Latin periphrases
| Latin grammar |
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In Latin, there are multiple periphrases for tense and mode. Here we list the most common.
Perfect periphrasis
[edit]The perfect periphrasis is composed of the sum auxiliary and a perfect participle such as ductus, ducta, ductum or by the īrī auxiliary and a supine such as ductum.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
- ego : ā Caesare : ductus sum = I : was led : by Caesar
- tū : ā Caesare : ductus es = you : were led : by Caesar
- homō : ā Caesare : ductus est = the man : was led : by Caesar
Moreover, the participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.
- homō : ā Caesare : ductus est = the man : was led : by Caesar
- mulier : ā Caesare : ducta est = the woman : was led : by Caesar
- puerī : ā Caesare : ductī sunt = the boys : were led : by Caesar
However, the supine in the 'īrī infinitive' paradigm does not vary.
- hominem : ā Caesare : ductum īrī = that : the man : would be led : by Caesar
- mulierem : ā Caesare : ductum īrī = that : the woman : would be led : by Caesar
- puerōs : ā Caesare : ductum īrī = that : the boys : would be led : by Caesar
| Paradigm | Latin Example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'indicative future' | divīsum erit | past in future | 'it will have been divided' |
| future | 'it will be divided' | ||
| 'indicative present' | divīsum est | past in present | 'it has been divided' |
| present | 'it is divided' | ||
| past | 'it was divided' | ||
| 'indicative imperfect' | divīsum erat | past in past | 'it had been divided' |
| past | 'it was divided' | ||
| 'indicative future perfect' | divīsum fuerit | past in past in future | 'it will have been divided earlier' |
| 'indicative perfect' | divīsum fuit | past in past in present | 'it has been divided earlier' |
| past in past | 'it had been divided' | ||
| 'indicative pluperfect' | divīsum fuerat | past in past in past | 'it had been divided earlier' |
| 'subjunctive present' | divīsum sit | -- | 'whether it is divided' |
| 'subjunctive imperfect' | divīsum esset | -- | 'whether it was divided' |
| 'subjunctive perfect' | divīsum fuerit | -- | 'whether it was divided' |
| 'subjunctive pluperfect' | divīsum fuisset | -- | 'whether it had been divided' |
| 'infinitive īrī' | ductum īrī | future in present | 'that I will be led' |
| future in past | 'that I would be led' | ||
| 'infinitive fore' | ductum fore | past in future in present | 'that I will have been led' |
| past in future in past | 'that I was going to have been led' | ||
| 'infinitive present' | ductum esse | past in present | 'that I was led' |
| past in past | 'that I had been led' | ||
| 'infinitive perfect' | ductum fuisse | past in past in present | 'that I had been led' |
| past in past in past | 'that I had been led earlier' | ||
| Paradigm | Latin Example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'indicative future' | locūtus erō | past in future | 'I will have said' |
| 'indicative present' | locūtus sum | past in present | 'I have said' |
| past | 'I said' | ||
| 'indicative imperfect' | locūtus eram | past in past | 'I had said' |
| 'indicative future perfect' | locūtus fuerō | past in past in future | 'I will have said earlier' |
| 'indicative perfect' | locūtus fuī | past in past in present | 'I have said earlier' |
| past in past | 'I had said' | ||
| 'indicative pluperfect' | locūtus fueram | past in past in past | 'I had said earlier' |
| 'subjunctive present' | locūtus sim | -- | 'whether I said' |
| 'subjunctive imperfect' | locūtus essem | -- | 'whether I had said' |
| 'subjunctive perfect' | locūtus fuerim | -- | -- |
| 'subjunctive pluperfect' | locūtus fuissem | -- | -- |
| 'infinitive īrī' | locūtum īrī | future in present | 'that I will say' |
| future in past | 'that I would say' | ||
| 'infinitive fore' | locūtum fore | past in future in present | 'that I will have said' |
| past in future in past | 'that I was going to have said' | ||
| 'infinitive present' | locūtum esse | past in present | 'that I said' |
| past in past | 'that I had said' | ||
| 'infinitive perfect' | locūtum fuisse | past in past in present | 'that I had said' |
| past in past in past | 'that I had said earlier' | ||
Habeō perfect periphrasis
[edit]The habeō perfect periphrasis is composed of the habeō auxiliary and a perfect participle such as occultum.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
- ego : Caesarem : occultum habeō = I : held : Caesar : hidden
- tū : Caesarem : occultum habēs = you : held : Caesar : hidden
- homō : Caesarem : occultum habet = the man : held : Caesar : hidden
The participle varies according to the gender and number of the object.
- Caesar : hominem : occultum habet = Caesar : held : the man : hidden
- Caesar : mulierem : occultam habet = Caesar : held : the woman : hidden
- Caesar : puerōs : occultōs habet = Caesar : held : the boys : hidden
This became the regular way of forming the perfect in French and Italian.[1]
| Paradigm | Latin Example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'indicative present' | occultum habeō | past | 'I hid it' |
| 'indicative future' | occultum habēbō | past in future | 'I will have hidden it' |
| 'indicative imperfect' | occultum habēbam | past in past | 'I had hidden it' |
| 'indicative perfect' | occultum habuī | past in past | 'I had hidden it' |
| 'subjunctive present' | occultum habeam | -- | -- |
| 'subjunctive imperfect' | occultum habēbam | -- | -- |
| 'subjunctive perfect' | occultum habuerim | -- | -- |
| 'subjunctive pluperfect' | occultum habueram | -- | -- |
| 'infinitive present' | occultum habēre | past in present | 'that I hid it' |
| past in past | 'that I had hidden it' | ||
| 'infinitive perfect' | occultum habuisse | past in past in present | 'that I had hidden it' |
| past in past in past | 'that I had hidden it earlier' | ||
Teneō perfect periphrasis
[edit]The teneō perfect periphrasis is composed of the teneō auxiliary and a perfect paticiple such as occultum.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
- ego : Caesarem : occultum teneō = I : held : Caesar : hidden
- tū : Caesarem : occultum tenēs = you : held : Caesar : hidden
- homō : Caesarem : occultum tenet = the man : held : Caesar : hidden
The participle varies according to the gender and number of the object.
- Caesar : hominem : occultum tenet = Caesar : held : the man : hidden
- Caesar : mulierem : occultam tenet = Caesar : held : the woman : hidden
- Caesar : puerōs : occultōs tenet = Caesar : held : the boys : hidden
| Paradigm | Latin Example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'indicative future' | occultum tenēbō | present in future | 'I will be keeping it hidden' |
| future | 'I will keep it hidden' | ||
| 'indicative present' | occultum teneō | present in present | 'I am keeping it hidden' |
| present | 'I am keeping it hidden' | ||
| 'indicative imperfect' | occultum tenēbam | present in past | 'I was keeping it hidden' |
| 'indicative perfect' | occultum tenuī | past | 'I kept it hidden' |
| 'subjunctive present' | occultum teneam | -- | 'whether I am keeping it hidden' |
| 'subjunctive imperfect' | occultum tenērem | -- | 'whether I was keeping it hidden' |
| 'subjunctive perfect' | occultum tenuerim | -- | 'whether I kept it hidden' |
| 'subjunctive pluperfect' | occultum tenuissem | -- | 'whether I had kept it hidden' |
| 'infinitive present' | occultum tenēre | -- | 'that I am keeping it hidden' |
| -- | 'that I was keeping it hidden' | ||
| 'infinitive perfect' | occultum tenuisse | -- | 'that I kept it hidden' |
| -- | 'that I had kept it hidden' | ||
Future periphrasis
[edit]The future periphrasis is composed of the sum auxiliary and a future paticiple such as ductūrus.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of also the subject.
- ego : Caesarem : ductūrus eram = I : would lead : Ceasar
- tū : Caesarem : ductūrus erās = you : would lead : Ceasar
- homō : Caesarem : ductūrus erat = the man : would lead : Ceasar
The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.
- homō : Caesarem : ductūrus erat = the man : would lead : Ceasar
- mulier : Caesarem : ductūra erat = the woman : would lead : Ceasar
- puerī : Caesarem : ductūrī sunt = the boys : would lead : Ceasar
| Paradigm | Latin example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'indicative future' | ductūrus erō | -- | 'I will be going to lead' |
| 'indicative present' | ductūrus sum | -- | 'I am going to lead' |
| 'indicative imperfect' | ductūrus eram | -- | 'I was going to lead' |
| 'indicative future perfect' | -- | -- | -- |
| 'indicative perfect' | ductūrus fuī | -- | 'I was going to lead' |
| 'indicative pluperfect' | ductūrus fueram | -- | 'I had been going to lead' |
| 'subjunctive present' | ductūrus sim | -- | 'whether I am going to lead' |
| 'subjunctive imperfect' | ductūrus essem | -- | 'whether I was going to lead' |
| 'subjunctive perfect' | ductūrus fuerim | -- | 'whether I would have led' |
| 'subjunctive pluperfect' | ductūrus fuissem | -- | 'whether I had been going to lead' |
| 'infinitive present' | ductūrum esse | -- | 'that I am going to lead' |
| -- | 'that I was going to lead' | ||
| 'infinitive perfect' | ductūrum fuisse | -- | 'that I was going to lead' |
| -- | 'that I had been going to lead' | ||
Future infinitive periphrases
[edit]The future infinitive periphrases are composed of one of three auxiliaries (fore, futūrum or futūrum esse), the word ut and a verb from one of two verb paradigms ('present subjunctive' or 'imperfect subjunctive').[2]
The auxiliary does not vary.
The verb varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
- fore ut : ego : Caesarem : dūcerem = that: I : would lead : Caesar
- fore ut : tū : Caesarem : dūcerēs = that: you : would lead : Caesar
- fore ut : homō : Caesarem : dūceret = that: the man : would lead : Caesar
| Paradigm | Latin example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'subjunctive present' | fore ut dūcam | future in present | 'that I will lead' |
| fore ut dūcar | future in present | 'that I will be led' | |
| 'subjunctive imperfect' | fore ut dūcerem | future in past | 'that I was going to lead' |
| fore ut dūcerer | future in past | 'that I was going to be led' |
| Paradigm | Latin example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'subjunctive present' | futūrum ut dūcam | future in present | 'that I will lead' |
| futūrum ut dūcar | future in present | 'that I will be led' | |
| 'subjunctive imperfect' | futūrum ut dūcerem | future in past | 'that I was going to lead' |
| futūrum ut dūcerer | future in past | 'that I was going to be led' |
| Paradigm | Latin example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'subjunctive present' | futūrum esse ut dūcam | future in present | 'that I will lead' |
| futūrum esse ut dūcar | future in present | 'that I will be led' | |
| 'subjunctive imperfect' | futūrum esse ut dūcerem | future in past | 'that I was going to lead' |
| futūrum esse ut dūcerer | future in past | 'that I was going to be led' |
Gerundive periphrasis
[edit]The gerundive periphrasis (aka periphrastic conjugation of the passive[3]) is composed of the sum auxiliary and a gerundive such as dūcendus.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
- ego : ā Caesare : dūcendus eram = I : needed to be led : by Caesar
- tū : ā Caesare : dūcendus erās = you : needed to be led : by Caesar
- homō : ā Caesare : dūcendus erat = the man : needed to be led : by Caesar
The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.
- homō : ā Caesare : dūcendus erat = the man : needed to be led : by Caesar
- mulier : ā Caesare : dūcenda erat = the woman : needed to be led : by Caesar
- puerī : ā Caesare : dūcendī erant = the boys : needed to be led : by Caesar
Although the gerundive periphrasis is similar to the future periphrasis in appearance, they are not parallel in meaning nor function. Woodcock writes of the gerundive periphrasis: "But for the introduction of the idea of necessity, it would form a periphrastic future passive tense parallel to the periphrastic future active."[4]
| Paradigm | Latin Example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'indicative future' | dūcendus erō | -- | 'I will need to be led' |
| 'indicative present' | dūcendus sum | -- | 'I need to be led' |
| 'indicative imperfect' | dūcendus eram | -- | 'I needed to be led' |
| 'indicative future perfect' | dūcendus fuerō | -- | 'I will have needed to be led' |
| 'indicative perfect' | dūcendus fuī | -- | 'I have needed to be led' |
| 'indicative pluperfect' | dūcendus fueram | -- | 'I had needed to be led' |
| 'subjunctive foret' | dūcendus forem | -- | 'whether I will need to be led' |
| 'subjunctive present' | dūcendus sim | -- | 'whether I need to be led' |
| 'subjunctive imperfect' | dūcendus essem | -- | 'whether I needed to be led' |
| 'subjunctive perfect' | dūcendus fuerō | -- | 'whether I have needed to be led' |
| 'subjunctive pluperfect' | dūcendus fuissem | -- | 'whether I had needed to be led' |
| 'infinitive fore' | dūcendum fore | -- | 'that I will need to be led' |
| -- | 'that I would need to be led' | ||
| future in present | 'that I will be led' | ||
| future in past | 'that I would be led' | ||
| 'infinitive present' | dūcendum esse | -- | 'that I need to be led' |
| -- | 'that I needed to be led' | ||
| 'infinitive perfect' | dūcendum fuisse | -- | 'that I needed to be led' |
| -- | 'that I had needed to be led' | ||
Coepī present periphrasis
[edit]The coepī present periphrasis is composed of the coepī auxiliary and an infinitive such as dūcere.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
- ego : Caesarem : dūcere coeperam = I : was leading : Caesar
- tū : Caesarem : dūcere coeperās = you : were leading : Caesar
- homō : Caesarem : dūcere coeperat = the man : was leading : Caesar
The infinitive does not vary.
| Paradigm | Latin Example | Meaning | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'indicative future perfect' | dūcere coeperō | present in future | 'I will be leading' |
| 'indicative perfect' | dūcere coepī | present in present | 'I am leading' |
| 'indicative pluperfect' | dūcere coeperam | present in past | 'I was leading' |
| 'subjunctive perfect' | dūcere coeperim | -- | 'whether I am leading' |
| 'subjunctive pluperfect' | dūcero coepissem | -- | 'whether I was leading' |
| 'infinitive perfect' | dūcere coepisse | -- | 'that I am leading' |
| -- | 'that I was leading' | ||