Latin periphrases
In Latin, there are multiple periphrases for tense and mode. Here we list the most common.
| Latin grammar |
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Perfect periphrasis
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'future indicative' | divīsum erit | past in future | 'it will have been divided' |
| future | 'it will be divided' | ||
| 'present indicative' | divīsum est | past in present | 'it has been divided' |
| present | 'it is divided' | ||
| past | 'it was divided' | ||
| 'imperfect indicative' | divīsum erat | past in past | 'it had been divided' |
| past | 'it was divided' | ||
| 'future perfect indicative' | divīsum fuerit | past in past in future | 'it will have been divided earlier' |
| 'perfect indicative' | divīsum fuit | past in past in present | 'it has been divided earlier' |
| past in past | 'it had been divided' | ||
| 'pluperfect indicative' | divīsum fuerat | past in past in past | 'it had been divided earlier' |
| 'present subjunctive' | divīsum sit | -- | 'whether it is divided' |
| 'imperfect subjunctive' | divīsum esset | -- | 'whether it was divided' |
| 'perfect subjunctive' | divīsum fuerit | -- | 'whether it was divided' |
| 'pluperfect subjunctive' | divīsum fuisset | -- | 'whether it had been divided' |
| 'īrī infinitive' | ductum īrī | future in present | 'that I will be led' |
| future in past | 'that I would be led' | ||
| 'fore infinitive' | 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' | ||
| 'present infinitive' | ductum esse | past in present | 'that I was led' |
| past in past | 'that I had been led' | ||
| 'perfect infinitive' | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'future indicative' | locūtus erō | past in future | 'I will have said' |
| 'present indicative' | locūtus sum | past in present | 'I have said' |
| past | 'I said' | ||
| 'imperfect indicative' | locūtus eram | past in past | 'I had said' |
| 'future perfect indicative' | locūtus fuerō | past in past in future | 'I will have said earlier' |
| 'perfect indicative' | locūtus fuī | past in past in present | 'I have said earlier' |
| past in past | 'I had said' | ||
| 'pluperfect indicative' | locūtus fueram | past in past in past | 'I had said earlier' |
| 'present subjunctive' | locūtus sim | -- | 'whether I said' |
| 'imperfect subjunctive' | locūtus essem | -- | 'whether I had said' |
| 'perfect subjunctive' | locūtus fuerim | -- | -- |
| 'pluperfect subjunctive' | locūtus fuissem | -- | -- |
| 'īrī infinitive' | locūtum īrī | future in present | 'that I will say' |
| future in past | 'that I would say' | ||
| 'fore infinitive' | locūtum fore | past in future in present | 'that I will have said' |
| past in future in past | 'that I was going to have said' | ||
| 'present infinitive' | locūtum esse | past in present | 'that I said' |
| past in past | 'that I had said' | ||
| 'perfect infinitive' | locūtum fuisse | past in past in present | 'that I had said' |
| past in past in past | 'that I had said earlier' | ||
Habeō perfect periphrasis
The habeō perfect periphrasis is composed of the habeō auxiliary and a perfect paticiple 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'present indicative' | occultum habeō | past | 'I hid it' |
| 'future indicative' | occultum habēbō | past in future | 'I will have hidden it' |
| 'imperfect indicative' | occultum habēbam | past in past | 'I had hidden it' |
| 'perfect indicative' | occultum habuī | past in past | 'I had hidden it' |
| 'present subjunctive' | occultum habeam | -- | -- |
| 'imperfect subjunctive' | occultum habēbam | -- | -- |
| 'perfect subjunctive' | occultum habuerim | -- | -- |
| 'pluperfect subjunctive' | occultum habueram | -- | -- |
| 'present infinitive' | occultum habēre | past in present | 'that I hid it' |
| past in past | 'that I had hidden it' | ||
| 'perfect infinitive' | 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'future indicative' | occultum tenēbō | present in future | 'I will be keeping it hidden' |
| future | 'I will keep it hidden' | ||
| 'present indicative' | occultum teneō | present in present | 'I am keeping it hidden' |
| present | 'I am keeping it hidden' | ||
| 'imperfect indicative' | occultum tenēbam | present in past | 'I was keeping it hidden' |
| 'perfect indicative' | occultum tenuī | past | 'I kept it hidden' |
| 'present subjunctive' | occultum teneam | -- | 'whether I am keeping it hidden' |
| 'imperfect subjunctive' | occultum tenērem | -- | 'whether I was keeping it hidden' |
| 'perfect subjunctive' | occultum tenuerim | -- | 'whether I kept it hidden' |
| 'pluperfect subjunctive' | occultum tenuissem | -- | 'whether I had kept it hidden' |
| 'present infinitive' | occultum tenēre | -- | 'that I am keeping it hidden' |
| -- | 'that I was keeping it hidden' | ||
| 'perfect infinitive' | occultum tenuisse | -- | 'that I kept it hidden' |
| -- | 'that I had kept it hidden' | ||
Future periphrasis
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'future indicative' | ductūrus erō | -- | 'I will be going to lead' |
| 'present indicative' | ductūrus sum | -- | 'I am going to lead' |
| 'imperfect indicative' | ductūrus eram | -- | 'I was going to lead' |
| 'future perfect indicative' | -- | -- | -- |
| 'perfect indicative' | ductūrus fuī | -- | 'I was going to lead' |
| 'pluperfect indicative' | ductūrus fueram | -- | 'I had been going to lead' |
| 'present subjunctive' | ductūrus sim | -- | 'whether I am going to lead' |
| 'imperfect subjunctive' | ductūrus essem | -- | 'whether I was going to lead' |
| 'perfect subjunctive' | ductūrus fuerim | -- | 'whether I would have led' |
| 'pluperfect subjunctive' | ductūrus fuissem | -- | 'whether I had been going to lead' |
| 'present infinitive' | ductūrum esse | -- | 'that I am going to lead' |
| -- | 'that I was going to lead' | ||
| 'perfect infinitive' | ductūrum fuisse | -- | 'that I was going to lead' |
| -- | 'that I had been going to lead' | ||
Future infinitive periphrases
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'present subjunctive' | fore ut dūcam | future in present | 'that I will lead' |
| fore ut dūcar | future in present | 'that I will be led' | |
| 'imperfect subjunctive' | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'present subjunctive' | futūrum ut dūcam | future in present | 'that I will lead' |
| futūrum ut dūcar | future in present | 'that I will be led' | |
| 'imperfect subjunctive' | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'present subjunctive' | futūrum esse ut dūcam | future in present | 'that I will lead' |
| futūrum esse ut dūcar | future in present | 'that I will be led' | |
| 'imperfect subjunctive' | 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'future indicative' | dūcendus erō | -- | 'I will need to be led' |
| 'present indicative' | dūcendus sum | -- | 'I need to be led' |
| 'imperfect indicative' | dūcendus eram | -- | 'I needed to be led' |
| 'future perfect indicative' | dūcendus fuerō | -- | 'I will have needed to be led' |
| 'perfect indicative' | dūcendus fuī | -- | 'I have needed to be led' |
| 'pluperfect indicative' | dūcendus fueram | -- | 'I had needed to be led' |
| 'foret subjunctive' | dūcendus forem | -- | 'whether I will need to be led' |
| 'present subjunctive' | dūcendus sim | -- | 'whether I need to be led' |
| 'imperfect subjunctive' | dūcendus essem | -- | 'whether I needed to be led' |
| 'perfect subjunctive' | dūcendus fuerō | -- | 'whether I have needed to be led' |
| 'pluperfect subjunctive' | dūcendus fuissem | -- | 'whether I had needed to be led' |
| 'fore infinitive' | 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' | ||
| 'present infinitive' | dūcendum esse | -- | 'that I need to be led' |
| -- | 'that I needed to be led' | ||
| 'perfect infinitive' | dūcendum fuisse | -- | 'that I needed to be led' |
| -- | 'that I had needed to be led' | ||
Coepī present periphrasis
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'future perfect indicative' | dūcere coeperō | present in future | 'I will be leading' |
| 'perfect indicative' | dūcere coepī | present in present | 'I am leading' |
| 'pluperfect indicative' | dūcere coeperam | present in past | 'I was leading' |
| 'perfect subjunctive' | dūcere coeperim | -- | 'whether I am leading' |
| 'pluperfect subjunctive' | dūcero coepissem | -- | 'whether I was leading' |
| 'perfect infinitive' | dūcere coepisse | -- | 'that I am leading' |
| -- | 'that I was leading' | ||
References
- The development of these tenses is discussed in Pinkster (1987).
- Gildersleeve & Lodge (1895), pp. 165, 334.
- Gildersleeve & Lodge (1895), p. 166.
- Woodcock (1959), p. 163.
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