How would I identify and translate a purpose clause?

A purpose clause explains why an action is done and so can be considered the motivation behind the verb. It is constructed with 'ut' + a subjunctive verb and is translated in English as 'in order to' or simply 'to'. For example: cives ad portas urbis festinaverunt ut verba nuntii audirent.audirent is the subjunctive verb and the subject is cives (because it is the only nominative, plural noun in the sentence). Therefore following the subject, verb, object pattern, you would translate this sentence as: the citizens hurried to the gates of the city in order to hear the words of the messenger.A negative purpose clause is constructed with 'ne' + a subjunctive verb and is translated as 'so that...not'.For example: Hannibal noctem exspectavit ne ab custodibus videretur.Hannibal waited for night so that he would not be seen by the guards.

VP
Answered by Victoria P. Latin tutor

1716 Views

See similar Latin GCSE tutors

Related Latin GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Athenodorus legit titulum auditoque pretio, quia suspecta vilitas: What was Athenodorus suspicious about?


ardet abire fuga dulcisque relinquere terras, / attonitus tanto monitu imperioque deorum. (Aeneid, 4.281-282) Using the Latin describe Aeneas' emotions at this point.


What is an absolute ablative, How is it constructed and can it be translated?


Translate into Latin: "The girls were walking to the forum." From OCR GCSE Latin Language Paper (9-1), 2015.


We're here to help

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

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences