Chapter 33 Conditional Statements

What is a condition? While you may not be accustomed to the term “conditional statement,” you use them in various forms every day. While you may not be accustomed to the term “conditional statement,” you use them in various forms every day. An at least two-part statement which indicates that one state or act is dependent (conditional) upon the occurrence of another state or action. An at least two-part statement which indicates that one state or act is dependent (conditional) upon the occurrence of another state or action. “If I drink too much, I say stupid things.” “If I drink too much, I say stupid things.”

Structure As mentioned before, a conditional statement requires at least two formal sections: As mentioned before, a conditional statement requires at least two formal sections: –The “if” section called a protasis. –The “then” section called an apodosis.

Protasis This is formally a subordinate clause. This is formally a subordinate clause. It establishes the premises or conditions under which the action or state of the apodosis occur. It establishes the premises or conditions under which the action or state of the apodosis occur. There may be more than one. There may be more than one. In English, it is usually introduced with “if”, “whenever”, “unless”, etc. In English, it is usually introduced with “if”, “whenever”, “unless”, etc. In Latin, it is usually introduced with sī or nisi. In Latin, it is usually introduced with sī or nisi.

Apodosis This is formally the independent or main clause. This is formally the independent or main clause. It establishes what action or state occurs or hypothetically occurs if the conditions are met. It establishes what action or state occurs or hypothetically occurs if the conditions are met. There may be more than one. There may be more than one. There are no key terms that indicate this portion of the sentence as it is the main clause. There are no key terms that indicate this portion of the sentence as it is the main clause.

Types of Conditions There are two formal types of conditional statements in Latin. There are two formal types of conditional statements in Latin. –General/Specific indicated by the use of the indicative mood. –Potential indicated by the use of the subjunctive mood. Both of these have three major subsets based upon the tense of the verbs. Both of these have three major subsets based upon the tense of the verbs.

General/Particular These are indicated by the use of the indicative mood verbs. These are indicated by the use of the indicative mood verbs. –Present General/Particular  If I’m here, she is too. –Past General/Particular  If I was there, she was too. –Future General/Particular  If she will be there, I will be too.

Potential These are indicated by the use of the subjunctive mood verbs. These are indicated by the use of the subjunctive mood verbs. –Present Potential – Imperfect Subjunctives  If she were here, I would be happy. –Past Potential – Pluperfect Subjunctives  If she had been here, I would have been happy. –Future Potential – Present Subjunctives  If she should be there, I would be happy.

Examples sī pecūniam amās, sapientiā carēs. sī pecūniam amās, sapientiā carēs. sī vēritātem quaesīvissēmus, scientiam invēnissēmus. sī vēritātem quaesīvissēmus, scientiam invēnissēmus. multōs amīcōs āmitterētis, nisi īram vītārētis. multōs amīcōs āmitterētis, nisi īram vītārētis. laudāvimus eum, sī quis bonōs mōrēs habuit. laudāvimus eum, sī quis bonōs mōrēs habuit. sī istī vincant, discēdāmus. sī istī vincant, discēdāmus.