Sing. 1. sim
2. sīs
3. sit 		Plur. 1. sīmus
2. sītis
3. sint

[346.] The Indicative and Subjunctive Compared. 1. The two most important of the finite moods are the indicative and the subjunctive. The indicative deals with facts either real or assumed. If, then, we wish to assert something as a fact or to inquire after a fact, we use the indicative.

2. On the other hand, if we wish to express a desire or wish, a purpose, a possibility, an expectation, or some such notion, we must use the subjunctive. The following sentences illustrate the difference between the indicative and the subjunctive ideas.

Indicative IdeasSubjunctive Ideas
1. He is brave Fortis est 1. May he be brave Fortis sit (idea of wishing)
2. We set out at once Statim proficīscimur 2. Let us set out at once Statim proficīscāmur (idea of willing)
3. You hear him every day Cotīdiē eum audīs 3. You can hear him every day Cotīdiē eum audiās (idea of possibility)
4. He remained until the ship arrived Mānsit dum nāvis pervēnit 4. He waited until the ship should arrive Exspectāvit dum nāvis pervenīret1 (idea of expectation)
5. Cæsar sends men who find the bridge Caesar mittit hominēs quī pontem reperiunt 5. Cæsar sends men who are to find (or to find) the bridge Caesar hominēs mittit quī pontem reperiant (idea of purpose)

1. pervenīret, imperfect subjunctive.

Note. From the sentences above we observe that the subjunctive may be used in either independent or dependent clauses; but it is far more common in the latter than in the former.

[347.] EXERCISE

Which verbs in the following paragraph would be in the indicative and which in the subjunctive in a Latin translation?

There have been times in the history of our country when you might be proud of being an American citizen. Do you remember the day when Dewey sailed into Manila Bay to capture or destroy the enemy’s fleet? You might have seen the admiral standing on the bridge calmly giving his orders. He did not even wait until the mines should be removed from the harbor’s mouth, but sailed in at once. Let us not despair of our country while such valor exists, and may the future add new glories to the past.

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