Chapter 17: The Imperfect Subjunctive

Multa cecidērunt, ut altius surgerent. — Seneca, Epistles 91.13
Translation

Many structures have fallen only to rise to a greater height.

More literally: Many things have fallen so that they may rise higher.

Details

Multa is the neuter nominative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Cecidērunt (or cecidēre) is the third person plural perfect form of cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum (3): to fall. Ut (conj.): that, so that. Altius (adv.) is the comparative form of altē (adv.): high. Surgerent is the third person plural imperfect subjunctive form of surgō, surgere, surrēxī, surrēctum (3): to rise, get up, arise (it’s subjunctive in a purpose clause: so that. . .).


R eliquiarum nihil habērēmus! — Cicero, Letters to Friends 10. 2 8.1
Translation

We would have had no leftovers!

More literally: We would have nothing of leftovers!

Details

(If you had invited me to your dinner.) Reliquiae, reliquiārum (1f, plural only): remains; remnants of food, leftovers. Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here acc.): nothing. Habērēmus is the first person plural imperfect subjunctive form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have (imperfect subjunctive because it’s in a present contrary-to-fact statement).


Anus est. Vellem, si magis esset anus. — Martial, Epigrams 10.8.2
Translation

She’s an old woman. I might be willing, if she were older.

More literally: . . . I would be willing, if she were more old.

Details

(He’s talking about marrying a woman, which he might have considered if she were closer to death because then he would inherit.) Anus, anūs (4f): old woman; the word can also be used as a feminine adjective meaning old. Est: she is. Vellem is the first person singular imperfect subjunctive form of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to want; be willing (imperfect subjunctive it’s present contrary to fact). (conj.): if. Magis (adv.): more. Esset is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact). Anus, anūs (4f): old woman; the word can also be used as a feminine adjective meaning old.


Diu expectavi an ēicerētur tyrannus. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies (excerpts) 3.6.1
Translation

I waited for a long time to see if the tyrant would get thrown out.

More literally: I waited a long time for whether the tyrant would get thrown out.

Details

Diū (adv.): long, for a long time. Expectō, expectāre, expectāvī, expectātum (1): to wait for, await; expect. An (interrog. particle): whether; or (in a question); it can also start a direct question. Ēicerētur is the third person singular imperfect passive subjunctive form of ēiciō, ēicere, ēiēcī, ēiectum (3, –iō): to expel, throw out, drive out (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Tyrannus, tyrannī (2m): tyrant; ruler.


Ad hoc genitus es, ut perderēs, ut perīrēs. . . — Seneca, Consolation to Marcia 17.1
Translation

To this end were you born—to lose, to perish. . .

Alt. : You (m. sg.) were born for this, to suffer loss, to perish. . .

Details

(. . . to hope, to fear, to upset others and yourself; i.e., life is hard.) Ad (prep.): to; for (takes the accusative). Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Genitus es is the second person masculine singular perfect passive form of gignō, gignere, genuī, genitum (3): to beget, give birth to; produce. Ut (conj.): in order to, so that, that. Perderēs is the second person singular imperfect subjunctive form of perdō, perdere, perdidī, perditum (3): to lose; destroy (subjunctive because it’s in a purpose clause). Perīrēs is the second person singular imperfect subjunctive form of pereō, perīre, periī, peritum (irreg.): to become lost, disappear; be destroyed, perish, die (subjunctive because it’s in a purpose clause).


Etiamsi scīrem, non indicārem. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 4.6.1
Translation

Even if I knew, I would not say.

More literally: Even if I knew, I would not reveal (it).

Details

Etiamsī (conj.): even if. Scīrem is the first person singular imperfect subjunctive form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact). # I knew% Nōn: not. Indicārem is the first person singular imperfect subjunctive form of indicō, indicāre, indicāvī, indicātum (1): to point out; reveal, betray.


Utinam quidem sequerentur! — Seneca, Epistles 104.17
Translation

Would that they were indeed following you!

Details

(He’s talking about emotions, and saying they don’t follow you; you carry them.) Utinam (particle): if only, I wish that, would that, may. . . ! Quidem (particle): indeed, certainly, in fact. # indeed% Sequerentur is the third person plural imperfect subjunctive form of sequor, sequī, secūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow (imperfect subjunctive because it’s a present contrary-to-fact wish).


Aeque timui ne biberet venenum quam ne daret. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 7.3.5
Translation

I was as afraid of his drinking the poison as of his giving it to me.

More literally: I was just as afraid that he would drink the poison as that he would give (it).

Details

Aequē (adv.): equally, just as. Timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to fear, be afraid. (conj. , with subjunctive): lest, that not; that (a feared thing will happen). Biberet is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of bibō, bibere, bibī, bibitum (3): to drink (subjunctive because it’s in a fear clause). Venēnum is the accusative singular form of venēnum, venēnī (2n): poison. Quam (rel. adv.): than; as. Daret is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give (subjunctive because it’s in a fear clause).


Non fefelli te qualis essem. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 1.1.7
Translation

I didn’t deceive you about my character.

More literally: I did not deceive you of what kind I was.

Details

Nōn: not. Fallō, fallere, fefellī, falsum (3): to deceive. is the accusative form of tū: you. Quālis /quālis/quāle (3, interrog. adj.): of what kind? Essem is the first person singular imperfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Vos adeptī estis ne quem civem metuerētis. — Cicero, In Defense of Milo 34
Translation

You have achieved your own immunity from fear of any citizen.

More literally: You (pl.) have gotten that you not fear any citizen.

Details

Vōs: you (pl.). Adeptī estis is the second person masculine plural perfect form of adipīscor, adipīscī, adeptus sum (3, deponent): to get, obtain, acquire. (conj. , with subjunctive): that not; lest. Quem is the masculine accusative singular form of quī/qua/quod (indef. adj.): (in certain types of clauses, especially after , nisi, num and ) any. Cīvem is the accusative singular form of cīvis, cīvis (3m/f): citizen. Metuerētis is the second person plural imperfect subjunctive form of metuō, metuere, metuī, metūtum (3): to fear, be afraid, dread.


Illi libenter audīrent. — Cicero, In Defense of Plancius 44
Translation

They would have been delighted to hear it.

More literally: They would have heard (it) gladly.

Details

Illī is the masculine nominative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Libenter (adv.): willingly; gladly. Audīrent is the third person plural imperfect subjunctive form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear (subjunctive because it describes potential action).


Nimium diu t ēximus quid sentīrēmus. — Cicero, Philippics 3.36
Translation

Too long we have kept our feelings hidden.

More literally: For too long we have hidden what we felt.

Details

Nimium (adv.): too (much), excessively. Diū (adv.): long, for a long time. Tēximus is the first person plural perfect form of tegō, tegere, tēxī, tēctum (3): to cover; hide. Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Sentīrēmus is the first person plural imperfect subjunctive form of sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (4): to feel; think (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Si venturus esset, non minārētur. — Seneca the Elder, Suasoriae 5. 1
Translation

If he were going to come, he would utter no threats.

More literally: . . . he would not threaten.

Details

(conj.): if. Ventūrus /ventūra/ventūrum (1/2) is the future active participle of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Esset is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact). Nōn: not. Minārētur is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of minor, minārī, minātus sum (1, deponent): to threaten (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact).


Utinam tantum non prōdessent! Nocent. — Seneca, Epistles 48.9
Translation

Would that I could say that they were merely of no profit! They are positively harmful.

More literally: I wish they only were not helpful! They are harmful.

Details

(He’s talking about the logic games into which philosophy sometimes descends.) Utinam (particle): would that, I wish that, if only! Tantum (adv.): so much, so greatly; only. Nōn: not. Prōdessent is the third person plural imperfect subjunctive form of prōsum, prōdesse, prōfuī, prōfutūrus (irreg.): to benefit, serve, be helpful (imperfect subjunctive because it’s a present contrary-to-fact wish). Nocent is the third person plural form of noceō, nocēre, nocuī, nocitum (2): to be harmful, harm.


Quid a geret coepit cogitare. — Cicero, Against Verres 2. 1. 141
Translation

He began to wonder what to do.

More literally: He began to consider what he should do.

Details

Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Ageret is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3): to drive, put in motion; do; act (subjunctive because it is in an indirect and deliberative question). Coepit is the third person singular perfect form of coepī, coepisse, coeptum (3, –iō, defective): began (no present tense in regular use; I begin is incipiō). Cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum (1): to think, ponder, consider.


Hirtio invidērēs nisi eum amārēs. — Cicero, Letters to Friends 7.33.1
Translation

You would envy Hirtius if you did not love him.

Details

Hirtiō is the m/n (here m) dative singular form of Hirtius/Hirtia/Hirtium (1/2): Roman family name (in this case, a famous consul). Invidērēs is the second person singular imperfect subjunctive form of invideō, invidēre, invīdī, invīsum (2): to envy (takes a dative object) (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact). Nisi (conj.): if not, unless; except. Eum is the masculine accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Amārēs is the second person singular imperfect subjunctive form of amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum (1): to love (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact).


Redderem si pater quaereret. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 9.5.5
Translation

I would give him back if his father were looking for him.

Details

(From a dispute about a stolen child.) Redderem is the first person singular imperfect subjunctive form of reddō, reddere, reddidī, redditum (3): to give back, return, hand over (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact). (conj.): if. Pater, patris (3m): father. Quaereret is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī/quaesiī, quaesītum (3): to ask; search for, look for, seek (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact).


Etiamsi adtenderēmus, tamen nos vita praecurreret. — Seneca, Epistles 45.13
Translation

Even if we were paying attention, life would still slip by us.

Details

Etiamsī (conj.): even if. Adtenderēmus is the first person plural imperfect subjunctive form of adtendō, adtendere, adtendī, adtentum (3—also attendō): to direct toward; pay attention to, attend to (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact). Tamen (adv.): nevertheless, yet, still. Nōs is the accusative form of nōs: we. Vīta, vītae (1f): life. Praecurreret is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of praecurrō, praecurrere, praecurrī/praecucurrī, praecursum (3): to run before, go on before; precede; surpass (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact).


Essent malum si ipsae nocērent. — Seneca, Epistles 87.33
Translation

They would be an evil if they did harm of themselves.

Details

(He’s talking about riches—dīvitiae, dīvitiārum (1f, plural only); they aren’t an evil themselves, but they’re a cause of it.) Essent is the third person plural imperfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact). Malum, malī (2n): evil; trouble, misfortune; misdeed; disease. (conj.): if. Ipsae is the feminine nominative plural form of ipse/ipsa/ipsum (pron. or adj.): (he) himself, (she) herself, (it) itself. Nocērent is the third person plural imperfect subjunctive form of noceō, nocēre, nocuī, nocitum (2): to be harmful, harm (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact).


Audivi te, cum alios cōnsōlārēris. — Seneca, On Providence 4.5
Translation

I have heard you offering consolation to others.

More literally: I have heard you when you (sg.) were consoling others.

Details

Audiō, audīre, audīvī /audiī, audītum (4): to hear. is the accusative form of tū: you. Cum (conj.): when; while; since; although. Aliōs is the masculine accusative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another; different. Cōnsōlārēris (or cōnsōlārēre) is the second person singular imperfect subjunctive form of cōnsōlor, cōnsōlārī, cōnsōlātus sum (1, deponent): to console, comfort (subjunctive because it’s in a circumstantial cum clause).


Itaque haec ne omīsisse vidērer attigi. — Quintilian, The Orator’s Education 6.3.102
Translation

I have therefore touched on these matters because I did not want to be criticized for leaving them out.

More literally: I therefore have touched these things lest I be seen to have omitted (them).

Details

Itaque (adv.): and so, therefore. Haec is the neuter accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. (conj. , with subjunctive): lest, that not; that (a feared thing will happen). Omīsisse is the perfect infinitive form of omittō, omittere, omīsī, omissum (3): to let go of, release; omit. Vidērer is the first person singular imperfect passive subjunctive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem. Attingō, attingere, attigī, attāctum (3): to touch.


Deinde appāruit, quantum periculum imminēret. — Seneca, On Mercy 1.24.1
Translation

It then became apparent how great would be the impending danger.

More literally: It then became apparent how great a danger was impending.

Details

Deinde (adv.): next, then. Appāruit is the third person singular perfect form of appāreō, appārēre, appāruī, appāritum (2): to be visible; appear; be or become apparent. Quantus/quanta/ quantum (1/2, interrog. adj.): how great? Perīculum, perīculī (2n): danger, risk. Imminēret is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of immineō, imminēre, —, — (2): to overhang; threaten, menace, impend (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


An ne nummi vobis ēriperentur timēbātis? — Cicero, Letters to Atticus 1.16.5
Translation

For fear of having your pocket picked?

More literally: Were you (pl.) afraid lest coins be snatched away from you?

Details

(In response to: Why did you ask for a guard?) An (interrog. particle): whether; or (in a question); it can also (like here) start a direct question. (conj. , with subjunctive): lest, that not; that (something feared will happen). Nummī is the nominative plural form of nummus, nummī (2m): coin, money. Vōbīs is the dative form of vōs: you (pl.). Ēriperentur is the third person plural imperfect passive subjunctive form of ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum (3, –iō): to snatch away, take away; snatch out; rescue (often takes the dative of the person that something is snatched away from; subjunctive because it’s in a fear clause). Timēbātis is the second person plural imperfect form of timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to fear, be afraid.

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