Learning path
Latin Level 3: constructions
The subjunctive and the great constructions: purpose, result, indirect commands, fearing, participles and the ablative absolute, cum clauses, gerunds, and reported speech and questions. Ends with the Advanced self-test.
14 lessons, about 50 minutes in all. Take them in order.
- amem, regam, sim: the present subjunctive 4 min
A new mood for wishes, commands to ourselves and ideas rather than facts.
- ut, nē, quī: purpose clauses 3 min
"In order to" in Latin prose is never an infinitive. It is usually ut (or nē) with the subjunctive.
- amārem, essem: the imperfect subjunctive and the sequence of tenses 4 min
The infinitive plus endings, and how the main verb picks the tense of the subjunctive.
- amāverim, amāvissem; indirect commands 3 min
The perfect and pluperfect subjunctive, and "he urged them to …" with ut or nē.
- possim; "I fear that …" 3 min
The subjunctive of possum, and why nē means "that" after a verb of fearing.
- amāns, amātus, amātūrus, amandus: participles 3 min
Four participles, what time each shows, and how to turn them into good English.
- volō, nōlō, mālō; the ablative absolute 4 min
Wish, be unwilling, prefer; and "with Caesar leading", Latin's favourite compact clause.
- fīō; "so … that": result clauses 4 min
The passive of faciō, and ut / ut nōn with the subjunctive for consequences.
- "The man to lead us": clauses of characteristic 3 min
Relative clauses with the subjunctive that describe what kind of person or thing, and the predicate accusative.
- cum: when, since, although 3 min
The three meanings of the conjunction cum, which mood follows, and the ablative of specification.
- amandī, ad urbem videndam: gerund and gerundive 4 min
The verbal noun "-ing" and its adjective partner, purpose with ad or causā, and the predicate genitive.
- eō; "he said that …": indirect statement 4 min
The verb "go", and how Latin reports what someone says or thinks with an accusative and infinitive.
- ferō; the dative with compounds; indirect questions 4 min
The irregular verb "carry", compounds that take the dative, and "he asked who …" with the subjunctive.
- The cases and the moods: a review 4 min
The dative of purpose, description by genitive or ablative, and every use of the cases and the subjunctive in one place.