| Moods |
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Indirect Statements are introduced by a main verb of saying, knowing, thinking or perceiving. The direct statement is transformed by putting its subject into the accusative case and changing the verb to an infinitive:
He says that Marcus is walking to school. = Dicit Marcum ambulare ad ludum.
Not all indirect clauses introduced by a verb of saying, knowing, thinking or perceiving are necessarily indirect statements, as you will see below.
Indirect Questions are handled quite differently. They involve a reported question:
They ask what Marcus is doing. = Rogant quid agat Marcus.
The reported action, They ask is in the indicative mood. The question itself, What is Marcus doing? is placed in the subjunctive mood. Indirect questions can be recognized by the word that starts a question clause, such as these examples:
| cur | quando | quid | quis | quomodo | quot | ubi |
Indirect Commands are also reports of statements. An example of a direct command is, "Be silent, Marcus!!" However, if I report that a command has been given, the command that I am reporting is placed into a subordinate subjunctive clause:
They told Marcus to be silent. = Mandaverunt ut Marcus taceret.
An Indirect Command can be recognized the presence in the main clause of a verb of command, instructing, urging, begging, pleading, warning, inviting, or persuading. Here are several -- but not all -- such verbs:
| hortor | impero | mando | moneo | persuadeo | rogo |
The indirect clause itself opens either with ut for a positive command,
He asks that you come home at once. = Rogat ut statim domum venias.
or nê for a negative command:
We urged Caesar not to leave without us. = Hortabamur nê Caesar exiret sine nobis.
Both Indirect Question and Indirect Command constructions follow the rules for the Sequence of Tenses. Practice with both by matching the translations to their Indirect Question or Command:
| ___1. Me hortatus est ut tacerem. | A. He ordered them not to speak |
| ___2. Liberis imperat ne exeant. | B. He asked me why I was silent. |
| ___3. Liberos rogavit cur exiissent. | C. He orders the children not to leave. |
| ___4. Scivit quid dicerent | D. He urged me to be quiet. |
| ___5. Me rogavit cur tacerem. | E. He didn't know why they had not spoken. |
| ___6. Eis imperavit ne dicerent. | F. He asked the children why they had left. |
| ___7. Liberi rogant quando exeamus. | G. He warned them to be silent. |
| ___8. Eis monuit ut tacerent. | H. He knew what they were saying. |
| ___9. Nescivit cur non dixissent | I. He was ordering them to go to school. |
| __10. Mandabat ut irent ad ludum. | J. The children are asking when we are leaving. |
Practice distinguishing types of indirect clauses. Write IS for Indirect Statement, IQ for Indirect Question, or IC for Indirect Command in front of each sentence.
____1. Acrisius oraculum rogavit num sibi filius esset.
____2. Oraculum Acrisium monuit ut nepotem timeret.
____3. Acrisius militibus suis imperavit ut filiam nepotemque in mare proicerent.
____4. Perseus adulescens nuntiavit se caput Medusae relaturum esse.
____5. Hermes et Athena Perseo dixerunt se dona divina ei daturos esse.
____6. Deus Perseo dixit caput Medusae serpentibus contegi.
____7. Nescivit Perseus cur Medusa tam odiosa deformisque esset.
____8. Perseus monetur ne faciem Medusae spectet.
____9. Di Perseo dicunt caput in sacco ponendum esse.
___10. Medusa interfecta, nuntiavit Perseus se Andromedam in matrimonium ducere velle.
Answers to the Practice Questions
Thanks Sally Davis for these exercises from Review and
Test Preparation Guide for the Intermediate Student.
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