How do I translate the purpose clause from Latin into English?

In latin, a purpose clause is formed by using the word 'ut' followed by a subjunctive. A purpose clause indicates the reason behind an action taking place. Therefore, the 'ut' is translated as 'in order to...' followed by the action indicated by the subjunctive. For example, in the sentence 'pueri in via manere volebant ut puellas spectarent' there is an 'ut' followed by the subjunctive 'spectarent'. You would translate this sentence as, 'the boys wanted to stay in the street in order to watch the girls'. Sometimes, in place of 'ut' the word 'ne' is used to indicate a negative purpose clause. In this case the same rules apply, and the 'ne' is translated as 'so that...not'. For example 'in taberna manebam ne verba imperatoris audirem' is translated as 'I remained in the shop so that I would not hear the words of the emperor'.

ZN
Answered by Zarifah N. Latin tutor

2582 Views

See similar Latin GCSE tutors

Related Latin GCSE answers

All answers ▸

"Horatius pontes multas horas defendebat" Please explain how you would translate this sentence.


rex Aegypti duos liberos habebat. hi liberi erant Cleopatra et Ptolemaeus. per multos annos liberi vitam laetam cum patre habebant. deinde post mortem patris Cleopatra erat regina. [passage taken from sample paper, own questions below]


Choose two of the following Latin words or verbs and give an English derivative for each word or verb : a) caelum b) sequor, sequi, sectutus sum c)senex d)verto, vertere, versi, versus


Explain the stylistic features Virgil uses to convey increased emotion in a passage from Aeneid 9 (lines 375-400).


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning