The optative is a
very good example of the way in which different tenses of the subjunctive
convey different meanings
Utinam veniat!
│ If only he would come i.e. the speaker is referring to a hope for the
future
Utinam venīret!
│ If only he were coming (now) i.e. a wish for something to
happen in the present
Utinam vēnisset!
│ If only he had come; in grammar, this can be called contrary-to-fact
i.e. what is wished for can no longer happen
No comments:
Post a Comment