"If-clauses" are conditional clauses when the word if means "under the condition that." There are two major types of conditional structures: 1. factual and 2. contrafactual (contrary to fact).
1. If Marcus loves Julia, she loves him. |
Sî Marcus Iûliam amat, |
Present factual: present indicative |
2. If Marcus [at one time] loved Julia, [then] she [at one time] loved him. |
Sî Marcus Iûliam amâvit, |
Past factual: perfect / imperfect indicative |
3. If Marcus loves Julia [in the sense of "someday in the future loves her"], she will love him. |
Sî Marcus Iûliam amâverit, |
Future more vivid: future / future perfect indicative |
4. If Marcus should [perhaps ever some day] love Julia, |
Sî Marcus Iûliam amet, |
Future less vivid (should-would): present subjunctive |
5. If Marcus loved Julia [but he doesn't love her now], |
Sî Marcus Iûliam amâret, |
Present contrary to fact: imperfect subjunctive |
6. If Marcus had loved Julia, |
Sî Marcus Iûliam amâvisset, |
Past contrary to fact: past perfect subjunctive |
It is possible to have a mixing of tenses:
If you had found me sooner, I would be free now.
Sî mê citius invênissês, lîber nunc essem.
Latin Teaching Materials at Saint Louis University: © Claude Pavur 1997 - 2009. This material is being made freely available for non-commercial educational use.
