31.03.26: Level 3; Subjunctive [9] the tenses [2] perfect subjunctive [i]

The perfect subjunctive will have its first mention in the next post on usage (negative jussive / prohibitive) and so we will look at its forms here:

Image #1: The perfect subjunctive is formed from:

[i] perfect tense stem (from the 3^rd principal part)

amō, amāre, amāv¦ī > amāv-

habeō, habēre, habu¦ī > habu-

vīvō, vīvere, vīx¦ī > vīx-

capiō, capere, cēp¦ī > cēp-

audiō, audīre, audīv¦ī > audīv-

[ii] + the endings: -erim, -erīs, -erit, -erīmus, -erītis, -erint [-eri- / -erī- + personal endings]

amāverim, amāverīs, amāverit, amāverīmus, amāverītis, amāverint

habuerim, habuerīs etc.

vīxerim, vīxerīs etc.

cēperim, cēperīs etc.

audīverim, audiverīs etc.

Image #2: all verbs – including irregular verbs – form the perfect subjunctive in the same way.

Image #3: An important point to note about the perfect subjunctive is that, apart from the first person singular, the formation and endings look the same as the future perfect tense. There are differences in terms of the use of long vowels (marked in the table and referred to in the video), but in a text which has not been edited with macrons, it is not always easy to distinguish them. Remember: slow and steady! Don’t try to juggle too many concepts at the same time, and simply focus on the use of the perfect subjunctive in the different contexts discussed in subsequent posts.