The principles of Latin grammar; comprising the ... - Essan.org

§ 42 THE VERB.— MOODS. 891st. It represents the action or state expressedby it as conditional or contingent.Thus used, it corresponds to the English subjunctive, or tothe indicative used subjunctively (An. and Pr. Gr., 386) ; as,si redeat, videbimus, "if he return, we shall see him."2d. It represents an action or state, as whatmay, can, will; might, could, would, or should,take place in certain circumstances.Thus used, it corresponds to the English potential (An. andPr. Gr., 380) ; as, edimus ut vivamus, non vivimus ut edamus," we eat that we may live—not live that we may eat ;" signumdatum crederes,been given.""you would suppose that the signal had3d. It is used to express a fact in a dependentproposition, connected with the leading verb byan adverb, conjunction, relative, or indefiniteterm.Thus used, it is commonly rendered by the indicative inEnglish ; as, nescit qui sim, " he knows not who I am."143.— Obs. 3. The subjunctive mood is sometimes used inan independent proposition, in order to soften the assertionmade ; as, Nemo istud Mi concedat, " nobody probably wouldconcede that to you." (625).144.— Obs. 4. The subjunctive is used also in independentpropositions, to express a wish, desire, or command ;as, utinam saperes, " O that thou wert wise;" quod bene vertat, "mayit turn out well;" sic eat, " thus let her go ;" facias, "do it."See Obs. 5.145.— Obs. 5. When this mood is used in independent propositions, ina potential, optative, or imperative sense, still it ought to be regarded asstrictly subjunctive, having the primary or leading clause evidently understood,on which the meaning of the mood in each case depends.Thus" I may write," licet mild ut, or est ut scribam; " I shall, or will write."futurum est, or hit ut scribam; " I should write," oportet, cequum est ut, orest cur scriberem; " I should have written," oportebat, &C, ut scripsissem;" that they were wise," peropto utinam saperent; " may it turn out well.