Chapter 30 Indirect Questions Sequence of Tenses Indirect
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Chapter 30 Indirect Questions Sequence of Tenses
Indirect Questions n Another subordinate use of the subjunctive. n Reports what someone asks without directly quoting that person. n Similar to the concept of the Indirect Statement with a Subjunctive verb instead of an accusative-infinitive construction.
Indirect Questions n Identified by: – a main verb of asking, telling, thinking (similar to indirect statement) – an interrogative word – a subjunctive verb in the subordinate clause n Interrogatives: – quis, quid / quī, quae, quod – quam, quandō, cūr, ubi, unde, uter, utrum, an, -ne
English Examples n Dad asked us where we were going today. n The class wondered what questions would be on the next test. n The children debated whether Santa Claus brought the presents or not.
Latin Examples n ille auctor narrābat nōbīs quantā cum cūrā Rōmulus moenia urbis condidisset. n ōrātor repente rogāvit cūr cēterī cīvēs ingenium huius virī nōn cognōvissent. n nesciō utrum vīvī an mortuī plūs honōris crās acceptūrī sint.
Sequence of Tenses n This describes the way in which a speaker/writer proceeds from the main clause into a subordinate clause. n So, in English one can’t say, “I was there when he is here. ” To be correct, one must say, “I was there when he was here. ” n Because the main clause contains a past tense verb the subordinate clause agrees in its tense.
Latin Sequence Structure n Because subordination is often indicated by the subjunctive mood in Latin, the sequence of tenses begins with an indicative verb (usually) and then contains a subjunctive in the subordinate clause. n There are two groupings in Latin sequence of tenses: Primary and Secondary (Historical)
Primary Sequence n This sequence is made up of incomplete action tenses – Present – Future n The subordinates for primary sequence are either – Present subjunctive – action at the same time – Perfect subjunctive – action previous to
Secondary Sequence n This sequence is made up of complete action tenses – All past tenses n The are subordinates for secondary sequence – Imperfect subjunct. – action at the same time – Pluperfect subjunct. – action previous to
The Main Point n The main thing to remember is that the subjunctive in the subordinate clause will translate to English differently depending upon its main clause verb.
