Chapter 33- Conditionals

Conditions: the Basics

A condition is, at its most basic, a compound sentence consisting of two parts:

1.A “if” clause

2.A main clause

In grammatical terms, the “if” clause is called the protasis and the main clause is called the apodosis.

Conditions: the Basics

If you give a mouse a cookie, protasis

apodosis he’s going to want a glass of milk.

apodosis

protasis

Types of Conditions

Conditions, like all other verbs, can only occur at three times: present, past, and future.

All the tenses have one ‘simple’ condition and one ‘subjunctive’ condition.

The simple (indicative) constructions show conditions that are likely, while the subjunctive conditionals show hypothetical conditions

Present: simple, contrary-to-fact

Past: simple, contrary-to-fact

Future: simple (more vivid), less vivid

Simple Conditions

Simple Conditions refer to reality and, therefore, employ only ***indicative*** verbs.

Present simple conditions use the present indicative, Past simple conditions use any past tense (imperfect, perfect, pluperfect) in the indicative, and Future simple conditions use the future indicative.

Sī laetus es, laeta sum. = If you’re happy, I’m happy.Sī amīcōs habēbat, fortunam bonam habēbat. = If he had friends,

he had good fortune.Sī hostēs nōn vincēs, tē nōn laudābit. = If you will not (do not)

conquer the enemies, I shall not praise you.

Translation Practice

Examples:

1. Sī Marcus mēcum pugnat, eum certē superō.

2. Sī ad īnsulam veniēs, tē semper amābis.

3. Sī Rōmae erāmus, civēs timēbāmus.

Contrary-to-Fact Conditions

Contrary-to-fact conditions describe hypothetical statements and occur in 2 tenses of the subjunctive:The imperfect tense describes a present situation and the pluperfect tense describes a past situation.

Sī pecūniam multam habērem, urbem regerem. = If I possessed a lot of money, I would rule the city.Sī dictum verum amīcae dixisses, tēcum cedisset. = If you had told your girlfriend a true story, she would have gone with you.

Translation Practice

Examples:

1. Sī mater vīveret, tuam amīcam amāret.

2. Sī militēs iussisses, laetē ā tē iussī essent.

Future Less Vivid Condition

The Future Less Vivid Condition is the basic “should/would” condition in Latin (i.e., If he should X, I would Y.)

It is indicated by the present subjunctive.

Sī īnsulā abeamus, mi amīce, fortunam bonam habeamus. = If we should leave this island, my friend, we would have good fortune.

Sī bonōs inveniatis, hostēs vincamus. = If you should find (some) good men, we would conquer the enemies.

Translation Practice

Examples:

1. Sī consilium in templō petam, ā deīs detur.

2. Sī hostibus nostram urbem tradamus, nōs, patrēs conscriptī, nōn valeamus!

3. Sī moenia oppidī vincant, eōs pugnem aut ā eīs interficiar.

Mixed Conditions

While Wheelock (for now) will only be giving you the pure forms of these Conditions, please note that you can have mixed Conditions in which you have a protasis that indicates one type and an apodosis that indicates another type. Just focus on the type of condition for each clause and translate accordingly.

Si laboravisset, pecuniam non optaretSi laborabat , pecuniam non optabit .

Another common trend in Latin is to replace the usual verb of the protasis with an imperative or jussive/hortatory subjunctiveCondition.

Translation Practice

Examples:

1. Sī solum virum bonum inveniamus, nōs ad gloriam famamque ducet!

2. Sī nostrōs in bellum nōn duxissem, ab hostibus nōn interficerentur.

Present Protasis Apodosis Simple Present Indicative Present Indicative Contrary-to-Fact Imperfect Subjunctive Imperfect SubjunctivePast

Simple Past Indicative Past Indicative Contrary-to-Fact Pluperfect Subjunctive Pluperfect SubjunctiveFuture

Simple Future Indicative Future Indicative Less Vivid Present Subjunctive Present Subjunctive