Schaum's Outline of Latin Grammar - Alan Fishbone [46]
The perfect subjunctive tells us that what you did happened before the time of my knowing, as if to say `Ì now know what you did then.'
1 The perfect indicative is unusual in that it has potentially two different time values, one past (``did'') and one present (``have done''). Because this is so, it may lead to primary or secondary sequence in a given context.
However, this should be something to consider at more advanced stages of study.
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In secondary sequence, the imperfect subjunctive expresses a time simultaneous with (sometimes subsequent to) that of the main verb: ScieÅbam quid facereÅs.
I knew what you were doing.
The pluperfect subjunctive expresses a time prior to that of the main verb: ScieÅbam quid feÅcisseÅs.
I knew what you had done.
As stated above, though there are many different categories of subordinate clauses, for the most part it is possible to handle them correctly by knowing what their subordinating conjunctions mean and remembering the rules of sequence for uses of the subjunctive.
Temporal Clauses
Temporal clauses situate the action of the main clause in time by relating it to something else. There are many different subordinating conjunctions that introduce them.
Some temporal conjunctions take the indicative:
postquam
after
cum
when
ut
when
ubi
when
Cum mõÅliteÅs urbem võÅceÅrunt,
When the soldiers conquered the town,
servõÅ fuÅgeÅrunt.
the slaves ¯ed.
Some can take the indicative or subjunctive:
antequam
before
priusquam
before
dum
until
doÅnec
until
quoad
until
They take the indicative to represent facts:
PoeÅtae fuÅgeÅrunt antequam mõÅliteÅs
The poets ¯ed before the soldiers
urbem ceÅpeÅrunt.
captured the city.
The Latin tells us that the capture of the city actually took place.
MõÅliteÅs pugnaÅbant doÅnec poeÅtae
The soldiers fought until the poets ¯ed.
fuÅgeÅrunt.
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These conjunctions take the subjunctive to represent something foreseen or anticipated:
PoÅetae fuÅgeÅrunt antequam mõÅliteÅs
The poets ¯ed before the soldiers could
urbem caperent.
capture the city.
The Latin tells us that the capture of the city is something anticipated by the poets. It does not tell us whether or not it actually took place.
The imperfect subjunctive is used here because the main verb fuÅgeÅrunt refers to the past, creating secondary sequence. In primary sequence, the present subjunctive would be used:
PoeÅtae fugient antequam mõÅliteÅs
The poets will ¯ee before the soldiers
urbem capiant.
can capture the city.
Causal Clauses
A causal clause gives the cause for the main clause.
Some conjunctions take the indicative:
quando
because
quoniam
because
Quoniam mõÅliteÅs urbem ceÅpeÅrunt,
Because the soldiers captured the city,
poeÅtae fuÅgeÅrunt.
the poets ¯ed.
Some take the subjunctive:
cum
because
Cum mõÅliteÅs urbem ceÅpissent,
Because the soldiers had captured the
poeÅtae fuÅgeÅrunt.
city, the poets ¯ed.
The pluperfect subjunctive ceÅpissent is used in secondary sequence and shows time prior to the main verb.
The imperfect subjunctive would show time simultaneous: Cum mõÅliteÅs urbem caperent,
Because the soldiers were capturing the
poeÅtae fuÅgeÅrunt.
city, the poets ¯ed.
In primary sequence the present subjunctive shows time simultaneous: Cum mõÅliteÅs urbem capiant,
Because the soldiers are capturing the
poeÅtae fugiunt.
city, the poets are ¯eeing.
The perfect subjunctive shows time prior:
Cum mõÅliteÅs urbem ceÅperint,
Because the soldiers have captured the
poeÅtae fuÅgiunt.
city, the poets are ¯eeing.
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Some conjunctions can take the indicative or the subjunctive: quod
because
quia
because
They take the indicative to assert a cause as fact.
Quod mõÅliteÅs urbem ceÅpeÅrunt,
Because the soldiers (actually) captured
poeÅtae fuÅgeÅrunt.
the city, the poets ¯ed.
They take the subjunctive to express a cause given by someone other than the writer of the sentence:
The poets