Tenses
The relative nature of infinitive tense in indirect statement finds some similarity with the tenses of the subjunctive in indirect question. In indirect question, however, verbal aspect also plays an important role. If a main verb is in a present or future tense, you can expect to find a present subjunctive if the action in the subjunctive clause happens at the same time or after, and a perfect subjunctive if it is the time before. This is called primary sequence. If the main verb is in a past tense, then the imperfect is used for same time or after actions, and a pluperfect for time before. This is called secondary sequence.
Primary sequence: Mī ror ubi exercitus Caesaris sit. (I wonder where Caesar's army is [or will be].) Mī ror ubi exercitus Caesaris fuerit. (I wonder where Caesar's army was [or has been].)
Secondary sequence: Mī rā bar ubi exercitus Caesaris esset. (I wondered where Caesar's army was.) Mī rā bar ubi exercitus Caesaris fuisset. (I wondered where Caesar's army had been.)
When there is a subordinate clause within an indirect statement or question, its verb goes in the subjunctive, even though it would ordinarily go in the indicative. Putō Caesarem legiō nem quae modo advē
Table 17-2 Vocabulary
| albus, –a, –um | white (dull, flat white) |
| anima, –ae, f. | soul, breath (of life) |
| candidus, –a, –um | white (bright, shiny white) |
| citus, –a, –um | fast, quick |
| cī gī,–ere, coē gī , coactum | to drive together, force, compel |
| constī , constā re, consititī , constā tum | to stand together, depend on, stand still (constat, impersonal, it is agreed, certain, sure) |
| cor, cordis, n. | heart |
| cras, adv. | tomorrow |
| dī vī nus, –a, –um | holy, divine |
| foedus, –a, –um | foul, nasty, stinky |
| foris, adv. | outside |
| herī, adv. | yesterday |
| hodiē adv. | today |
| interim, adv. | meanwhile |
| licet, licē re, licuit, licitum, impersonal | it is allowed |
| lū men, lū minis, n. | light, eyes |
| magister, –trī , m. | master, chief |
| modo, adv. | just, just now, recently |
| mollis, –e | soft, flexible |
| mundus, –a, –um | neat, clean |
| mundus, –ī , m. | world, universe |
| negī, –ā re,–ā vī, –ā tum | to deny, say no |
| nesciī, –ī re, –ī vī, –ī tum | not to know |
| nondum, adv. | not yet |
| num, adv. | whether |
| ordī , ordinis, m. | row, order, rank |
| placeī , placē re, placuī , placitum | to please (placet, it is pleasing) |
| pū rus, –a, –um | pure, clean |
| putī, –ā re, –ā vī, –ā tum | to think |
| quaerī, –ere, quaesī vī, quaesī tum | to look for, miss, ask |
| quondam, adv. | former, at a certain time |
| rogī, –ā re, –ā vī, –ā tum | to ask |
| rursus, adv. | back, again, in return |
| sciī, –ī re, –ī vī, –ī tum | to know |
| sentiē, –ī re, sensī, sensum | to perceive, feel |
| somnus, –ī , m. | sleep |
| tamquam, adv. | like, as |
| tū tus, –a, –um | safe |
| utrum … an | whether … or |
| uxor, –is, f. | wife |
| venus, veneris, f. | charm, grace, beauty (Venus, Veneris, f., Venus) |
