Tenses in Indirect Statement — Present, Perfect, Future Infinitives
Form all three active and passive infinitives used in indirect statement. Understand that infinitive tenses express time relative to the main verb: simultaneous (present), prior (perfect), or subsequent (future).
A lesson of Latin B1 — Intermediate, in Indirect Statement, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will form and translate all three infinitive tenses used in indirect statement, understanding that each expresses time relative to the main verb, not absolute time.
The Key Principle: Relative Time
Unlike the indicative mood, where verb tenses express absolute time ("he did this yesterday"), infinitives in indirect statement express time relative to the main verb:
| Infinitive tense | Meaning | Relative time |
|---|---|---|
| Present infinitive | happening at the same time | = simultaneous with main verb |
| Perfect infinitive | happened before | = earlier than main verb |
| Future infinitive | will happen after | = later than main verb |
Present Infinitives
The present infinitive is the form you already know from vocabulary entries:
| Voice | Formation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Active | 2nd principal part | amare (to love), ducere (to lead) |
| Passive | present passive infinitive | amari (to be loved), duci (to be led) |
Dico Caesarem pugnare. "I say that Caesar is fighting." (simultaneous: right now, while I say it)
Dixi Caesarem pugnare. "I said that Caesar was fighting." (simultaneous: at the moment I said it)
The same present infinitive can translate as "is" or "was" depending on the tense of the main verb.
Perfect Infinitives
The perfect infinitive expresses action completed before the main verb.
| Voice | Formation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Active |