Latin/Lesson 3-Subjunctive Imperfect
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| Intro: | 1 • 2 |
| Chapter 1 | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 |
| Chapter 2 | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 |
| Chapter 3 | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 |
| Chapter 4 | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 |
| Chapter 5 | 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 |
The conjugation of the subjunctive imperfect active follows a simple rule. The verb in its infinitive form, that is, the second principle part, (amare, to love, for example) simply has the subjunctive endings appended onto it as follows:
ego amarem
tu amares
is amaret
nos amaremus
vos amaretis
ei amarent
the passive voice is formed by the addition of passive voice endings onto the infinitive stem
ego amarer
tu amareris
is amaretur
nos amaremur
vos amaremini
ei amarentur
Application
The imperfect subjunctive is only used for complex syntactic contructions; cum clauses and indirect questions and the like. Rarely, if ever, does it stand alone.
Because/Cum
One application is in its use of 'cum' in the sense of 'because' as a clause. e.g.
- Diutius cum sustinere nostrorum impetus non possent, Helvetii se in montem receperunt.
- When(Because) the Helvetis could not sustain/resist our attacks for long, they retreated to the mountains.