Latin Conditionals — Simple, Contrary-to-Fact, Future Less Vivid
Latin Conditionals: Simple, Contrary-to-Fact, Future Less Vivid
A lesson of La B2 — Upper Intermediate, in Advanced Syntax, about 15 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify and translate all three major types of Latin conditional sentences, including contrary-to-fact conditions in both present and past time.
Introduction
A conditional sentence has two parts: the protasis (si / "if" clause) and the apodosis (the main conclusion). In English we largely rely on context and word order; Latin encodes the speaker's attitude toward the condition's reality through specific verb forms. Cicero and Caesar use all three conditional types extensively — knowing them lets you understand not just what a speaker says, but whether they think it is actually true.
Core Concept
Type 1 — Simple (or Open) Conditional
The speaker treats the condition as genuinely possible or real. Both clauses use the indicative, any tense.
Si Caesar venit, milites laeti sunt.
"If Caesar comes (is coming), the soldiers are glad."
Si hostes venerunt, fugiamus.
"If the enemy have come, let us flee." (indicative perfect in si-clause, jussive in apodosis)
Type 2 — Contrary-to-Fact Present
The condition is presented as not true now. Uses imperfect subjunctive in both clauses.
Formula: si + imperfect subjunctive → imperfect subjunctive (with -m ending in apodosis)
Si Caesar adesset, milites non fugerent.
"If Caesar were here (but he is not), the soldiers would not flee."
Si id scirem, tibi dicerem.
"If I knew that (but I do not), I would tell you." — Cicero uses this form repeatedly in speeches.
Type 3 — Contrary-to-Fact Past
The condition refers to something that did not happen in the past. Uses pluperfect subjunctive in both clauses.
Formula: si + pluperfect subjunctive → pluperfect subjunctive (with -m ending in apodosis)
Si Caesar adfuisset, milites non fugissent.
"If Caesar had been present (but he was not), the soldiers would not have fled."
Si Romani vicissent, Carthago non delebatur.
In the more precise literary form: Si Romani vicissent, Carthago deleta non esset.
"If the Romans had won [at that battle], Carthage would not have been destroyed."