How are fear clauses constructed?

The general formula for a fear clause is:

"Verb of fearing" + 'ne' + verb in the subjunctive mood

e.g : timeo ne veniat "I fear that he is coming"

Notice how 'veniat' is in the present subjunctive as it is following 'timeo' which is in the present indicative. It is following the sequence of tenses.

If we were to put this phrase in the past it would become:

timui ne veniret - "I feared that he was coming"

Because 'timui' is in the perfect tense, 'veniat' becomes 'veniret' (imperfect subjunctive) following the sequence of tenses.

When putting a fear clause into the negative it is usual for 'ne' to become 'ut'. Nothing else changes

e.g timeo ut veniat - "I fear that he is not coming"

timui ut veniret "I feared that he was not coming"

But if you want to translate a phrase such as "I am afraid to fight him" you use the infinitve, just as in English. So:

timeo eum pugnare

The main thing to learn here is the sequence of tenses.

If the verb of fearing is in the present, future or future perfect tense then the verb following 'ne/ut' is in the present /perfect subjunctive.

If the verb of fearing is in the imperfect, perfect or pluperfect tense then the verb following 'ne/ut' is in the imperfect / pluperfect subjunctive. 

PO
Answered by Philip O. Latin tutor

9250 Views

See similar Latin A Level tutors

Related Latin A Level answers

All answers ▸

In what ways does Virgil present Dido as an increasingly desperate individual in these lines? How does he communicate to the reader that the outcome will be disastrous for her?


Comment on Ovid's use of humour with respect to poetic metre in the following lines of Amores 1.1: "par erat inferior versus; risisse Cupid / dicitur atque unum suripuisse pedem."


How do I structure a good 15-marker Latin Literature answer?


How do you scan a line of dactylic hexameter?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences