Chapter 33Chapter 33

Conditional StatementsConditional Statements

What is a condition?What is a condition?

While you may not be accustomed to While you may not be accustomed to the term “conditional statement,” you the term “conditional statement,” you use them in various forms every day.use them in various forms every day.

An at least two-part statement which An at least two-part statement which indicates that one state or act is indicates that one state or act is dependent (conditional) upon the dependent (conditional) upon the occurrence of another state or action.occurrence of another state or action.

““If I drink too much, I say stupid things.”If I drink too much, I say stupid things.”

StructureStructure

As mentioned before, a conditional As mentioned before, a conditional statement requires at least two statement requires at least two formal sections:formal sections:– The “if” section called a The “if” section called a protasisprotasis..– The “then” section called an The “then” section called an apodosisapodosis..

ProtasisProtasis

This is formally a subordinate clause.This is formally a subordinate clause. It establishes the premises or It establishes the premises or

conditions under which the action or conditions under which the action or state of the apodosis occur. state of the apodosis occur.

There may be more than one.There may be more than one. In English, it is usually introduced In English, it is usually introduced

with “if”, “whenever”, “unless”, etc.with “if”, “whenever”, “unless”, etc. In Latin, it is usually introduced with In Latin, it is usually introduced with

sīsī or or nisinisi..

ApodosisApodosis

This is formally the independent or This is formally the independent or main clause.main clause.

It establishes what action or state It establishes what action or state occurs or hypothetically occurs if the occurs or hypothetically occurs if the conditions are met.conditions are met.

There may be more than one.There may be more than one. There are no key terms that indicate There are no key terms that indicate

this portion of the sentence as it is this portion of the sentence as it is the main clause.the main clause.

Types of ConditionsTypes of Conditions

There are two formal types of There are two formal types of conditional statements in Latin.conditional statements in Latin.– General/Specific indicated by the use of General/Specific indicated by the use of

the indicative mood.the indicative mood.– Potential indicated by the use of the Potential indicated by the use of the

subjunctive mood.subjunctive mood. Both of these have three major Both of these have three major

subsets based upon the tense of the subsets based upon the tense of the verbs.verbs.

General/ParticularGeneral/Particular

These are indicated by the use of the These are indicated by the use of the indicative mood verbs.indicative mood verbs.– Present General/ParticularPresent General/Particular

If I’m here, she is too.If I’m here, she is too.

– Past General/ParticularPast General/Particular If I was there, she was too.If I was there, she was too.

– Future General/ParticularFuture General/Particular If she will be there, I will be too.If she will be there, I will be too.

PotentialPotential

These are indicated by the use of the These are indicated by the use of the subjunctive mood verbs.subjunctive mood verbs.– Present Potential – Imperfect Present Potential – Imperfect

SubjunctivesSubjunctives If she If she werewere here, I here, I wouldwould be happy. be happy.

– Past Potential – Pluperfect SubjunctivesPast Potential – Pluperfect Subjunctives If she If she hadhad been here, I been here, I would havewould have been been

happy.happy.

– Future Potential – Present SubjunctivesFuture Potential – Present Subjunctives If she If she shouldshould be there, I be there, I wouldwould be happy. be happy.

ExamplesExamples

sī pecūniam amās, sapientiā carēs.sī pecūniam amās, sapientiā carēs. sī vēritātem quaesīvissēmus, sī vēritātem quaesīvissēmus,

scientiam invēnissēmus.scientiam invēnissēmus. multōs amīcōs āmitterētis, nisi īram multōs amīcōs āmitterētis, nisi īram

vītārētis. vītārētis. laudāvimus eum, sī quis bonōs mōrēs laudāvimus eum, sī quis bonōs mōrēs

habuit.habuit. sī istī vincant, discēdāmus.sī istī vincant, discēdāmus.