Ch 4 · Lesson 27Latin · Chapter 4 · Lesson 27 · Grammar primer
If: si and nisi with the indicative
, : if you are well, that is good. A plain Latin condition is two ordinary clauses joined by or , in the tenses you already know. The one trap is the future, where Latin is more careful than English.
The short version
Latin puts a future if clause in the future tense
, .
Why?Hide
In a future condition English uses a present: if you come, I shall be glad. Latin marks the time and puts the clause in the future, or in the future perfect when it will be finished first: or . Translate both with an English present.
, .
Why?Hide
negates the whole condition: , , unless you come, I shall not see you. After a negative it means except: , nobody except the king. is different: it puts the not on one word, usually before a contrast.
A Latin if sentence is two clauses joined by (if) or (unless). If the condition is treated as real, both verbs are ordinary indicatives. If it is imagined or untrue, both go into the subjunctive, and the tense says how far from reality you are.
| Kind | Latin | English |
|---|---|---|
| real | , . | If you are here, I am glad. |
| unreal | , . | If you were here, I would be glad. |
The if clause is the protasis and the main clause the apodosis. You will meet the labels in grammars; you do not need them.
Plain conditions: si with the indicative
A real condition makes no claim about whether it is true. It says only that if one thing is so, another follows, and each half takes the tense its own meaning needs.
| Time | Latin | English |
|---|---|---|
| present | , . | If you are well, that is good. |
| past | , . | If he said this, he did wrong. |
| past + now | , errat. | If he said this, he is wrong. |
| command | , . | Come, if you can. |
The first row is how Roman letters opened: , ; , if you are well, that is good; I am well. It was so routine that writers abbreviated it to its initials.
The halves need not match in time. , errat puts the saying in the past and the being wrong in the present, exactly as English does. The proverb , , if you want peace, prepare for war, is a real condition with a command.
The clause can also come second:
, .- Come, if you can.
Simple indicative conditions are core GCSE-level Latin syntax.
The future: Latin is stricter than English
English puts a future condition into the present: if you come, not if you will come. Classical Latin marks the time and normally uses the future in the clause too.
| English says | Latin | English |
|---|---|---|
| if you come | , . | If you come, I shall be glad. |
| if he writes | , . | If he writes, I will read the letter. |
| if you give | , . | If you give me the book, I will read it. |
When the action will be over before the main one starts, Latin goes one step further and uses the future perfect: , . The future perfect page has the forms. Either way, translate with an English present.
Nisi: unless
negates the whole condition. It means unless, or if not:
, .- Unless you come, I shall not see you.utile , stulta .- Unless what we do is useful, glory is foolish. (Phaedrus, Fables 3.17)
After a negative word, means except:
.- Nobody except the king knows this..- Of the dead, nothing but good. (a proverb)
Going further: Si non, sin and si quis and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
Practise this lesson
10-question session
One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
Latin · Free printables
Worksheets for this lesson
Worksheets with answer keys built in. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekLesson 27 of 37 in this chapter