Conditional clauses are "if"-clauses. The word if often means "under the condition that."
There are two major types of conditional structures:
1. factual and
2. contrafactual (contrary to fact).
1. Factual structures are in the indicative mood, whatever the tense:
1. If Marcus loves Julia, she loves him. |
ea eum amat. |
+ present indicative |
|
ea eum amâvit. |
+ perfect / imperfect indicative |
|
ea eum amâbit. |
+ future / future perfect indicative |
2. Contrary to fact structures are in the subjunctive mood, whatever the tense. Notice that in these examples the second tense is the same as the first tense: two present verbs, two imperfect verbs, or two past perfect (pluperfect) verbs.
4. If Marcus should [perhaps ever some day] love Julia, |
ea eum amet. |
+ present subjunctive |
she would love him [but she doesn't love him now]. |
ea eum amâret. |
+ imperfect subjunctive |
she would have loved him. |
ea eum amâvisset. |
+ past perfect subjunctive |
It is possible to have a mixing of tenses:
If you had found me sooner, I would be free now.
Sî mê citius invênissês, lîber nunc essem.
Latin Teaching Materials at Saint Louis University: © Claude Pavur 1997 - 2006. This material is being made freely available for non-commercial educational use.
