Subjunctive Lesson 3: Indirect questions

Subjunctive Lesson 3: Indirect questions

By Dan Conway

Multiple Choice

So, last week we learned a new verb form. What was it called again?

• Indicative

• Subjunctive

Multiple Select

Right, the subjunctive. And which of these words can be used with it again? (there are two)

• et

• at

• ut

• nē

• mē

Open Ended

What does this sentence mean?

Cornēlius epistulam scrīpsit ut amīcus ad vīllam venīret.

Open Ended

How about this one?

Cornēlius epistulam scrīpsit nē amīcus ad vīllam venīret.

Multiple Choice

You can also use the subjunctive with question words. Let's review them. How do you say "what"?

• Quis?

• Quid?

• Ubi?

• Cūr?

• Quōmodo?

Multiple Choice

How do you say "Where"?

• Quis?

• Quandō?

• Ubi?

• Cūr?

• Quōmodo?

Multiple Choice

How do you say "Who"?

• Quis?

• Quandō?

• Unde?

• Cūr?

• Quōmodo?

Multiple Choice

How do you say "Why"?

• Quō?

• Quandō?

• Unde?

• Cūr?

• Quōmodo?

Multiple Choice

How do you say "How"?

• Quō?

• Quandō?

• Unde?

• Quālis?

• Quōmodo?

Multiple Choice

How do you say "When"?

• Quō?

• Quandō?

• Unde?

• Quālis?

Multiple Choice

How do you say "What kind of"?

• Quō?

• Unde?

• Quālis?

Multiple Choice

How do you say "From where"?

• Quō?

• Unde?

Multiple Choice

How do you say "To where"?

• Quō?

• Unde?

Open Ended

Write three questions in Latin with things you're wondering about the Cornelii. Go! 

Here are the ones I wrote:

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• Cūr Cornēlia semper legit?

• Quid Flāvia in vīllā facit?

• Ubi est pater Sextī?

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​Now, let's think about who knew, or didn't know, the answers to these questions.

​

We'll use "sciēbat" for "he/she/it knew" and "nesciēbat" for "he/she/it didn't know."

​

• Flāvia sciēbat cūr Cornēlia semper legeret.

• Cornēlia nesciēbat quid Flāvia in vīllā faceret.

• Cornēlia nesciēbat ubi pater Sextī esset.

Poll

And what did you notice about those sentences?...

...the verb in the question changed to the subjunctive!

Why is it in the subjunctive? Because you use the subjunctive for what are called indirect questions.

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"Cūr Cornēlia legit?" is a direct question. ("Why does Cornelia read?")

​

"Nesciēbam cūr Cornēlia legeret." is an indirect question. ("I didn't know why Cornelia was reading.")

​

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"Quid Flāvia in vīllā facit?" is a direct question. ("What is Flavia doing in the country house?")

​

"Cornēlia sciēbat quid Flāvia in vīllā faceret." is an indirect question. ("Cornelia knew what Flavia was doing in the country house.")

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Open Ended

Here are some more examples. Translate.

Cornēlius nesciēbat cūr Sextus per vīllam curreret.

Open Ended

Translate.

Iānitor omnēs rogābant quis essent, quid vellent.

Open Ended

Now, take the questions you wrote earlier and write that someone knew, or did not know, the answer to that question. Remember to change the verb to the subjunctive! Use the formula at left.