Sequence of Tenses with Subjunctives

Sequence of Tenses with Subjunctive Subordinate Clauses and How to Translate Them

Chapter 35 Grammar Concept with Subjunctives

​Sequence of Tenses

• ​applies to sentences that have a main and a subordinate or dependent clause

• ​subordinate clauses can't exist by themselves

• ​subordinate clauses in Latin use the subjunctive mood (so far)

• ​we know 3 subordinate clauses right now: indirect command, cum clause, purpose clause

​Grammar Terms for the Main Verb

​I had given you some new grammar terms to label the tense of the main verb (aka the verb in the independent clause).

​

​Primary Sequence -> the main/indicative verb is present or future tense

​

​Secondary Sequence -> the main/indicative verb is one of our past tenses (imperfect, perfect, pluperfect)

Multiple Choice

clamat

• primary 

• secondary sequence

Multiple Choice

clamavit

• primary sequence

• secondary sequence

Multiple Choice

clamabat

• primary sequence

• secondary sequence

Multiple Choice

puniebatur

• primary sequence

• secondary sequence

Multiple Choice

puniunt

• primary sequence

• secondary sequence

Multiple Choice

Quintus imperat ut Pompeius Delphos iter faciat.

• primary sequence

• secondary sequence

Multiple Choice

Quintus imperavit ut Pompeius Delphos iter faceret.

• primary sequence

• secondary sequence

Multiple Choice

Quintus ad Macedoniam navigabat ut contra Antonio militaret.

• primary sequence

• secondary sequence

Multiple Choice

Quintus ad Macedoniam navigabit ut contra Antonio militet.

• primary sequence

• secondary sequence

Poll

How confident are you on identifying sequence?

• I definitely have that part figured out

• I'll get there with a little more practice.

• I need more time but get the general idea.

• I have no idea what's going on.

Time of Action​

Step 2​

What is ​Sequence of Tenses?

​Sequence of tenses is the grammar concept that the tense of the subjunctive is telling you when the action of the subordinate clause is happening in relation to the main verb (not when the time of action is by itself like normal).

​

Yes, this is a tricky idea, I will give you a chart of answers to help simplify it.

​

​

​Pause: do we remember subjunctive tenses?

​Present Subjunctive: vowel change (shE wEArs A dIAmond tIAra)

​

​Imperfect Subjunctive: whole infinitive + ending

​

​Perfect Subjunctive: -eri- OR 2 words + si-

​

​Pluperfect Subjunctive: -isse- OR 2 words + esse-

Multiple Choice

videretur

• present

• imperfect

• perfect

• pluperfect

Multiple Choice

visi simus

• present

• imperfect

• perfect

• pluperfect

Multiple Choice

videamus

• present

• imperfect

• perfect

• pluperfect

Multiple Choice

vidissetis

• present

• imperfect

• perfect

• pluperfect

Multiple Choice

visus esset

• present

• imperfect

• perfect

• pluperfect

Multiple Choice

viderim

• present

• imperfect

• perfect

• pluperfect

Poll

How confident are you on identifying tense on the subjunctive?

• I definitely have that part figured out

• I'll get there with a little more practice.

• I need more time but get the general idea.

• I have no idea what's going on.

​Chart of Answers

​Steps to Take

• ​Step 1: find both of the verbs

• Step 2: figure out what sequence you're in from the main verb

• ​Step 3: figure out what tense the subjunctive verb is and thus the time of the action

• ​Step 4: translate according to that time of action

Multiple Choice

Cum Quintus ad Macedoniam naviget, Brutus milites convocat.

• Primary Sequence

• Secondary Sequence

Multiple Choice

Cum Quintus ad Macedoniam naviget, Brutus milites convocat.

• Present Subjunctive

• Imperfect Subjunctive

• Perfect Subjunctive

• Pluperfect Subjuctive

Multiple Choice

Cum Quintus ad Macedoniam naviget, Brutus milites convocat.

• Same Time

• Time Before

Multiple Choice

Cum Quintus ad Macedoniam naviget, Brutus milites convocat.

• When Quintus sails to Macedonia...

• When Quintus was sailing to Macedonia...

• When Quintus had sailed to Macedonia...

Multiple Choice

Cum Quintus ad Macedoniam navigavisset, Brutus milites convocabat.

• Primary Sequence

• Secondary Sequence

Multiple Choice

Cum Quintus ad Macedoniam navigavisset, Brutus milites convocabat.

• Present Subjunctive

• Imperfect Subjunctive

• Perfect Subjunctive

• Pluperfect Subjuctive

Multiple Choice

Cum Quintus ad Macedoniam navigavisset, Brutus milites convocabat.

• Same Time

• Time Before

Multiple Choice

Cum Quintus ad Macedoniam navigavisset, Brutus milites convocabat.

• When Quintus sails to Macedonia...

• When Quintus was sailing to Macedonia...

• When Quintus had sailed to Macedonia...

Multiple Choice

Quintus militavit ut patrem Marci vindicaret.

• Primary Sequence

• Secondary Sequence

Multiple Choice

Quintus militavit ut patrem Marci vindicaret.

• Primary Sequence

• Imperfect Subjunctive

• Perfect Subjunctive

• Pluperfect Subjunctive

Multiple Choice

Quintus militavit ut patrem Marci vindicaret.

• Same Time

• Time Before

Multiple Choice

Quintus militavit ut patrem Marci vindicaret.

• ... so that he may avenge Marcus' father.

• ... so that he may have avenged Marcus' father.

• ... so that he might avenge Marcus' father.

• ... so that he might have avenged Marcus' father.

Poll

How confident are you on sequence of tenses?

• I definitely have this whole thing figured out

• I'll get there with a little more practice.

• I need more time but get the general idea.

• I have no idea what's going on.