INDEPENDENT SUBJUNCTIVE USES It's easy to fall into the habit of thinking that indicative mood = main clause and that subjunctive mood = subordinate clause. But this isn't so; many kinds of subordinate clauses have indicative verbs: dum Perseus Medusam quaerit, while Perseus was looking for Medusa quamquam res erat magni periculi, although the task was (one) of great danger The subjunctive mood is likewise often used 'independently' in a main clause verb: nunc ad Seriphum redeamus matremque meam videamus, let’s now return to Seriphos and (let’s) see my mother

There are three major independent subjunctive uses, but one of those three breaks down into three uses: DELIBERATIVE POTENTIAL VOLITIVE -- optative -- hortatory -- jussive

DELIBERATIVE (de-libero, to weigh out in the scale (libra) Expresses a question one asks of oneself or one's group or a doubt or uncertainty one has about a proposed action. Ist person, usually singular, sometimes plural. Introduced by a question word. Uses nōn for negatives. Use 'should' to translate. Quid nunc ag-a-m? Quid dic-a-m? What should I do now? What should I say? Num fugi-ā-mus? We shouldn’t run away, should we?

POTENTIAL (possum, posse, potui, be able, have power/ability) Expresses the thought that something might happen or could be done. Usually present subjunctive, but imperfect and perfect are also used, as in English. Uses nōn for negatives. Use 'might' or 'could' to translate. Perseus caput Medusae abscidat, Perseus might cut off Medusa’s head (it’s possible).

VOLITIVE (< volo, velle, volui, wish, want): used when a subject wants someone else to do something or for something to happen. Three kinds: -- Optative: the speaker makes a request to a person or being of higher status or more powerful; no certainty of fulfillment of wish. -- Hortatory: the speaker makes a recommendation or suggestion to an equal or group of equals; some certainty of fulfillment. -- Jussive: the speaker gives a command for a 2nd or 3rd person of lower status to carry out; absolute certainty of fulfillment.

OPTATIVE (< opto, -are, hope for) God bless America. Indicative or subjunctive? The optative expresses a hope that a person or being of higher power and authority will do or not do something or where something is out of the subject's own control. Often introduced by ut, utinam if positive, nē or utinam nē for negative. Use 'may', 'let' or 'I/we hope' to translate. No certainty of fulfillment. Utinam Perseus caput Medusae abscidat! I hope Perseus cuts off Medusa’s head! Ne Medusae conspectus Perseum in saxum vertat! Let Medusa’s gaze not turn Perseus into stone!

HORTATORY (hortor, -ari, -atus sum, encourage, recommend) Always 1st person plural. Nē is used for negative. Expresses a suggestion, recommendation to a group of (more or less) equals or peers. Use “let us, let's” to translate. (Athena says to Hermes) Perseo magicam galeam demus, Let’s give a magic helmet to Perseus. Ne pugn-ē-mus, "Let's not fight."

JUSSIVE (iubeo, iubere, iussi, iussus-a-um, order, command) To or about a 2nd or 3rd person of lesser status, over whom the speaker has some control, power, or authority. Nē is used for a negative command. (Rex Acrisius dixit) Danae infansque in arcā ligneā imponantur et arca ipsa in mare iniciatur!, Let Danae and the infant be put in a wooden box and let the box itself be tossed into the sea! (“Let” = “Have this done,” “See that this gets done.”) Absolute certainty of fulfillment.