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• Classic-Fiction

make an effort, hurry

vetus, veteris

old

aetaÅs, -taÅtis, f.

time, age

ultimus, -a, -um

furthest, most extreme

lõÅbertaÅs, -taÅtis, f.

liberty

servitus, -tuÅtis, f.

slavery

adimoÅ, adimere, adeÅmõÅ, ademptus

remove, take away

inquõÅsõÅtioÅ, -oÅnis, f.

trial

loquor, loquõÅ, locuÅtus sum

speak

commercium, -õÅ, n.

exchange, commerce

Indirect Statement

An indirect statement is the reporting of another statement, originally ``direct.'

Direct:

The poets are working in the ®eld.

Indirect:

He says that the poets are working in the ®eld.

CHAPTER 9 Syntax of the Complex Sentence

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English uses the conjunction ``that'' to make a subordinate clause of the original direct statement.

Latin does not express indirect statement by subordinate clause. Instead, it uses a subject accusative and in®nitive construction. That is, the subject of the statement given in indirect form will be put into the accusative case and the verb in the in®nitive:

DõÅcit poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ laboÅraÅre.

He says that the poets are working in the

®eld.

The English word ``that'' must be supplied in the translation, though the Latin does not have it.

Any word signifying thought, speech, feeling, rumor, etc. can initiate an indirect statement:

RuÅmor erat poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ

There was a rumor that the poets were

laboÅraÅre.

working in the ®eld.

Remember that, like participles, in®nitives in Latin show only three tenses: present, perfect, and future. Also like participles, in®nitives in an indirect statement must be translated according to the rules of relative time.

The present in®nitive shows time simultaneous with that of the main verb: DõÅceÅbat poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ laboÅraÅre.

He said that the poets were working in

the ®eld.

Here the present in®nitive laboÅraÅre shows time simultaneous with the main verb dõÅceÅbat in the imperfect tense and so is translated ` were working.'

DõÅcet poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ laboÅraÅre.

He will say that the poets are working.7

The perfect in®nitive shows time prior to that of the main verb: DõÅcit poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ laboÅraÅvisse.

He says that the poets worked in the

®eld.

DõÅceÅbat poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ laboÅraÅvisse.

He said that the poets had worked in the

®elds.

DõÅcet poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ laboÅraÅvisse.

He will say that the poets have worked in

the ®elds.

The future in®nitive shows time subsequent to that of the main verb: DõÅcit poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ laboÅraÅtuÅroÅs esse.

He says that the poets will work in the

®eld.

DõÅceÅbat poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ laboÅraÅtuÅroÅs

He said that the poets would work in the

esse.

®eld.

DõÅcet poeÅtaÅs in agroÅ laboÅraÅtuÅroÅs esse.

He will say that the poets will work in

the ®eld.

7 Here the English says `àre working.' It means they will be working at the same time as he says it.

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CHAPTER 9 Syntax of the Complex Sentence

Note that the form of the future in®nitive laboÅraÅtuÅroÅs esse must agree in gender, number, and case with the subject accusative poeÅtaÅs, which is masculine accusative plural.

A subject of different gender and number would require a different form: DõÅcit feÅminaÅm in agroÅ laboÅraÅtuÅram

He says that the woman will work in the

esse.

®eld.

Here laboÅraÅtuÅram agrees with the feminine noun feÅminam.

This consideration also applies to the perfect passive in®nitive: DõÅcit urbem captam esse.

He says that the city was captured.

Here captam must agree with the feminine urbem.

Exercises

12. Translate the following. Pay particular attention to the relative time of the in®nitive and the main verb.

1. PutaÅmus reÅgõÅnam esse miseram.

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2. PutaÅmus reÅgõÅnam miseram fuisse.

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3. PutaÅmus reÅgõÅnam cum noÅbõÅs noÅn locuÅtuÅram esse.

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4. Putat maÅtreÅs mõÅlitum mortuoÅrum ad mare ambulaÅre.

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