The subjunctive mood is
very important in Latin. It has 6 main uses in sentences.
If the word "cum"
is used in a clause with a verb in the subjunctive, it is translated as
"when". The verb is translated as if it was in the Indicative Mood.
Cum ad templo ambulavissem...
When I had walked to the temple...
To show that something is
happening in order to do something else, a purpose clause is used. The word
"ut" must appear in the sentence between the action and the purpose.
There are normally two verbs in sentences with purpose clauses - one in the
indicative to show the action and a verb in the subjunctive to show the
purpose.
The "ut" is
translated as "to" or "in order to" and the following
subjunctive verb is translated as an infinitive in the
indicative mood.
tabernam ambulamus ut ancillam videremus
We are walking to the shop in
order to see the slave-girl.
Sometimes "qui"
(who) is used instead of "ut", but the sentence should be translated
in the same way.
Result clauses show what
happens as a result of something happening. They are formed by a "result
word", the word "ut" and a subjunctive verb.
The word "ut" is
translated as "that" and the subjunctive verb is translated in the
indicative mood.
tantas divitias adeptus est ut
villam splendidam iam possideat
He has obtained such
great riches that he now owns a splendid villa.
An indirect question is
where the question is stated but not directly asked. They are formed by a verb
of asking, a "question word" and a verb in the subjunctive. The verb
in the subjunctive is translated as if it was in the indicative mood. There is no
"ut" in an indirect question.
miles iuvenem rogavit quid
prope horreum faceret =The soldier asked the young man what
he was doing near the granary.
An indirect command is
where an order is stated but not directly asked. They are formed by a verb of
ordering, the word "ut" and a verb in the subjunctive. The
"ut" is translated as "to" and the following subjunctive
verb is translated as an infinitive in the indicative mood.
centurio militibus imperavit ut
hostes invenirent
The centurion ordered
the soldiers to find the enemy.
The subjunctive is
occasionally found on its own in a sentence. This is is
translated as a possibility (i.e. something may/might happen)
It may also be a jussive
subjunctive- "let us..." eg amet = let him love
This is like an order.
Another good example is “exeat=let him/her go out”
(Jussive comes from the
Latin word iubeo, iussi -I order).
To change a sentence
containing "ut" into a negative sentence, one must replace the word
"ut" with the word "ne". The sentence should still be
translated in the same way, except the verb in the subjunctive should be
negative.
centurio militibus imperavit ne
hostes invenirent =The centurion ordered the soldiers not to find the
enemy.