Ut Clauses with Subjunctive Verbs

You are introduced to the subjunctive mood in clauses using "ut." (We have seen "ut" used previously with an indicative verb to make a comparison where we translate "ut" as "like/as")

What is the subjunctive mood? While the indicative mood refers to stating facts or asking about facts, the subjunctive mood in one way or another expresses someone's will or wish or purpose.

We will see, beginning with Lesson 27, various ut clauses with subjunctive verbs:

1. To give commands: I order that you gather the sheep/I order you to gather the sheep;

2. To express the object of one's work or effort: I brought it about that the sheep leave the field;

3. To express purpose: I call you so that you gather the sheep/I call you to gather the sheep;

4. To express the result of some action: It is so dry that the grain crop is bad.

What to take away from all of this rigamarole for the purpose of reading Latin?

You will often translate the "ut" as "that" when you have a subjunctive verb. If the verb is indicative, then you translate the "ut" with the word "like" or "as" to make a comparison.

How do you recognize a verb in the present subjunctive?

Look the vowels at the end of the verb. They follow this pattern found in a funny English sentence:

"Wendy wears a giant diaper."

1st Conjugation: The "e" in "Wendy"---vocet, he calls;

2nd Conjugation: The "ea" in "wears"---moneat, he warns;

3rd Conjugation: The "a" that is the English word "a"---legat, he reads;

3rd "io" Conjugation: The "ia" in "giant"---capiat, he takes;

4th Conjugation: The "ia" in "diaper"---audiat, he hears.