Latin for Beginners

by Benjamin L. D'Ooge

[ LESSON LXXIV]

VOCABULARY REVIEW · THE SUBJUNCTIVE IN INDIRECT QUESTIONS

[429.] Review the word lists in [§§ 517], [518].

[430.] When we report a statement instead of giving it directly, we have an indirect statement. (Cf. [§ 414].) So, if we report a question instead of asking it directly, we have an indirect question.

Direct Question	Indirect Question
Who conquered the Gauls?	He asked who conquered the Gauls

a. An indirect question depends, usually as object, upon a verb of asking (as petō, postulō, quaerō, rogō) or upon some verb or expression of saying or mental action. (Cf. [§ 420].)

[431.] Compare the following direct and indirect questions:

Direct	Indirect
Quis Gallōs vincit? Who is conquering the Gauls?	a.	Rogat quis Gallōs vincat He asks who is conquering the Gauls
	b.	Rogavit quis Gallōs vinceret He asked who was conquering the Gauls
Ubī est Rōma? Where is Rome?	a.	Rogat ubi sit Rōma He asks where Rome is
	b.	Rogāvit ubi esset Rōma He asked where Rome was
Caesarne Gallōs vīcit? Did Cæsar conquer the Gauls?	a.	Rogat num Caesar Gallōs vīcerit He asks whether Cæsar conquered the Gauls
	b.	Rogāvit num Caesar Gallōs vīcisset He asked whether Cæsar had conquered the Gauls

a. The verb in a direct question is in the indicative mood, but the mood is subjunctive in an indirect question.

b. The tense of the subjunctive follows the rules for tense sequence.