18.05.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [38] dependent uses [1] purpose [v] + quī / quō / ubi (i)

There are other ways in which purpose can be expressed:

[1] quī, quae, quod + subjunctive

[i] Instead of saying ut + subjunctive, Latin often uses quī, quae, quod + subjunctive when the purpose is closely tied to a specific noun, especially a person.

Mittitur L. Dēcidius Saxa ¦ quī locī nātūram perspiciat. │ Lucius Decidius Saxa is sent ¦ to examine the ground [literally: Lucius Decidius Saxa is sent¦ who would examine …].

Cūriō praemittit equitēs ¦ quī prīmum impetum sustineant │ Curio sends forward cavalry ¦ to withstand the first attack.

Mīsī legātōs ¦ quī pācem peterent │ I sent ambassadors ¦ to seek peace [literally: … ambassadors ¦ who would seek peace

[ii] ut + subjunctive can also be used, although there is a slight difference in focus:

Either: Caesar mīlitēs mīsit ut senātōrem necārent; the focus is on the purpose of the action i.e. why the soldiers were sent

Or: Caesar mīlitēs mīsit quī senātōrem necārent; the focus is on who was to perform the action

If there were a need to distinguish them in translation:

Caesar mīlitēs mīsit ¦ ut senātōrem necārent │ Caesar sent soldiers ¦ to kill the senator (focus on the purpose)

Caesar mīlitēs mīsit quī senātōrem necārent │ Caesar sent soldiers ¦ who would / who were to kill the senator (focus on who is intended to perform the action)

[iii] Again, note the time sequences i.e. the tense of the verb in the main clause will determine the tense of the subjunctive verb:

[a]

Ēligit [present indicative] mīlitēs ¦ quī pontem custōdiant [present subjunctive] │ He chooses soldiers ¦ to guard the bridge.

Quaerit [present indicative] magistrum ¦ quī puerōs doceat [present subjunctive] │ He is looking for a teacher ¦ to teach the boys.

Mittimus [present indicative] mīlitēs ¦ quī castra defendant [present subjunctive] │ We send soldiers ¦ to defend the camp.

Exiērunt [perfect indicative = English present perfect] senātōrēs quī pācem ab hostibus petant [present subjunctive] │ The senators have gone out ¦ to seek peace from the enemy.

[b]

Dux mīlitēs dēlēgit [perfect indicative] ¦ quī urbem dēfenderent [imperfect subjunctive] │ The general chose soldiers ¦ to defend the city.

Parēns fīlium ad magistrum dūxit [perfect indicative]  ¦ quī eum docēret [imperfect subjunctive] │ The parent led the boy to a teacher ¦ to teach him / … who would teach him.

Rēx lēgātōs mīsit [perfect indicative]  ¦ quī foedus facerent [imperfect subjunctive]  │ The king sent envoys ¦  to make a treaty / … who would make a treaty.

Exiērunt [perfect indicative = English simple past] senātōrēs quī pācem ab hostibus peterent [imperfect subjunctive] │ The senators went out ¦ to seek peace from the enemy.

[iv] Although this type of purpose clause generally refers to a specific person who is (was) to perform the action, it may also be used with an inanimate noun:

Scrībēbat ōrātiōnēs ¦ quās aliī dīcerent. │ He wrote speeches for other men to deliver [ = … speeches ¦ which other men would deliver].

Dux pontem aedificāvit quī exercitum trānsferret │ The general built a bridge ¦ to move the army across [ = …bridge ¦ which would carry across …].

Parāvit arma ¦ quae hostēs terrērent │ He prepared weapons ¦  to frighten the enemy [ = weapons ¦ which would terrify …].

[2] quō + subjunctive

The ablative form quō + subjunctive expresses purpose when a comparative adverb is expressed, an English example being:

I climbed on top of the wall ¦ so that I could see more easily.

Scūtum dēiēcit ¦ quō celerius fugeret. │ He threw away (his) shield ¦ in order that / so that he might escape more quickly.

Mīlitēs mīsit ¦ quō facilius urbem caperent. │ He sent soldiers ¦ so that they might capture the city more easily.

Lentē loquitur ¦ quō melius intellegāmus. │ He is speaking slowly ¦ so that we may understand better.

Lentē loquēbātur ¦ quō melius intellegerēmus. │ He was speaking slowly ¦ so that we might / would / could understand better.

[3] ubi + subjunctive

Ubi is used with the subjunctive to express the intended purpose of a place i.e. it is not describing the place, but what may be done there.

Dēversōrium quaerō ¦ ubi pernoctem. │ I’m looking for an inn to spend the night [ = where I may spend the night].

Amīcus quaerēbat locum ¦ ubi sedēret. │ (My) friend was looking for a place to sit [ = where he might / could sit].

Domum ēlēgērunt ¦ ubi manērent. │ They chose a house to stay in [ = where they might stay].

Latin Tutorial: clauses of purpose