26.06.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [59] dependent uses [5] verbs of fearing (1)

[1] So far, you have seen several uses of the subjunctive in dependent clauses with ut and nē.

ut: indicates a positive action

nē / ut … nōn: indicates a negative action

Purpose

Mīlitēs pugnant ut patriam dēfendant. │ The soldiers fight in order to / so that they may defend the homeland.

Fortiter pugnāvērunt nē hostēs urbem caperent. │ They fought bravely so that the enemies might not capture the city.

Result

Tam stultus est ut hoc semper dīcat. │ He is so foolish that he always says this.

Tam timida est ut nōn respondeat. │ She is so timid that she does not answer.

Indirect command, wishes

Volō ut dicās vēritātem. │ I want you to tell the truth

Cūrā  ut Romae sīs. (Cicero)│ Be sure you’re in Rome.

Moneō nē faciātis. │ I advise you not to do it

[2] With verbs of fearing e.g. timeō, -ēre [2], they are followed, as in English, by an infinitive when the fear refers to the subject:

Natāre ¦ timeō │ I am afraid ¦ to swim

Fear, however, can refer to what somebody else may do e.g. I’m afraid he may be late.

In this type of construction Latin uses nē and ut + subjunctive. We can see a parallel in that English can convey the subjunctive idea with auxiliary verbs because fear of an outcome does not in itself indicate certainty.

I’m afraid he may be late.

I’m worried that she might not have caught the train.

[3] The difference in the use of nē and ut with verbs of fearing is that they are reversed in meaning. It is important to bear in mind the difference between nē and ut here in order not to misinterpret text.

[i] nē: indicates a fear that something may happen

Timeō nē veniat. │ I am afraid that he may come.

[ii] ut: indicates a fear that something may not happen

Timeō ut veniat. │ I am afraid that he may not come.

However, the same negative idea may be equally expressed with nē nōn

Timeō nē nōn veniat. │ I am afraid that he may not come.

Examples

[1] verbs expressing fear

timeō, -ēre, -uī, [no 4^th principal part] [2]

[i] Timeō nē aliud crēdam atque aliud nūntiēs (Terence) │ I fear that I may believe one thing while you (may) report another.

[ii] Timeō ut sustineās (Cicero) │ I fear that you may not endure.

metuō, -ere, metūtus [3]

[i] Metuō nē in aquā summā natet (Plautus) │ I’m afraid it might float higher [literally: it may swim on the top / surface of the water]

[ii] Metuō ut fierī possit (Lucilius) │ I fear that it cannot happen

vereor, -ērī, veritus sum [2/deponent]

[i] Vereor nē ā tē rūrsus dissentiam (Cicero) │ I fear that I may disagree with you again.

[ii] Vereor ut tibi possim concēdere (Cicero) │ I fear that I cannot / may not be able to grant this to you.

[2] The concept of ‘fearing’ may not be confined to a verb but to a noun or phrase conveying fear or risk

Metus oritur nē Caesar potestātem summam teneat. │ A fear arises that Caesar may possess the highest power.

Perīculum est nē in carcerem iaciāmur et lībertātem āmittāmus. │ There is a danger that we may be thrown in jail and lose (our) freedom.

Fuit magnus timor nē hostēs bona nostra et līberōs raperent. │ There was a great fear that the enemy might seize our goods and children.

[3] Note tense sequencing:

Dominus metuit [present indicative] nē servī arma sūmant [present subjunctive]. │ The master fears that the slaves may take up arms.

Dominus metuēbat nē servī arma sūmerent [imperfect subjunctive]. │ The master feared that the slaves might / would take up arms.

Timēmus [present indicative] ut nostri auxilium nobis adferre possint [present subjunctive]. │ We are afraid that our men may not be able to bring aid to us.

Timēbāmus [imperfect indicative] quidem ut nostrī auxilium nōbīs adferre possent [imperfect subjunctive]. │ We were afraid that our men might not be able to bring aid to us.