Level 3+; Subjunctive [28] independent uses; subjunctives working together

[1] The words are a Christian formula closely associated with St. Benedict and the Benedictine order. It is meant to fend off the devil and his temptations.

Note: Satanās, -ae [1/m]: Satan; the Devil; a Greek type noun with a separate vocative form: Satanā

Crux sacra sit mihi lūx │ May the holy cross be my light

Nōn dracō sit mihi dux │ May not the serpent be my guide

Vade retrō Satanā, │ Move back, Satan,

Numquam suādē mihi vāna │ Never promote your vanities to me

Sunt mala quae lībās, │ What [the things] you pour out is [are] evil,

Ipse venēna bibās │ May you drink / you should drink / drink the poison(s) yourself.

[2] The student song: Gaudeāmus igitur

We’ve looked at separate verses; now we put it together

V1

Gaudeāmus igitur, │ Let us, therefore, rejoice

Iuvenēs dum sumus,

Gaudeāmus igitur,

Iuvenēs dum sumus!

Post iūcundam iuventūtem,

Post molestam senectūtem,

Nōs habēbit humus,

Nōs habēbit humus.

V2

Ubi sunt quī ante nōs

In mundō fuēre

Ubī sunt quī ante nōs

In mundō fuēre

V3

Abeās ad īnferōs, │ May you go away to the underworld,

Trānseās ad superōs │ May you cross over to the heavens

Quōs sī vīs vidēre

Quōs sī vīs vidēre

Vīvat Acadēmia, │ May the Academy live [= long live the Academy]

Vīvant professōrēs, │ May the professors live [= long live the professors]

Vīvat Acadēmia,

Vīvant professōrēs,

Vīvat membrum quodlibet, │ May each member live

Vīvant membra quaelibet, │ May all members live

Semper sint in flōre! │ May they always be in bloom!

Semper sint in flōre!

 

Level 3+; Subjunctive [27] independent uses [5] optative [iv] practice

[1] with the present subjunctive [wishing that something would (not) happen]

Utinam valeās. │ If only you would be strong.

Utinam nē haesitem. │ If only I would not hesitate.

1. Utinam nē dēspērēs.
2. Utinam Lēda ad Galliam veniat.
3. Utinam vincās.
4. Utinam nē doleam.
5. Utinam Calpurnia adsit.
6. Utinam ad Graeciam veniās.
7. Utinam Diāna appāreat.
8. Utinam nē Medūsa timeat.
9. Utinam tibi liceat discēdere.
10. Utinam praesīs.

[2] with the imperfect subjunctive [wishing that something were (not) happening now]:

Utinam potentior essem. │ Would that I were / if only I were more powerful.

1. Utinam Claudia in Italiā studēret.
2. Utinam nē furerēs.
3. Utinam aquam habērēs.
4. Utinam nē timērēs.
5. Utinam domī tempus agerem.
6. Utinam ille potestātem habēret.
7. Utinam illa esset validior.
8. Utinam nē dolērēs.
9. Utinam mihi licēret discēdere.
10. Utinam in Hispāniā prandērem.

[3] with the pluperfect subjunctive [wishing that something had (not) happened]:

Utinam vēnissent. │ If only they had come.

1. Utinam nē āfuissēs.
2. Utinam Carthāginem vēnissem.
3. Utinam perītior fuissēs.
4. Utinam domina fuisset sapientior.
5. Utinam nē discessissēs.
6. Utinam audācior fuissem.
7. Utinam nē rēx dēspērāvisset.
8. Utinam domum vēnissēs.
9. Utinam nē fūgissēs.
10. Utinam mātrī licuisset abīre.

____________________

[1]

1. If only you would not despair.
2. If only Leda would come to Gaul.
3. If only you would win.
4. If only I would not suffer.
5. If only Calpurnia would be present.
6. If only you would come to Greece.
7. If only Diana would appear.
8. If only Medusa would not be afraid.
9. If only it would be permitted to you to depart = If only you’d be allowed to depart.
10. If only you would be in charge.

[2]

1. Would that / if only Claudia were studying in Italy.
2. Would that / if only you were not raging.
3. Would that / if only you had water.
4. Would that / if only you were not afraid.
5. Would that / if only I were spending time at home.
6. Would that / if only he had power.
7. Would that / if only she were stronger.
8. Would that / if only you were not suffering.
9. Would that / if only it were permitted for me to depart.
10. Would that / if only I were having lunch in Spain.

[3]

1. Would that / if only you had not been away.
2. Would that / if only I had come to Carthage.
3. Would that / if only you had been more skillful.
4. Would that / if only the mistress had been wiser.
5. Would that / if only you had not departed.
6. Would that / if only I had been bolder.
7. Would that / if only the king had not despaired.
8. Would that / if only you had come home.
9. Would that / if only you had not fled.
10. Would that / if only it had been permitted for the mother to depart.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [26] independent uses [5] optative [iii] Latin tutorial

The optative is a very good example of the way in which different tenses of the subjunctive convey different meanings

Utinam veniat! │ If only he would come i.e. the speaker is referring to a hope for the future

Utinam venīret! │ If only he were coming (now) i.e. a wish for something to happen in the present

Utinam vēnisset! │ If only he had come; in grammar, this can be called contrary-to-fact i.e. what is wished for can no longer happen

Level 3+; Subjunctive [25] independent uses [5] optative [ii] pluperfect subjunctive

[1] Compare:

Present subjunctive: Utinam veniat │ If only he would come (referring to the future)

Imperfect subjunctive: Utinam venīret │ If only he were coming (now i.e. referring to the present)

Pluperfect subjunctive: Utinam vēnisset │ If only he had come (referring to the past)

The pluperfect subjunctive in this context expresses a contrary to fact idea i.e. it is a wish for something that did not happen:

Utinam tē vīdissem │ If only I had seen you (but I didn’t)

Utinam vēnissēs │ If only you had come (but you didn’t)

[2] From the authors:

Ō utinam in thalamōs invīsī Caesaris īssem (Lucanus) │ O, if only I had gone into the chambers of hated Caesar.

Utinam tēcum fuissem, pater (Seneca the Elder) │ If only I had been with you, father

Utinam intervēnissem (Seneca the Elder) │ If only I had intervened

Utinam et illōs servāre potuissem (Seneca the Elder) │ Would that I had been able to save them too.

Sed utinam tantum ego eī prōdesse potuissem … (Cicero) │ But would that I had been able to help him as much …

Utinam … propius tē accessissem (Cicero) │ How I wish I had got nearer to you

Sīc faciendum est, tibi enim ipsī (cui utinam semper pāruissem!) sīc videō placēre (Cicero) │ It must be done this way, for I see it thus pleases you yourself (whom I wish I had always obeyed).

Ruere et aequārī solō utinam arcuissem (Seneca the Younger) │ Would that I had prevented (it) from collapsing and being leveled to the ground.

Utinam iam ante vīdissēs neque tōtum animum tuum errōrī mēcum simul dedissēs (Cicero) │ If only you had seen (it) before, and had not given your whole mind to error together with me

Utinam mē mortuum vīdissēs (Cicero) │ Would that you had seen me dead

Utinam crēdibilia fīnxissēs! (Quintilianus) │ If only you had made up credible (things / stories)!

… mihi vērō mēns integra est. Atque utinam tam in perīculō fuisset (Cicero) │ My mind, indeed, is pure. And would that it had been so in such danger

Quod utinam ipse fēcisset (Quintilianus) │ If only he had done it himself.

Utinam istuc pugnī fēcissent tuī (Plautus) │ If only your fists had done that

Utinam illud nōn verē respondissent (Apuleius Madaurensis) │ If only they had not answered that truthfully

Rōmānīs utinam patuissent castra puellīs! (Propertius) │ If only camps had been open to Roman girls! [ = Would that camps admitted Roman girls!]

Level 3+; Subjunctive [24] independent uses [5] optative [i] present and imperfect subjunctive

From La: optō, -āre [1]: wish

We’ll begin again with some lines from the student song Gaudeāmus igitur. This is what the students wish to happen.

Vīvat Acadēmia, │ May the Academy live [= long live the Academy]

Vīvant professōrēs, │ May the professors live [= long live the professors]

Vīvat Acadēmia,

Vīvant professōrēs,

Vīvat membrum quodlibet, │ May each member live

Vīvant membra quaelibet, │ May all members live

Semper sint in flōre! │ May they always be in bloom!

Semper sint in flōre!

Alternative versions have the following lines:

Pereat trīstitia, │ May sorrow perish,

Pereant ōsōrēs, │ May the haters perish,

Pereat diabolus, │ May the devil perish,

[1] The optative subjunctive is used to express wishes or hopes.

In English, statements such as May he rest in peace or May all your wishes come true can be expressed in Latin using the present subjunctive, for example:

Requiēscat in pāce│ May he rest in peace

May you learn the optative subjunctive from the King!

Vīvat rēgīna / rēx │ Literally: May the Queen / King live = Long live the Queen / King

From the coronation of Charles III and the Queen Consort (with a real OMG! Look on her face) in Westminster Abbey; Anglicised / English ceremonial Latin pronunciation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxMTI1YbAxw

The construction is most often used with utinam (if only):

Utinam veniat │ If only he would come; the present subjunctive expresses a wish for the future i.e. wishing that something would happen

Utinam mīlitēs vincant │ If only the soldiers would win.

Utinam fēlīx sīs │ Literally: if only you would be happy; would that you may be happy > I hope you may be happy

[2] The negative optative is formed with nē (although it sometimes can be found with nōn):

Utinam nē hoc accidat │ If only this would not happen

[3] Translations may vary from the ‘model’ above, but they still all express the idea of wishing or hoping.

From Plautus:

Dī immortālēs, utinam conveniam domī Periphanem │ By the immortal gods, if only I could meet Periphanes at home

Utinam mea mihi modo auferam, quae adtuli, salva │ If only I might just carry off my own things, which I brought, safe

Utinam audīre nōn queās │ If only you couldn’t hear

Utinam nunc stimulus in manū mihi sit. │ Literally: If only an ox goad would be in my hand now = Oh, if I could only get hold of an ox goad now!

From Cicero:

Utinam illum diem videam │ If only I may see that day / Would that I may see that day

Utinam quidem Antōnium conveniam │ If only / I wish I could meet Antony

Utinam prōficere possim │ If only I could make progress

Utinam modo cōnāta efficere possim │ If only I could just accomplish what I’ve attempted

Atque utinam continuō ad complexum meae Tulliae, … possim currere │ And I only wish I could run straight to the embraces of my Tullia

Quamquam dē ipsā Siciliā utinam sit vērum │ However, I do hope the news about Sicily may prove true

Atque utinam ipse Varro incumbat in causam! │ If only Varro himself were to / I only wish Varro himself would throw his weight into my cause

Utinam … Cotta Sardiniam teneat │ I only hope Cotta may hold Sardinia

Utinam īdem maneat Hortēnsius │ If only Hortensius may stay the same [in context: … may keep the same mind]

Atque utinam potius per populum agat quam per senātum │ And if only he would act through the people rather than through the Senate

Take a second look at the Cicero quotations above: all of them use the present subjunctive and all of them refer to Cicero’s hopes / wishes for something in the future. 

[2] A common phrase on a holiday postcard is “Wish you were here” i.e. English uses ‘were’ to express a situation that the speaker / writer wants to exist now in the present.

Latin does the same: it uses an imperfect subjunctive to convey a wish for something to be happening now, but isn’t; in grammar this is sometimes referred to as an unreal or hypothetical  present.

Utinam hīc nunc essēs, mī amīce. │ If only you were here now, my friend

Utinam mē intellegere posset. │ Would that he could understand me!

Utinam rēs melior esset. │ If only the situation were better

Utinam nōs līberī essēmus! │ If only we were free!

Utinam nē vērē scrīberem! │ If only I were not writing truthfully!

Utinam rēx Eumenēs, utinam Asiae omnēs cīvitātēs adessent (Livy) │ If only King Eumenes, if only all the cities of Asia were present.

From Plautus:

Homō hic ēbrius est, ut opīnor. │ The man is drunk, I do believe

Utinam ita essem. │ I wish I was [ = literally: If only I were (now)]

Utinam lēx esset eadem quae uxōrī est virō │ Would that the law were the same for the woman as it is for the man / If only the law were / would be the same for the wife as for the husband.

From Cicero:

Utinam meō sōlum capite dēcernerem (Cicero) │ Literally: If only I were deciding with my head alone = Would that I had only to decide for myself

Utinam ulcisci possem (Cicero) │ I wish I could take my revenge

Iterum dīcō “utinam adessēs” (Cicero) │ I repeat, I wish you were here [ = if only you were here].

Quod utinam ita esset! (Cicero) │ And if only that were true / so

Level 3+; Subjunctive [21] independent uses [4] potential [ii]

KEY POINTS: Potential Subjunctive

• expresses a possible or conceivable action or judgment, not a statement of fact
• often corresponds in english to might, could, would, should, or may, typically expressing opinion or hypothetical assessment

Tense usage

[i] Present subjunctive

expresses present or future potential: what might be thought, said, or done now or at some future moment.

[ii] Perfect subjunctive

• expresses potential in much the same way as the present
• often little practical distinction between present and perfect subjunctive in potential uses

[iii] imperfect subjunctive

• expresses hypothetical or unreal circumstances, often referring to an imagined situation rather than simple uncertainty about a past fact
• commonly translated with would or could, and may describe an imagined past experience, not an actual event

Level 3+; Subjunctive [20] independent uses [4] potential [i]

The potential subjunctive is an independent use of the subjunctive that expresses a possible or conceivable action. It often corresponds in English to might, could, would, should, or may, typically in the sense of opinion or hypothetical action rather than statement of fact.

[1] Present Subjunctive: present / future (often general) potential

The present subjunctive expresses what might be thought or done, often in a general or timeless sense, not necessarily tied to a specific future moment.

Contrast with the indicative (statement of fact):

Quis hoc putat? │ Who thinks this?

Subjunctive:

Quis hoc putet? │ Who would think this?

Aliquis dīcat (Terence) │ Someone may say.

Nōn ausim id facere │ I would not dare to do this.

Fortūnam citius reperiās quam retineās. (Publius Syrus) │ You may sooner find fortune than (you may) keep it.

Crēdās nōn dē puerō scrīptum sed ā puerō (Pliny) │ You would think that it was written not about a boy but by a boy.

Note the use of forsitan, which can be a “marker” of a potential subjunctive.

Forsitan hoc etiam gaudeat ipsa cinis (Calvus) │ Perhaps the very ash may rejoice in this.

Forsitan quaerātis… (Cicero) │ Perhaps you may ask …

Forsitan occurrat illud │ That may perhaps happen.

Biting example from Cicero:

“Domum,” inquit, “ēmistī.” “Putēs,” inquam, “dīcere: Iūdicēs ēmistī.”
“You’ve bought a house,” he said. “One might think,” I said, “you meant to say: You bought the judges.”

[2] Perfect subjunctive: tentative Assertion / Modest Judgment

The perfect subjunctive can express the same idea as the present, often conveying tentative, cautious, or modest assertion rather than a factual statement.

Dīxerim pauca │ I could say a few things

Crēdiderim │ I should believe.

Id fēcerīs │ You could do this.

Aliquis dīxerit │ Somebody might say.

In this context it often expresses a rather tentative idea:

Dixerim hoc satis esse │ I would say that’s enough.

Dē istō hactenus dīxerim (Cicero) │ Literally: Thus far I may say about this =  I need only say this much.

Not every sentence fits the “rules”: in the next example, the perfect subjunctive conveys a tentative statement about a past action rather than the usual present or future potential:

Forsitan temerē fēcerim (Cicero) │ Perhaps I may have acted rashly.

[3] Imperfect Subjunctive: hypothetical / unreal circumstances

The prisoners in Kander and Ebb’s “Chicago” – justifying the murders of their partners – sing (in bold) a further example of a potential subjunctive!

If you had been there

If you had seen it

I bet you, you would have done the same.

(Cell Block Tango)

Take away the “if’s”:

“You would have done the same.” Even on its own, that sentence refers to unreal circumstances.

Pliny expresses the same idea with the imperfect subjunctive:

Audīrēs ululātūs fēminārum, infantum quirītātūs, clāmōrēs virōrum (Pliny) │ You would have heard the wailing of women, the shrieks of children, the shouting of men.

Here, Pliny is describing what someone would have experienced if they had been present during the Vesuvius eruption.

The imperfect subjunctive (audīrēs) expresses the past hypothetical / unreal circumstances, just like the English example.

The imperfect subjunctive expresses what might have happened in the past, under unreal or hypothetical circumstances. The action did not actually occur; it is purely imagined.

Present subjunctive: Crēdās eum hominem bonum esse │ You might believe that he is a good man.

Imperfect subjunctive: Crēderēs eum hominem bonum esse │ You might have believed that he was a good man.

Other examples:

Crēderēs victōs (Livy) │ You would have thought them defeated.

Reōs dīcerēs (Livy) │  You would have said they were culprits.

Vidērēs susurrōs (Horace)│ You might have seen them whispering.

Cēnam coquerēs │ You could have cooked the dinner.

[4] Important Note: as you learn more tenses and uses of the subjunctive, you will see that a single subjunctive form can have different interpretations depending on context.

Example: Vīvāmus Rōmae

[i] Hortatory: Let’s live in Rome

[ii] Potential: We could live in Rome

Context determines whether the speaker is urging action (hortatory) or expressing potential.

Similarly:

Maneās in villā meā

[i] Jussive: You may / should stay in my house; Stay in my house: giving a command or strong suggestion. The speaker wants this to happen.

[ii] Potential: You could stay in my house: expressing possibility or hypothetical action. The speaker is considering or stating what could happen, without urging it.

Id fēcerīs

[i] Jussive: You may / should do this.

[ii] Potential: You could do this.

However, at this stage, it is best not to go into too much detail or interpret subtle nuances based on context. It is enough to be aware that such nuances exist.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [19] independent uses [3] deliberative [v] Latin tutorial

KEY POINTS: deliberative subjunctive

• from dēlīberō, -āre [1]: weigh carefully, consider, debate
• Used in direct questions to express mental weighing or hesitation about what action should be (or should have been) taken.
• Present subjunctive: deliberation occurring now (current or future consideration)
• Imperfect subjunctive: deliberation that occurred then (consideration in the past)
• The perfect subjunctive is not used for deliberation, because dēlīberāre describes a mental process that happens before an action, not after it.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [18] independent uses [3] deliberative [iv] with the imperfect subjunctive; practice

Example: Quid scrīberēmus? │ What were we (supposed) to write? / What should we have written?

1. Quid dīcerem?
2. Quid illī facerent?
3. Quō festīnārem?
4. Quem praeficeret Catullus?
5. Cui crēderēmus?
6. Quō illa fugeret?
7. Quid facerent rēgīnae?
8. Fugerēmusne?
9. Quem illī vītārent?
10. Quid facerēmus?

____________________

1. What was I to say? / What should I have said?
2. What were they (supposed) to do? / What should they have done?
3. To where was I (supposed) to hurry? / Where should I have hurried to?
4. Whom should Catullus have put in charge? / Whom was Catullus (supposed) to put in charge?
5. Whom were we (supposed) to trust? / Whom should we have trusted?
6. Where should she have fled to? / To where was she (supposed) to flee?
7. What were the queens (supposed) to do? / What should the queens have done?
8. Were we to flee? / Should we have fled?
9. Whom should they have avoided? / Whom were they (supposed) to avoid?
10. What were we (supposed) to do? / What should we have done?

Level 3+; Subjunctive [17] independent uses [3] deliberative [iii] with the imperfect subjunctive

So far, we have only seen examples of the deliberative subjunctive usage with the present subjunctive. Here, we can see how the imperfect subjunctive is used:

Compare:

[i] Present subjunctive:

Quid dīcam? │ What am I (supposed) to say? / What should I say?

[ii] Imperfect subjunctive:

Quid dīcerem? (Cicero) │ What was I to say? / What should I have said?

An ego nōn venīrem? (Cicero) │ Should I not have come?

Quid facerem? │ What was I to do? / What should I have done?

Quid facerēmus? │ What were we to do? / What should we have done?

i.e. the imperfect subjunctive is used for past deliberation, often with a sense of frustration, helplessness, or hindsight.

Although such questions are often translated into English using “should have,” the perfect subjunctive is not used for deliberation in Latin, since deliberation takes place before an action is carried out, not after it.

Therefore, Latin chooses:

Present subjunctive: deliberation now

Imperfect subjunctive: deliberation then

Level 3+; Subjunctive [16] independent uses [3] deliberative [ii] practice

Example: Quem cōnsulat Tiberius? │ Whom should Tiberius consult? / Who is Tiberius (supposed) to consult?

1. Quō ambulem?
2. Quid scrībam?
3. Quid faciat Neptūnus?
4. Quō illa fugiat?
5. Quid dīcat eques?
6. Quem audiāmus?
7. Temptēmusne?
8. Fugiāmusne?
9. Quem illī iuvent?
10. Quō nāvigent mercātōrēs?

____________________

1. Where should I / am I (supposed) to walk?
2. What should I / am I (supposed) to write?
3. What is Neptune (supposed) to do? / What should …?
4. Where is she (supposed) to flee to?
5. What should the knight / is the knight (supposed) to say?
6. Whom should we / are we (supposed) to listen to?
7. Should we / are we (supposed) to try?
8. Should we / are we (supposed) to flee?
9. Whom should they / are they (supposed) to help?
10. Where should the merchants / are the merchants (supposed) to sail to?

Level 3+; Subjunctive [15] independent uses [3] deliberative [i]

From deliberō, -āre [1]: consider carefully; deliberate.

When we say, “What am I (supposed) to do?” or “What should / ought I to do?”, we are deliberating — that is, we express doubt or uncertainty about the correct course of action. The speaker may be addressing him- or herself, genuinely asking for guidance, or framing a rhetorical question (e.g. “What am I supposed to do?”). In Latin this kind of deliberation is expressed by the subjunctive.

Indicative: Quid facimus? │ What are we doing?

Subjunctive: Quid faciāmus? │ What are we to do / should we do?

Quid dīcam? │ What am I to say?

Quid faciam? │ What am I to do?

Huic cēdāmus! hūius condiciōnēs audiāmus! (Cicero)│ Are we to bow to him! Are we to listen to his terms!

Quid agam, iūdicēs? Quō mē vertam? (Cicero) │ What am I to do, judges? Where am I to turn to?

Etiamne eam salūtem? (Plautus) │ Am I to greet her?

Quid hōc homine faciās? Quod supplicium dīgnum libīdinī eius inveniās? │ What are you to do with this man? What fit penalty can you devise [lit: are you to find] for his wantonness?

The negative deliberative is constructed with nōn:

Hunc ego nōn dīligam? (Cicero) │ Should I not cherish this man?

Level 3+; Subjunctive [12] independent uses [2]; jussive [iii] negative / prohibitive; cavē + present subjunctive (2) practice

3^rd person singular / plural: let him / her / them not …; (s)he/ they should not

2^nd singular / plural: don’t; you should not

cavē nē: mind you don’t …; take care not to ….; beware of … ing

[a]

1. Nē in casā tempus aget.
2. Nē Aurēlia deam terreat.
3. Nē in urbe cēnētis.
4. Nē ad oppidum currās.
5. Nē crēdātis omnibus!
6. Nē illī per Germāniam eant.

[b]

1. Nē abierītis.
2. illam … excūsātiōnem nē accēperīs (Cicero)
3. Nē timuerīs.
4. Nē obdormīverītis.
5. Nē rīserīs.

[c] Complete the quotations with the appropriate phrase with cavē which, when used with the subjunctive, is telling somebody not to do something:

1. "Don't you do it," he told me │ "__________," inquit (Cicero)
2. For do not think that anybody is suffering at this time more than me │ Nam __________ hōc tempore plūs mē quemquam cruciārī (Cicero)
3. But take care not to despise his folly │ Sed eius dēmentiās __________ (Cicero)
4. [Be sure not to doubt that │ Illud __________ (Cicero)
5. Beware of wasting time on influence and glory │ Grātiae glōriaeque __________ tempus __________ (Cicero)
6. Mind you don’t hurry or make the mistake … │ __________ aut __________ (Cicero)

cavē … āmittās; cavē contemnās; cavē dubitēs; cavē faciās; cavē festinēs … committās; cavē putēs

____________________

[a]

1. Do not let her / him spend time in the cottage; (s)he should not spend time … [literally: let her / him not spend …];
2. Let Aurelia not frighten the goddess; Aurelia should not frighten …
3. Do not dine in the city.
4. Don’t / you should not run to the town.
5. Do not believe everyone!
6. Let them not go through Germany; they should not go …

[b]

1. Do not accept that excuse.
2. Don’t hurry.
3. Don’t be afraid.
4. Do not fall asleep.
5. Do not laugh.

[c]

1. "Cavē faciās," inquit (Cicero)
2. Nam cavē putēs hōc tempore plūs mē quemquam cruciārī (Cicero)
3. Sed eius dēmentiās cavē contemnās (Cicero)
4. Illud cavē dubitēs (Cicero)
5. Grātiae glōriaeque cavē tempus āmittās (Cicero)
6. Cavē festinēs aut committās (Cicero)

Level 3+; Subjunctive [11] independent uses [2] negative commands (prohibitions); jussive [iii] negative; cavē + present subjunctive (1)

Latin Negative Commands (Prohibitions)

In Latin, a prohibitive expresses a command telling someone not to do something. There are several main constructions to express this:

[1] nolī(te) + infintive

Literally: be unwilling (to do something); this is the most familiar way to give a negative command. It is the construction that has been used up to now and is not a subjunctive form.

nōlī hoc facere │ Don’t do this!

nōlīte mentīrī │ Don’t lie!

[2] nē + present / perfect subjunctive (negative jussive subjunctive)

The negative of the jussive subjunctive expresses “let him/her/them not…” and is equivalent to a prohibitive.

Form: nē + present subjunctive or perfect subjunctive (emphasizes immediacy, completeness, or politeness).

Compare with affirmative jussive:

id faciat │ Let him do it

nē id faciat │ Let him not do it / He should not do it

[i] Examples with present subjunctive:

Nē ex urbe discēdat │ Let her not depart from the city

Nē putēs tē sapientem esse │ Do not think you are wise

Nē metuās │ Do not fear

Nē repugnētis │ Do not resist

Nē ā flūmine fugiātis │ Do not flee from the river

More literary examples:

Quī in tēctō est, nē dēscendat tollere aliquid dē domō suā (Vulgate) │ He who is on the roof, let him not come down to take anything from his house

Nocte veniente nē puerī deforis ludant │ Since night is coming, don’t let the boys play outdoors / the boys should not play … [literally: let not the boys play … ]

Sed dē argumentō nē exspectētis fābulam (Plautus) │ But do not expect the plot of the story

Et ait angelus eī: Nē timeās… (Vulgate) │ And the angel said to her: Do not be afraid

[ii] Examples with perfect subjunctive:

Singular:

Nē necesse habuerīs (Cicero) │ Do not consider it necessary

Nē Apellae quidem dīxerīs (Cicero) │ Do not even tell Apella

Cavē quicquam, nisi quod rogābō tē, mihi responderīs (plautus) │ Mind you don't give me any reply except what I ask

Plural:

Nē vōs quidem mortem timuerītis (Cicero) │ Do not even fear death

[3]  Other negative words + subjunctive

Sometimes other negatives replace nē:

Tū illī nihil dīxerīs (Cicero) │ Say nothing to her

Dē mē nihil timuerīs (Cicero) │ Do not be afraid for me

Nec mihi illud dīxerīs (Cicero) │ And do not say this to me

[4] cavē(te) + present subjunctive

The verb caveō, cavēre (“beware”) can form negative commands with the present subjunctive:

Cavē festinēs │ Don’t hurry

Cavē aliquid dīcās │ Don’t say anything

Cavē aliter faciās (Cicero) │ Be careful not to do otherwise

Bibliothēcam tuam cavē cuīquam dēspondeās (Cicero) │ Be sure you don’t promise your library to anyone

Librōs vērō tuōs cavē cuiquam trādās (Cicero) │ Be sure you don’t hand your books over to anybody

Tū Antōnī leōnēs pertimēscās cavē (Cicero) │ Don’t be too afraid of Antony’s lions

Sed cavē … existimēs mē … abiēcisse cūram rēī pūblicae (Cicero) │ But do not think that I have abandoned concern for the Republic

Cavēte rūmōrēs crēdulitāte vestrā ālātis (Livy) │ Take care that you do not nourish rumors by your gullibility

KEY POINTS: prohibition; negative jussive; cavē

• nōlī(te) + infinitive: simple negative command
• nē + subjunctive:  negative jussive; “let him/her/them not…”; can use present or perfect subjunctive
• other negatives: emphasize prohibition or restriction
• cavē(te) + subjunctive: “beware” constructions

The video provides an overview of the different ways in which prohibitions or negative commands can be expressed in Latin.

It is important to note that Latin sometimes expresses these ideas in other ways—for example, nē + the indicative may appear in poetry or early Latin. However, for the purposes of this discussion, the focus should remain on the use of the subjunctive to express prohibitions, rather than being sidetracked by less common forms.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [8] independent uses [2] jussive [ii] practice

Translate: Let him / her / them …; (s)he / they should …; may you / you should …

Ab oppidō abeās │ May you depart from the town / You should depart from the town / Depart from the town.

[i] Tullia domō veniat.

[ii] Cum deīs labōrēs.

[iii] Per Galliam currātis.

[iv] Fīlius pauperem līberet.

[v] In Graeciā maneat.

[vi] Trōiae habitētis.

[vii] Illa ā curiā iter faciat.

[viii] Per Āsiam fugiās.

[ix] Ille cōnsulēs timeat.

[x] Ad urbem veniās.

[xi] Mātrēs cum ducibus ambulent.

[xii] Adsītis.

[xiii] Illī effugiant.

[xiv] Fabulam mihi narrēs.

[xv] Rēgīnam dēcipiās.

____________________

[i] Let Tullia come away from home. / Tullia should come away from home.

[ii] (May you) work with the gods. / You should work with the gods.

[iii] You should all run through Gaul.

[iv] Let the son free the poor man. / The son should free …

[v] May he / he should stay in Greece.

[vi] Live in Troy / You should (all) live in Troy.

[vii] Let her journey from the Senate House.

[viii] (You should) flee through Asia.

[ix] Let him / he should fear the consuls.

[x] (You should) come to the city.

[xi] Let the mothers walk with the leaders / the mothers should walk …

[xii] Be / You should (all) be present.

[xiii] Let them escape.

[xiv] You should tell the story to me.

[xv] You should deceive the queen.

Level 3+; Subjunctive [7] independent uses [2] jussive [i]

The term jussive subjunctive is from La: iubeō, -ēre [2]: command

(1) The jussive subjunctive is generally interpreted as a form of command or strong suggestion. It translates as or “Let him / her / them (do something) or, dependent upon context, should (do something)” and is used with the 3^rd person singular or plural:

dīcat │ Let him (her) say.

discēdant │  Let them depart.

discipulus discat aut discēdat │ Let the student learn or leave / the student should learn or leave.

Habeat cōnsul cōnsilia cōnsilia senātōrum │ Let the consul have the advice of the senators / The consul should have …

[i] Vulgate: What God commanded

Dīxitque Deus: Fīat lūx │ And God said: Let there be light.

Fīat firmāmentum in mediō aquārum: et dīvidat aquās ab aquīs. │ Let there be / become / be made an expanse in the middle of the waters: and let it separate the waters from the waters.

Germinet terra herbam virentem │ Let the earth bring forth green vegetation.

Fīant lūmināria in firmāmentō caelī, et dīvidant diem ac noctem, et sint in signa et tempora, et diēs et annōs │ And God said: Let there be lights in the firmament of the sky, and let them divide the day and the night, and let them be for signs and seasons and for days and years.

Prōdūcat terra animam vīventem in genere suō │ And God also said: Let the land produce the living creature (living creatures), each according to its own kind

Prōdūcant aquae rēptile animae vīventis, et volātile super terram sub firmāmentō caelī. │ Let the waters bring forth a crawling creature of living breath,  and a flying creature above the earth beneath the firmament of the sky

[ii] Cēdant arma togae, concēdat laurea linguae (Cicero) │ Let arms give way to the toga, let the laurel be granted to eloquence.

[iii] Ēmittat ad mē Pūblius (Cicero) │ Let Publius send (someone) to me

[iv] Hoc tantum sciat (Livy) │ Let him know only this.

[v] Sit fūr, at est bonus imperātor (Cicero) │ Let him be a thief [he may be a thief], at least he is a good general.

(2) The jussive subjunctive can also be 2^nd person singular or plural:

Taceās, Antonī! │ Be quiet, Antony! [Literally: May you be quiet / you should be quiet]

[i] Abeās! (Plautus) │ Be off!

[ii] From the student song Gaudeāmus igitur:

Abeās ad īnferōs, │ May you go away to the underworld,

Trānseās ad superōs │ May you cross over to the heavens

The translations could equally work as “You should go away / cross over”

[iii] Doceās iter et sacra ōstia pandās (Vergil) │ (May you) show us the way and lay open the sacred portals.

[iv] Si nihil habēbis, tamen scrībās aliquid (Cicero) │ If you have nothing (to write about / no news), write something anyhow. 

[v] Iniūriās fortūnae … dēfugiendō relinquās (Cicero) │ The wrongs of fortune … (you should) leave behind by flight.

[vi] Sī vultis, habeātis (Cicero) │ If you want, (you may) have it (go ahead and take it).

Image #2: From three into one –shows the Latin translation of a three word title of a Beatles’ song. What’s the original title?

Image #3: Latin legal advice

KEY POINTS: jussive subjunctive [i]

• from iubeō, -ēre [2]: command
• expresses a command or strong suggestion
• usually translated as “let …”, or sometimes “should …” depending on context.
• 3rd person singular or plural: let him / her / them …; (s)he should …
• 2nd person singular or plural: may you; you should …
• typically present subjunctive