Latin for Beginners

by Benjamin L. D'Ooge

[ LESSON LXII]

THE SUBJUNCTIVE OF PURPOSE

[348.] Observe the sentence

Caesar hominēs mittit quī pontem reperiant,
Cæsar sends men to find the bridge

The verb reperiant in the dependent clause is in the subjunctive because it tells us what Cæsar wants the men to do; in other words, it expresses his will and the purpose in his mind. Such a use of the subjunctive is called the subjunctive of purpose.

[349.] Rule. Subjunctive of Purpose. The subjunctive is used in a dependent clause to express the purpose of the action in the principal clause.

[350.] A clause of purpose is introduced as follows:

I. If something is wanted, by

quī, the relative pronoun (as above) ut, conj., in order that, that quō (abl. of quī, by which), in order that, that, used when the purpose clause contains a comparative. The ablative quō expresses the measure of difference. (Cf. [§ 317].)

II. If something is not wanted, by