Lesson 2: Result Clauses and Indirect Questions
Learn to recognize and translate result (consecutive) clauses and indirect questions in classical Latin.
Overview
Two of Latin's most productive subordinate constructions work through the same subjunctive mood but serve entirely different purposes. Result clauses (also called consecutive clauses) express what actually happened as a consequence. Indirect questions report a question inside a statement. Both require the subjunctive, but their signal words and grammar differ clearly.
Part 1: Result Clauses (Consecutive Clauses)
The Core Distinction: Result vs. Purpose
| Purpose clause | Result clause | |
|---|---|---|
| Question it answers | Why did the subject act? | What happened as a result? |
| Expresses | intention, goal | actual outcome, consequence |
| Key conjunction | ut / nē | ut (positive) / ut nōn (negative) |
| Signal words | (none in main clause) | tam, ita, sic, tantus, talis, tot, adeō |
Critical rule: A result clause is always signalled by a "so/such" word in the main clause. If you see tam, ita, tantus, talis, tot, or adeō, look for a following ut + subjunctive — it is a result clause, not a purpose clause.
Signal Words (Correlatives)
| Latin | Meaning | Modifies |
|---|---|---|
| tam | so (adverb of degree) | adjectives and adverbs |
| ita / sic | so, in such a way | verbs |
| adeō | to such an extent | verbs |
| tantus, -a, -um | so great | nouns (adjective) |
| talis, -e | of such a kind | nouns (adjective) |
| tot (indeclinable) | so many | nouns (adjective) |
Negative Result Clauses
- Positive result: ut + subjunctive ("so that ... did/does")
- Negative result: ut nōn + subjunctive ("so that ... did/does not")
- Also: ut nēmō (so that no one), ut nihil (so that nothing), ut numquam (so that never) — the negative travels inside the clause
Worked Examples
Example 1:
Ita fortis erat ut nēmō eum vinceret. He was so brave that no one conquered him. (ita → result; nēmō = internal negative)
Example 2:
Tam longum iter fēcērunt ut omnēs dēfessī essent. They made such a long march that all were exhausted. (tam + adjective longum → result clause in secondary sequence)
Example 3:
Rēs erat tanta ut nūllus dubitāret. The matter was so great that no one hesitated. (tanta, predicate adjective → result)
Example 4 — Caesar, BG 1.2:
Tanta multitūdō in ea regiōne erat ut... agrī cultūrā sustentārī nōn possent. There was such a great multitude in that region that they could not be sustained by farming.
Example 5:
Tot vulnera accēpit ut vix stāre posset. He received so many wounds that he could hardly stand.
Example 6:
Cicero: Adeō perturbātus erat ut verba invenīre nōn posset. He was so shaken that he could not find words.
Example 7:
Tālis erat ōrātiō ut omnēs commoverentur. The speech was of such a kind that everyone was moved.
Example 8 — Passive result:
Sīc dictum est ut nēmō intellegeret. It was said in such a way that no one understood. (sīc → adverbial result)
Part 2: Indirect Questions
What Is an Indirect Question?
A direct question is asked directly: Quid facis? (What are you doing?)
An indirect question is embedded inside another sentence, reporting what was asked, known, wondered, or discovered:
Rogāvit quid facerēs. — He asked what you were doing.
The Latin indirect question uses subjunctive mood, unlike English which simply shifts tense. The interrogative word (who, what, where, why, how) stays at the front of the embedded clause.
Interrogative Words Used in Indirect Questions
| Latin | Meaning | Type |
|---|---|---|
| quis / quid | who / what | pronoun |
| uter / utra / utrum | which (of two) | adjective/pronoun |
| quī / quae / quod | which, what kind | adjective |
| ubi | where | adverb |
| undē | from where | adverb |
| quō | to where | adverb |
| quandō | when | adverb |
| cūr / quārē | why | adverb |
| quōmodo / ut | how | adverb |
| quot (indecl.) | how many | adjective |
| quantus | how great | adjective |
| utrum...an | whether...or | particle |
| num | whether (expects "no") | particle |
| -ne (enclitic) | whether | particle |
Verbs That Introduce Indirect Questions
Any verb of asking, knowing, telling, discovering, wondering, or perceiving can introduce an indirect question:
rogō, quaerō, petō, scīscitor (ask); sciō, nesciō, cognōscō (know/not know); dīcō, nārrō (tell); videō, audiō (see, hear); mīror, dubitō (wonder, doubt); dēmōnstrō, ostendō (show, demonstrate).
Sequence of Tenses in Indirect Questions
The same sequence rules from Lesson 1 apply:
| Main verb | Subordinate action contemporaneous | Subordinate action prior |
|---|---|---|
| Primary (pres/fut/fut perf) | Present subjunctive | Perfect subjunctive |
| Secondary (imperf/perf/pluperf) | Imperfect subjunctive | Pluperfect subjunctive |
Indirect Question vs. Relative Clause
Both can use a subordinating word + subjunctive. The distinction:
| Indirect question | Relative clause | |
|---|---|---|
| Introducing word | Interrogative (quis, ubi, cūr) | Relative pronoun (quī, quae, quod) |
| Meaning | asks what/who/where/why | describes which one |
| Test | Can you insert "I wonder ___ ?" | Can you say "the one who/which ___ "? |
Example pair:
- Rogāvit quī hoc fēcissent. → "He asked who had done this." (indirect question — quī = interrogative who)
- Hominēs quī hoc fēcissent punītī sunt. → "The men who had done this were punished." (relative clause of characteristic)
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Basic indirect question, secondary:
Rogāvit quid factum esset. He asked what had been done. (rogāvit = secondary; quid = interrogative; prior action → pluperfect subj.)
Example 2 — Primary sequence:
Nesciō ubi sīs. I do not know where you are. (nesciō = primary; contemporaneous → present subj.)
Example 3 — Caesar, BG 1.18:
Quaerēbat ex eō quam ob causam Caesar exercitum dēduxisset. He was asking him why Caesar had led away his army. (quaerēbat = secondary; quam ob causam = why; prior → pluperfect subj.)
Example 4 — num expecting "no":
Dubitat num hostēs veniant. He wonders whether the enemy is coming (and suspects not).
Example 5 — utrum...an:
Quaesīvit utrum pācem vellent an bellum. He asked whether they wanted peace or war.
Example 6 — indirect question as subject:
Mē taedet quōmodo id factum sit. It wearies me how that was done.
Example 7 — sciō + indirect question:
Cicero: Scīs quam tardē haec Rōmā exeant. You know how slowly these things leave Rome.
Example 8 — discovery verb:
Cognōvērunt ubi castra posita essent. They found out where the camp had been pitched. (secondary; prior → pluperfect subj. passive)
Distinguishing Result from Indirect Question
Both use the subjunctive, but they cannot be confused if you check for:
- Signal word in main clause (tam, ita, tantus) → result
- Interrogative word (quid, ubi, cūr) → indirect question
- Introducing verb (asking/knowing) → indirect question
- Ut after signal word → almost certainly result
Practice Exercises
Exercise A — Identify clause type
Label each as Result (R), Indirect Question (IQ), or Purpose (P):
- Tam dūrus erat ut nēmō eum amāret. → R
- Vēnit ut amīcum vidēret. → P
- Rogāvit cūr abiissēs. → IQ
- Adeō perturbātus est ut loquī nōn posset. → R
- Nesciō quid dīcam. → IQ
- Tanta erat multitūdō ut flūmen trānsīre nōn possent. → R
Exercise B — Convert direct to indirect question
Transform each direct question using the verb in parentheses:
- Ubi est Caesar? (rogō) → Rogō ubi Caesar sit.
- Quid fēcistī? (quaesīvit) → Quaesīvit quid fēcissēs.
- Cūr vēnistī? (nescit) → Nescit cūr vēneris.
- Quot hostēs adsunt? (cognōvit) → Cognōvit quot hostēs adessent.
Exercise C — Translate
- Tam longam ōrātiōnem habuit ut senātōrēs dormīrent.
- Milites sciēbant ubi dux esset.
- Ita pugnavit ut omnēs mīrārentur.
Summary
| Construction | Signal | Conjunction | Mood | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result (positive) | tam/ita/tantus etc. | ut | Subjunctive | Negative: ut nōn |
| Result (negative) | tam/ita/tantus etc. | ut nōn | Subjunctive | |
| Indirect question | verb of asking/knowing | interrogative word | Subjunctive | Sequence of tenses applies |