How do I recognise and translate purpose clauses from Latin to English?

A purpose clause is the part of the sentence which explains why the action in the main verb took place. They are most commonly used in Latin with the word 'ut' or the word 'ne' followed by a subjunctive verb, because the action is potential. They can be translated by introducing the purpose clause with 'in order to' or 'in order not to' depending on whether you have 'ut' or 'ne'. For example, take the Latin sentence ‘puer currit ut canem capiat’. Everything after ut is part of the purpose clause. Begin by translating the main verb of the sentence which is in the active mood 'currit' and its nominative subject 'puer' to make 'The boy is running'. Next translate the subjunctive verb 'capiat', ('catch’) and any other parts of the sentence, here the accusative object 'canem', ('dog'). The 'ut' can be translated as 'in order to' and so the translation of the sentence is 'The boy is running in order to catch the dog'. 

AL

Related Latin GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How do you form the imperfect subjuctive?


dux Gallorum timebat ne Romani viros collem ascendentes audirent. itaque imperavit omnibus Gallis ut in itinere tacerent. ea nocte Galli tam tacite processerunt ut custodes Romani eos non conspicerent.


Parse the following verbs and state what verbs they come from (i.e give the 1st person, singular, indicative, present, active of each): 1. emerunt 2. peribis 3. regredere 4. gavisi sumus 5. ostendebamini 6. surgi 7. tacendo 8. tracta 9. vicit 10. quaerar


What is a chiasmus and what is its purpose?