An Overview of the Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood can be very difficult to understand, even in Latin with its systematic approach to grammar. I try to unravel the mysteries of the subjunctive by comparing it to the other moods. It isn't the imperative (used for commands), nor the indicative (used for facts, or things close to facts). The subjunctive is used for untruths, possibilities, things that aren't quite real (or whose truth has yet to be determined).

(Note that, while parts of this video *do* represent the subjunctive in English, I illustrate Latin uses of the subjunctive with English sentences, but I didn't want to address the Latin conjugation of verbs in the subjunctive mood. So there are some parts of this video where Latin uses the subjunctive, but English does not. Apologies.)

[joelkelly]

The "coulda, shoulda, woulda" mood.

[ewharvey]

I am *impressed* ---These tutorials are very well done! From one Latin teacher to another. :)

[raenabrendtro]

Athena's gift to latin homework during quarantine

[M.S.Makin-qodk]

I've been learning Arabic and I have had absolutely no idea What these three moods are. Your lesson helped my understanding a Lot. Thanks.

[Alexandra-kusd]

I love your voice, its so pleasant to hear.

[latintutorial]

+Madeline Corrales Yes, the jussive subjunctive (a main clause verb in the present subjunctive) is what you're thinking of, a mild or suggestive command translated in English with "let". Catullus 5: vivamus atque amemus, "let us live and let us love". But this can be used with other subjects, too: vivam, "let me live".

[lee-lltp]

I almost gave up when I met subjunctive. Your explanation is so clear and useful! Thank you so much :D

[JMaSsA]

PASSED LATIN THIS YEAR! Thanks for all these videos!

[marcmorgan]

Excellent video! I speak Welsh fluently as a second language, and this video has clarified many things for me in Latin (which I'm tentatively beginning to understand in a fairly decent way) as well as in literary Welsh (which is somewhat different to the colloquial).

[latintutorial]

Thanks. It's been a good 15 years for me since I last had any formal instruction in French

[latintutorial]

Calm down, buddy. The infinitive and participle aren't technically moods, which only exist for finite (i.e., conjugated) verb forms. Indo-European originally had four moods, the three listed here and the optative, which got absorbed into the subjunctive in Latin.

While it's easy to term "infinitive" and "participle" as moods when you're learning about them, it is technically wrong and the reality behind these forms is much less concrete.

[margaretevey]

While in class I heard that the subjunctive mood exists, but knew no more of it other than "it's to explain abstract and hypothetical situations." This video introduced the mood perfectly.

[Rads-Angel]

We watched this video in Latin class, and the whole class burst out laughing during the “Yo’ mamma” example lol-

[latintutorial]

The negative jussive is conveyed with nē plus the subjunctive. So "let's not eat" is "nē edamus."

[MissToxix]

This is brilliant.I have been getting the highest marks in Latin up until I cam across the Subjunctive. Thank you for helping me on my road to success. This video was awesome!

[latintutorial]

Right, which is really an adjective, not a verb. Likewise infinitives are effectively nouns, since they serve as objects and subjects of verbs.

[latintutorial]

Yes and yes. (they do stand alone, and edamus is all you need for all of those)

[CoDRagna]

then how would you say, about to call in latin. that's a partciple ( future active participle FAP. and it translates to vocaturus, a, um

[CFHistory]

Thank you. These tutorials will certainly make my latin studies much easier. 

[NoahNobody]

Really nice explanation. I have to learn Spanish and came across the imperative, indicative, and subjunctive grammar things. Anyway, you have a really good talent for teaching. Thanks.