point – as opposed to something that is taking place at the same time.

Ego in Arcānō opperior, dum ista cognōscō (Cicerō)

• I stay in Arcanum until I find out these things.

i.e. Cicero is waiting for information to arrive

[ii] Like antequam and priusquam, dum can be followed a verb in [A] the indicative, or [B] the subjunctive.

[A] Indicative: there is no sense of “expectancy” or “intention” i.e. the speaker considers the action to be factual even if it has not yet happened.

Dēlīberā hoc dum ego redeō (Terence)

Think about this until I get back.

Nōn putō tē exspectāre dum scrībam (Cicero)

I don’t think you are waiting until I write [ = for me to write].

Exspectā, amābō tē, dum Atticum conveniam (Cicero)

• Please wait until I meet Atticus.

Manēbō, dum spēs pācis erit (Cicero)

• I shall wait until there is [will be] hope of peace.

Dum anima est, spēs esse dīcitur (Cicero)

• It is said that as long as there is life, there is hope.

[B] Subjunctive: the action is intended, or expected, or not yet completed

Exspectās fortasse dum dīcat (Cicero)

• Perhaps you’re waiting for him to say [literally: … you are expecting that he may say]

Dum hic nōdus expediātur, nōn putet senātus nōs … oportēre dēcēdere (Cicero)

• Until this problem is unravelled, the Senate may not think it right for me to leave.

Lupus observāvit dum dormitārent canēs (Plautus)

• The wolf kept watch until the dogs were dozing.

Comitia dīlāta [sunt] dum lēx ferrētur (Cicero)

• The elections were delayed until a law could be passed.

Dum rēs cōnficerētur, procul in praesidiō fuit (Nepos)

• Until the matter could be completed, he was far away on guard duty.

Nōn exspectāvī, dum mihi ā tē litterae redderentur (Cicero)

• I did not wait until a letter was returned from you to me [ = I did not wait for your reply to my letter].

dōnec / quoad

[i] Both have the same meaning of dum as ‘until’ or ‘as long as’

[ii] Like dum, both can be followed by [A] the indicative or [B] the subjunctive

[A] The speaker considers the action to be factual even if it has not yet happened.

Haud dēsinam dōnec perfēcerō hoc (Terence)

• I will not stop until I (shall) have finished this.

Nē quōquam exsurgātis, dōnec ā mē erit signum datum (Plautus)

• Don’t get up (to go) anywhere until the signal has [will have] been given by me.

Dōnec grātus eram tibī ... Persārum viguī rēge beātior (Horace)

• As long as I was pleasing to you, I flourished more blessed than the king of the Persians.

Nōn faciam fīnem rogandī quoad nōbīs nūntiātum erit tē id fēcisse (Cicero)

• I shan't stop asking until I hear [literally: …until it will have been reported to us] that you have done it.

Milō ... in senātū fuisset eō diē quoad senātus est dīmissus (Cicero)

• Milo had been in the senate on that day until the senate was dismissed.

Quoad potuit, fortissimē restitit (Caesar)

• As long as he was able, he put up a very brave resistance.

Tulit haec cīvitās quoad potuit, quoad necesse fuit (Cicero)

• This state endured it as long as it could, as long as it was necessary.

[B] The action is intended, or expected, or not yet completed

Thrāces nihil sē movērunt, dōnec Rōmānī trānsīrent (Livy)

• The Thracians did not move at all, until the Romans had crossed.

Iubet [historical present] Sp. Larcium ad portam Collīnam stāre dōnec hostis praetereat (Livy)

• He ordered Spurius Larcius to stand at the Colline Gate until the enemy passed by.

An id exspectāmus, quoad nē vestīgium quidem Asiae cīvitātum atque urbium relinquātur? (Cicero)

• Shall we wait for this until not even a trace is left of the states and cities of Asia?