fīō; "so … that": result clauses
The passive of faciō, and ut / ut nōn with the subjunctive for consequences.
LatinAdvanced Latin · ClausesAbout 4 min: 2 reading, 2 practiceUpdated
- Conjugate fīō in the present system
- Express result with ut or ut nōn and the subjunctive
- Tell result clauses from purpose clauses
Latin Level 3: constructions: lesson 8 of 14
- Advanced Latin · The subjunctive
- amem, regam, sim: the present subjunctive 4 min
- ut, nē, quī: purpose clauses 3 min
- amārem, essem: the imperfect subjunctive and the sequence of tenses 4 min
- amāverim, amāvissem; indirect commands 3 min
- possim; "I fear that …" 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amāns, amātus, amātūrus, amandus: participles 3 min
- volō, nōlō, mālō; the ablative absolute 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- fīō; "so … that": result clauses 4 min
- "The man to lead us": clauses of characteristic 3 min
- cum: when, since, although 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amandī, ad urbem videndam: gerund and gerundive 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- eō; "he said that …": indirect statement 4 min
- ferō; the dative with compounds; indirect questions 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Review
- The cases and the moods: a review 4 min
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson LXVIII ("The Irregular Verb Fīō · The Subjunctive of Result"), §§ 383–387
What it is
fīō, fierī, factus sum (be made, become, happen) is the passive of faciō in the present system: fīō, fīs, fit, fīunt (the "we" and "you all" forms are rare); imperfect fīēbam; future fīam; subjunctive fīam, fierem. The perfect system comes from faciō: factus sum. The ī is long except before -er and in fit.
Result clauses say what follows from the main clause. They take ut (so that) or ut nōn (so that … not) with the subjunctive, but are translated like plain statements. A word like tam, ita, sīc (so) or tantus (so great) in the main clause usually signals one.
- Terror erat tantus ut omnēs fugerent. → The terror was so great that everyone fled.
- Terror fēcit ut omnēs fugerent. → Terror made everyone flee.
Purpose or result?
| Purpose | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | ut | ut |
| Negative | nē | ut nōn |
| Signal word | none | tam, ita, sīc, tantus |
- Tam graviter vulnerātus est ut caperētur. → He was so badly wounded that he was captured. (result)
- Graviter vulnerātus est ut caperētur. → He was badly wounded so that he might be captured. (purpose; an odd thought, which is the point)
Quick check
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"The town was so large that it was not taken."
- A negative result uses ut nōn
Show answer
Oppidum erat tam magnum ut nōn caperētur.. Result: ut nōn.
Why it matters
Cause and effect drive every narrative: so great a fear that they fled, so brave that no one could beat them. And telling purpose from result is one of the core skills for reading Latin.
Worked example
- Mīlitēs tam fortēs erant ut hostēs fugerent. → The soldiers were so brave that the enemy fled.
- Ita labōrāvit ut omnēs eum laudārent. → He worked so hard that everyone praised him.
- Rēx factus est. → He was made king.
Common mistake
Translating a result clause with "might" or "in order that": wrong: so brave that the enemy might flee. A result is a fact: so brave that the enemy fled.
Key terms
- fīō, fierī, factus sum
- be made, become, happen
- result clause
- ut / ut nōn + subjunctive: so that, with the result that
- tam
- so (with adjectives and adverbs)
- ita
- so, in such a way (usually with verbs)
- tantus, -a, -um
- so great
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 5 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| fīō, fierī, factus sum | be made, become, happen |
| result clause | ut / ut nōn + subjunctive: so that, with the result that |
| tam | so (with adjectives and adverbs) |
| ita | so, in such a way (usually with verbs) |
| tantus, -a, -um | so great |
Practice
Sort it
Purpose or result?
Venit ut nōs monēret.
No "so" word; it says why he came.Show answer
Purpose. No "so" word; it says why he came.
Tam fortis erat ut omnēs eum laudārent.
tam … ut: a consequence.Show answer
Result. tam … ut: a consequence.
Fūgērunt nē caperentur.
nē: negative purpose.Show answer
Purpose. nē: negative purpose.
Tantus erat terror ut nōn pugnārent.
tantus … ut nōn.Show answer
Result. tantus … ut nōn.
Quick quiz
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Present of fīō, "it"
- The ī is short in fit
Show answer
fit. fīō, fīs, fit.
Translate Tam fortis erat ut omnēs eum timērent.
- Results are facts: no "might"
Show answer
He was so brave that everyone feared him.. Result clause: translate as a fact.
Practise speaking
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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: tam, ita, tantus, ut, ut nōn, fortis, fortēs, magnus, erat, erant, fugerent, caperētur, laudārent, timērent, mīlitēs, hostēs, oppidum, omnēs, eum, fit, factus est, rēx. Say English sentences like 'the soldiers were so brave that the enemy fled' or 'the town was so large that it was not taken', and I will say them in Latin. Then ask me whether each clause is purpose or result. Do 8 sentences. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.
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Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. This course teaches the classical pronunciation (see lesson 1); AI voices may mix it with the Church (Italian-style) one, so ask for classical and check against lesson 1. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
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In short
- fīō, fierī, factus sum: passive of faciō; fit has a short i.
- Result: ut / ut nōn + subjunctive, often after tam, ita, sīc, tantus.
- Purpose negative nē; result negative ut nōn.
- Translate results as facts.
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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How does Latin say "so that … not" for a result?
Show answer
ut nōn.
Translate Rēx tantus erat ut omnēs eum timērent.
Show answer
The king was so great that everyone feared him.
What is the passive of faciō in the present system?
Show answer
fīō.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson LXVIII, §§ 383–387. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
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