| Moods |
|
| timeo, timere, timui, --- | to fear, dread, apprehend - fear of object actually present |
| metuo, metere, metui,--- | to fear, dread, be afraid...of something that is threatening rather than actually present |
| vereor, vereri, veritus sum--- | to fear, stand in awe of, feel reverence for, be anxious about, suspect |
| extimesco, extimescere, extimui, --- | to be greatly afraid, dread |
| pertimescere, pertimescere, pertimui, --- | to be very afraid, fear exceedingly |
| sollicitus est | he is anxious. . . |
| periculum est... | there is danger. . . |
A simple sentence can express fear with no verb clause: Caesar feared the union of the Gauls.
The infinitive is used where it is appropriate in English: They were afraid to enter the forest.
Verbs and phrases which express fear can be followed by subjunctive clauses which are introduced by ut or ne:
Timeo ne cadat - I fear that he may fall. (will fall) - therefore hoping he does not fall.
Timeo ut cadat - I fear that he may not fall. (will fall) - therefore hoping that he will fall.
Note that in the previous examples, a reverse of what one usually expects after ut and ne occurs. This is the tricky part of this construction. If one considers that this is an indirect wish, it might help remember the reversal of these two introductory words. In English one concentrates attention on the positive or negative of that which may happen whereas in Latin one considers the positive or negative concept of what one wishes. Therefore, what one fears will happen is introduced by ne and what one fears may not happen is introduced by ut.
Bradley's Arnold Latin Composition says the following:
Sometimes ne. . . non is used in place of ut.
Study the following examples:
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