Chapter 18: The Perfect Subjunctive

Non negāverim. — Seneca, Epistles 112.4
Translation

No denying that.

More literally: I would not deny (it).

Details

Nōn: not. Negāverim (or negārim) is the first person singular perfect subjunctive form of negō, negāre, negāvī, negātum (1): to deny; refuse (subjunctive because it’s describing potential action).


Non est dicendum, quid tribuerīmus. — Seneca, On Benefits 2.11.2
Translation

No mention should be made of what we have bestowed.

More literally: It is not to be said what we have bestowed.

Details

Nōn: not. Est: it is. Dīcendus/dīcenda/ dīcendum (1/2) is the gerundive of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say; dīcendum est is the passive periphrastic (it must be said/one should say)). Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Tribuerīmus is the first person plural perfect subjunctive form of tribuō, tribuere, tribuī, tribūtum (3): to grant, bestow; ascribe, attribute (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Rationem reddere dēbet reus quare occīderit. — Quintilian, The Orator’s Education 7.1.7
Translation

The defendant has to give a reason why he killed him.

Details

Ratiōnem is the accusative singular form of ratiō, ratiōnis (3f): calculation; method; reason; explanation. Reddō, reddere, reddidī, redditum (3): to give (back), return, deliver. Dēbet is the third person singular form of dēbeō, dēbēre, dēbuī, dēbitum (2): to owe; ought, have to. Reus, reī (2m): defendant. Quārē (interrog. adv.): why? Occīderit is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of occīdō, occīdere, occīdī, occīsum (3): to kill (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Nihil ab illis spērāverīs forte. — Seneca, Epistles 115.2
Translation

You can never expect any strength from them.

More literally: Hope (sg.) for nothing strong from them.

Details

(That is, from people too worried about fashion.) Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here acc.): nothing. Ab /ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Illīs is the m/f/n (here m) ablative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Spērāverīs (or spērārīs) is the second person singular perfect subjunctive form of spērō, spērāre, spērāvī, spērātum (1): to hope (for) (perfect subjunctive because it’s in a negative command). Forte is the neuter accusative singular form of fortis/fortis/forte (3): brave; strong.


Si ille dictator factus sit, paene diffidit. — Cicero, Letters to Quintus 3.6.6
Translation

He is almost in despair should Pompey become Dictator.

More literally: If that one were to have been made dictator, he almost despairs.

Details

(conj.): if. Ille /illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Dictātor, dictātōris (3m): dictator. Factus sit is the third person masculine singular perfect passive subjunctive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make (subjunctive because it describes potential action or because the clause is a kind of indirect speech—stating what’s in the mind of the one who almost despairs). Paene (adv.): almost. Diffidit is the third person singular form of diffīdō, diffīdere, diffīsus sum (3, semi-deponent): to distrust; be diffident; despair.


Steterim an sēderim, quid locūtus sim, quid audierim, nescio. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 2.4.1
Translation

I don’t know whether I stood or sat, what I said, what I heard.

Details

Steterim is the first person singular perfect subjunctive form of stō, stāre, stetī, statum (1): to stand (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). An (interrog. particle): whether; or (in a question); it can also start a direct question. Sēderim is the first person singular perfect subjunctive form of sedeō, sedēre, sēdī, sessum (2): to sit (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Locūtus sim is the first person masculine singular perfect subjunctive form of loquor, loquī, locūtus sum (3, deponent): to speak (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Audierim (or audīverim) is the first person singular perfect subjunctive form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear, listen (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Nesciō, nescīre, nescīvī/nesciī, nescītum (4): to not know.


Iūrant nescire se ipsos quare exierint, ubi fuerint. — Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind 12.4
Translation

They swear that they themselves do not know why they left home or where they have been.

Details

(How busy people feel at the end of a pointless day.) Iūrant is the third person plural form of iūrō, iūrāre, iūrāvī, iūrātum (1): to swear or vow. Nesciō, nescīre, nescīvī/nesciī, nescītum (4): to not know. is the accusative form of the reflexive pronoun. Ipsōs is the masculine accusative plural form of ipse/ipsa/ipsum (adj.): himself/herself/itself/oneself/myself/etc. #(adds emphasis to )% Quārē (interrog. adv.): why? Exierint (or, more rarely, exīverint) is the third person plural perfect subjunctive form of exeō, exīre, exiī/exīvī, exitum (irreg.): to exit, go out (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Ubi (interrog. adv.): where? Fuerint is the third person plural perfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Fortunae lex est praestare quae exēgerīs. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 1.1.5
Translation

It is the law of Fortune to do what you demand of others.

More literally: It is the law of fortunate to perform the things that you (sg.) have demanded.

Details

Fortūna, fortūnae (1f): fortune. Lēx, lēgis (3f): law. Est: it is. Praestō, praestāre, praestitī, praestātum (1): to stand in front; stand out, be excellent; fulfill, perform; give, provide, supply. Quae is the neuter accusative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Exēgerīs is the second person singular perfect subjunctive form of exigō, exigere, exēgī, exāctum (3): to demand, require (this verb has a general you as its subject, and it stands in a clause that also otherwise has a potential quality to it: two reasons for the verb to be subjunctive).


Quaeritis quae res mihi remedio fuerit? Aetas. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 2.6.7
Translation

You ask what cured me? Age.

More literally: You ask what thing was for a remedy to me? Age. (Mihi remediō is a double-dative construction; see Chapter 27 of The Latin Tamer.)

Details

(He’s talking about debauchery.) Quaeritis is the second person plural form of quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī/quaesiī, quaesītum (3): to ask; search (for), seek. Quī/ quae /quod (interrog. adj.): which. . . ? what. . . ? Rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. Mihi is the dative form of ego. Remediō is the dative singular form of remedium, remediī (2n): remedy. Fuerit is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Aetās, aetātis (3f): age.


Quamquam quid facturi fuerītis dubitem, cum videam quid fēcerītis? — Cicero, In Defense of Ligarius 24
Translation

Yet can I have any doubt what you (pl.) were going to do, since I see what you in fact did?

Details

Quamquam (rel. adv.): though, although; yet, nevertheless. Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Factūrī is the masculine nominative plural form of factūrus/factūra/factūrum (1/2), the future active participle of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Fuerītis is the second person plural perfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Dubitem is the first person singular subjunctive form of dubitō, dubitāre, dubitāvī, dubitātum (1): to doubt; hesitate (subjunctive because it describes potential action). Cum (conj.): when; while; since; although. Videam is the first person singular subjunctive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see (subjunctive because it’s in a causal cum clause). Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Fēcerītis is the second person plural perfect subjunctive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3): to do; make (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Vide quem nobis locum dederit. — Seneca, On Leisure 5.4
Translation

See the position in which she has placed us.

More literally: See which place she gave to us.

Details

(He’s talking about nature.) Vidē is the singular imperative form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Quem is the masculine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (interrog. adj.): which. . . ? what. . . ? Nōbīs is the dative form of nōs: we. Locum is the accusative singular form of locus, locī (2m): place. Dederit is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Quem vīcerim quaeris? — Seneca, Epistles 71.37
Translation

Do you (sg.) ask me whom I have conquered?

Alt. : Do you ask who it is that I have conquered?

Details

(The fear of death.) Quem is the masculine accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Vīcerim is the first person singular perfect subjunctive form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to conquer, overcome, overmatch; win, be victorious (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Quaeris is the second person singular form of quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī/quaesiī, quaesītum (3): to ask; seek.


Misericordia commōtus ne sis. — Cicero, In Defense of Murena 65.10
Translation

Do not (m. sg.) be moved by pity!

Details

Misericordiā is the ablative singular form of misericordia, misericordiae (1f): pity. Commōtus sīs is the second person masculine singular perfect passive subjunctive form of commoveō, commovēre, commōvī, commōtum (2): to move, disturb, provoke (perfect subjunctive because it’s in a negative command). (adv.): not (in wishes and commands).


Interrogā patres utrum māluerint. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 10.4.3
Translation

Ask (sg.) the fathers which they preferred.

Details

Interrogā is the singular imperative form of interrogō, interrogāre, interrogāvī, interrogātum (1): to ask; interrogate. Patrēs is the accusative plural form of pater, patris (3m): father. Utrum is the m/n (here n) accusative singular form of uter/utra/utrum (interrog. pron. , 1/2, irreg.): which (of two). Māluerint is the third person plural perfect subjunctive form of mālō, mālle, māluī, — (irreg.): to prefer (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Ne itaque invīderīs fratri tuo; quiēscit. — Seneca, Consolation to Polybius 9.7
Translation

And so do not (sg.) begrudge your brother this; he is at rest.

Details

(adv.): not (in wishes and commands). Itaque (adv.): and so, therefore. Invīderīs is the second person singular perfect subjunctive form of invideō, invidēre, invīdī, invīsum (2): to envy; begrudge, look maliciously at (takes dative of the person). ( + perfect subjunctive = negative command.) Frātrī is the dative singular form of frāter, frātris (3m): brother. Tuō is the m/n dative singular form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours. Quiēscit is the third person singular form of quiēscō, quiēscere, quiēvī, quiētum (3): to rest, be at rest; keep quiet.


Quantam potestatem habuerit vidētis. — Cicero, Against Verres 2.2.34
Translation

You (pl.) see how much power he had.

Details

Quantam is the feminine accusative singular form of quantus/quanta/quantum (1/2, interrog. adj.): how great? how much? Potestātem is the accusative singular form of potestās, potestātis (3f): power, ability; control; authority. Habuerit is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Vidētis is the second person plural form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see.


Non qui fuerīmus, sed qui nunc sīmus vide. — Phaedrus, Fables 31.10
Translation

Look not to what we were, but to what we are now.

Details

Nōn: not. Quī is the masculine nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (interrog. pron.): which (one)? what kind of person? in plural: what kind of people? which people? who? Fuerīmus is the first person plural perfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Sed (conj.): but. Nunc (adv.): now. Sīmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Vidē is the singular imperative form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see.


Quid fēcerīmus non cōgitāmus. — Seneca, Epistles 83.2
Translation

We do not ever reflect on what we have done.

More literally: What we have done we do not consider.

Details

Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Fēcerīmus is the first person plural perfect subjunctive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Non: not. Cōgitāmus is the first person plural form of cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum (1): to think, reflect, consider.


Nemo Lilybaei fuit quin vīderit, n emo in Sicilia quin audīverit. — Cicero, Against Verres 2.5.140
Translation

All Lilybaeum saw it, all Sicily heard of it.

More literally: There was no one in Lilybaeum without it being the case that he saw (it), no one in Sicily without it being the case that he heard (of it).

Details

Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no one. Lilybaeī is the locative singular form of Lilybaeum, Lilybaeī (2n): a Sicilian city. Fuit is the third person singular perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Quīn (conj.): many translations depending on context; here roughly without it being the case that. Vīderit is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Siciliā is the ablative form of Sicilia, Siciliae (1f): Sicily. Audīverit (or audierit) is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear (subjunctive because it’s in a relative clause of characteristic).


Nemo Lilybaei fuit quin , nemo in Sicilia quin . — Cicero, Against Verres 2.5.140
Translation

All Sicily heard of it.

Details

More literally. (There is) no one in Sicily who has not heard (it).

Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no one. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Siciliā is the ablative form of Sicilia, Siciliae (1f): Sicily. Quīn can have several meanings; here it’s roughly equivalent to quī nōn (who. . . not) and produces a relative clause of characteristic.


Quid me interrogās quando nātus sim? — Seneca, Epistles 93.6
Translation

Why ask the date of my birth?

More literally: Why do you (sg.) ask me when I was born?

Details

(It doesn’t matter how old I am.) Quid (interrog. adv.): why? is the accusative form of ego. Interrogās is the second person singular form of interrogō, interrogāre, interrogāvī, interrogātum (1): to ask; interrogate. Quandō (interrog. adv.): when? Nātus sim is the first person masculine singular perfect subjunctive form of nāscor, nāscī, nātus sum (3, deponent): to be born; grow, spring forth.


Res dēclārābit ut cupierint. — Cicero, Against Verres 2.2. 1 5 7
Translation

What they did desire the facts will show.

More literally: The fact will show how they desired (it).

Details

Rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair; fact. Dēclārābit is the third person singular future form of dēclārō, dēclārāre, dēclārāvī, dēclārātum (1): to declare; show, prove; reveal. Ut (interrog. adv.): how? Cupierint (or cupīverint) is the third person plural perfect subjunctive form of cupiō, cupere, cupīvī/cupiī, cupītum (3, –iō): to desire (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). (Some renditions of this passage put the first verb in the perfect tense rather than the future.)


Tu indicā cur adoptāverīs. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 1.1.4
Translation

You must reveal why you adopted me.

More literally: Reveal you (sg.) why you adopted (me).

Details

: you. Indicā is the singular imperative form of indicō, indicāre, indicāvī, indicātum (1): to point out; reveal, betray. Cūr (interrog. adv.): why? Adoptāverīs (or adoptārīs) is the second person singular perfect subjunctive form of adoptō, adoptāre, adoptāvī, adoptātum (1): to choose, select; adopt (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Horti quam in diem prōscrīptī sint velim ad me scrībās. — Cicero, Letters to Atticus 12.49.3
Translation

Please tell me for what day the sale of the gardens is advertised.

More literally: I would like (that) you (sg.) write to me for what day the gardens have been advertised.

Details

Hortī is the nominative plural form of hortus, hortī (2m): garden. Quam is the feminine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (interrog. adj.): which. . . ? what. . . ? In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into; for. Diem is the accusative singular form of diēs, diēī (5 m/f): day. Prōscrīptī sint is the third person masculine plural perfect passive form of prōscrībō, prōscrībere, prōscrīpsī, prōscrīptum (3): to publish a written notice; advertise, publish a notice announcing the sale of; to outlaw, publish someone’s name in a list of outlaws (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Velim is the first person singular subjunctive form of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to want, wish (subjunctive because it describes potential action). Ad (prep.): to, toward; according to (takes the accusative). is the accusative form of ego. Scrībās is the second person singular subjunctive form of scrībō, scrībere, scrīpsī, scrīptum (3): to write (subjunctive because it’s an indirect command).

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