Latin Verbs: A Field Guide

The TOP-SECRET VERY DANGEROUS Key to All Subordinate Verbs in Latin.

This works for participles, infinitives, subjunctives.
If you see… You are in the… That means that the events in the clause happen And should translate it as…
______ the main verb…
Principal Parts 1&2 Present system1 … At the same time as… (Contemporary) “While verbing”
“verbing”
Principal Parts 3&4 Perfect system … Before … (Prior) “had/have <been> verbed”
“after X happened”
Anything future Future!!!! … After … “fixin’ to verb”
“about to verb”
“intending to verb”
Yes, but how do I translate….
Participles! Active Deponent Passive
Future fixin’ to verb, fixin’ to verb, To be verbed,
4th pp+ur+ -us –a –um about to verb about to verb Must be verbed
(-us –a –um endings) amaturus = fixin’ to love 4th pp+ur+ -us –a –um 1pp + ndus –a –um
Locuturus = fixin’ to speak Amandus = to be loved
(see also “gerund/gerundive”)
Present (same time as the main verb) (while) verbing (while) verbing
Present stem + -ns, -ntis amans = while loving loquens = while speaking
(3rd declension endings) amantes loquentes
Perfect (Before the main verb) Having verbed (be)Verbed (beloved, toasted)
4th pp After s/he verbed Having verbed
(-us –a –um endings) S/he verbed, then… After s/he verbed, …
Locutus = having spoken S/he verbed, then…
amatus = beloved, He was
loved, then…

Ablative absolutes come in two tenses and are just a fancy circumstantial ablative, usually the ablative time when.2
Present (while) abl. absolute = "While the noun is/was verbing"

Perfect (After) abl. absolute = "After the noun has/had been verbed"
Perfect (After) abl. absolute deponent = "After the noun has/had verbed."

Ablative Absolute Pro-tip: ablative absolutes are their own little clause, so treat them like an independent clause. The
clause usually begins and ends with the two ablatives (noun and participle), so think of them as brackets for whatever
stuff is between them. Translate them, then move on with the main sentence.
Caesare ā Brutō gladiō Romae ante omnes trucidatō libertas restituta est.
After Caesar had been killed by Brutus with a sword in Rome in front of everybody liberty was restored.

Misc. Grammar
The Gerundive = Carthago delenda est = Carthage must be destroyed (-nd-us, -a, -um = must be verbed)
The Gerund = uenio ad Carthaginem delendam (I come for the purpose of destroying Carthage)
The Accusative supine = 4th pp+um; “venio Carthaginem deletum” = “I come to destroy Carthage”
The Ablative supine = 4thpp + ū; “Carthago est difficilis deletu" = “Carthage is difficult to destroy”

1
- Future comes from sum, esse, fui, futurus.
- Present comes from prae+est = praesens = ‘being in front of.’ The 3rd declension genitive of that is ‘Praesentis’
- Perfect comes from perficio, perficere, perfeci, perfectus. Mind blown?
2
You have seen Circumstantial ablatives used for manner, time (ablative of time when) and description. Eg.
“Gladiō strictō Quinus currit = Quintus runs with his sword drawn (manner)”
“Verre praetore omnia mala erant. When Verres was praetor all the things were bad. (time)”
“Animal nasō magnō est elephans = The animal with a big nose is an elephant. (description)”
 And now, the Subjunctive!
Subjunctives NOT in a clause (AKA independent subjunctives): usually the present (e ea a ia ia) subjunctive, any ending:
Velociraptor Verrem necet could mean…
 Might verb. “The Velociraptor might kill Verres.”  Would verb. “The Velociraptor would kill Verres.”
 Could verb. “The Velociraptor could kill Verres.”  Let <Nom> verb. “Let the Velociraptor kill Verres.”
 Should verb. “The Velociraptor should kill Verres.”
Specific cases:
 Rhetorical questions (look for a question mark)
o Necetne Velociraptor Verrem? = Should the Velociraptor kill Verres?
 Improbable wishes (Start with utinam = if only + present subjunctive)
o Utinam velociraptor Verrem necet! = If only the Velociraptor would kill Verres!
 Impossible wishes (utinam + imperfect/ pluperfect subjunctives)
o Utinam velociraptor Verrem necaret! = If only the Velociraptor were killing Verres!
o Utinam velociraptor Verrem necavisset! = If only the Velociraptor had killed Verres!

Subjunctives in subordinate clauses3 always use the Sequence of Tense!

Subjunctive verb in a subordinate clause
Main verb Clauses begin with cum, ut, ne, or a question word4
Not in a clause
Contemporary (verb, was verbing) Prior (has/ had/ have)
Uses PP#1 and PP#2 Uses PP #3 and PP #4
Primary Present subjunctive Perfect subjunctive
(sentence set in the We eat a giant liar Active = PP#3 + eri + ending (-m -s -t -mus -tis -nt)
present or future) Amet, ametur Amaverim, necaverint
Passive = PP#4 sim, sis, sit; simus, sitis, sint
Amatus sit, secuti sint
Secondary Imperfect subjunctive Pluperfect subjunctive
(sentence set in the past) Inf + ending Active = PP#3 + -isse- + ending (-m -s -t -mus -tis -nt)
Amaret, amaretur amavisset
Passive = PP#4 esse+ending (-m -s -t -mus -tis -nt)
Amatus esset, secuti essent
Clauses with ut:
Purpose = in order to, so that:
“Velociraptor cucurrit ut praedones devoraret.” “The velociraptor ran so that she could devour pirates.”
Noun = that, to <verb>
“Velociraptor imperavit ut praedo devoraretur.” “The velociraptor ordered that the pirate be devoured.”
Result = so _____ that (AKA the ‘yo mama’ clause)
“Velociraptor tam iratus erat ut praedonem devoraret.” “The raptor was so angry that she devoured the pirate.”
Fear = ut means ne and ne means ut.
“Velociraptor metuit ne Verres praedonem vindicaret.” “The raptor feared that Verres would avenge the pirate.”
The Cum clause: When cum means so much more than with.
Cum + indicative = “When,”
Cum + subjunctive = “When,” “Since,” or “Although.” Use context before context uses you.

The subjunctive in If...., Then... statements.

Present (necet) subjunctive If x should verb (in the future) y would verb (in the future)
Imperfect (necaret) subjunctive If x were verbing (right now) y would be verbing. (right now)
Pluperfect (necavisset) subj. If x had verbed (in the past) y would have verbed. (in the past)

3
Subordinate clause = a phrase that doesn’t make sense on its own. Eg. “The raptor ate him in order to sate her ravening hunger.”
4
AKA the indirect question: “Caesar rogavit cur velociraptor irata esset.” = “Caesar asked why the velociraptor was angry.”