12.04.26: Level 3; Subjunctive [17] independent uses [3] deliberative [iii] with the imperfect subjunctive

So far, we have only seen examples of the deliberative subjunctive usage with the present subjunctive. Here, we can see how the imperfect subjunctive is used:

Compare:

[i] Present subjunctive:

Quid dīcam? │ What am I (supposed) to say? / What should I say?

[ii] Imperfect subjunctive:

Quid dīcerem? (Cicero) │ What was I to say? / What should I have said?

An ego nōn venīrem? (Cicero) │ Should I not have come?

Quid facerem? │ What was I to do? / What should I have done?

Quid facerēmus? │ What were we to do? / What should we have done?

i.e. the imperfect subjunctive is used for past deliberation, often with a sense of frustration, helplessness, or hindsight.

Although such questions are often translated into English using “should have,” the perfect subjunctive is not used for deliberation in Latin, since deliberation takes place before an action is carried out, not after it.

Therefore, Latin chooses:

Present subjunctive: deliberation now

Imperfect subjunctive: deliberation then