[1] A negative conditional clause is expressed in English “if … not” or “unless”
If you do not give me the money, I cannot buy
the tickets.
Unless you give me the money, I cannot buy the
tickets.
The equivalents in Latin are expressed by:
[i] sī … nōn; [ii] nisi
Eō sī ante eam diem nōn vēneris, ¦ Rōmae tē
fortasse vidēbō (Cicero)
- If you do not get there before that date, perhaps I shall see you at Rome.
Velim, sī tibī
grave nōn erit, certiōrem mē faciās (Cicero)
- I would like, if it is not [will not be] any trouble to you, you to let me know.
"Dēsilite", inquit, "mīlitēs, nisi vultis
aquilam hostibus prōdere" (Caesar)
- '"Jump down, soldiers," he said, "unless you wish to betray the eagle to the enemies"'
“Nisi mē
frūstrantur,” inquit, “oculī, māter tibī coniūnxque et līberī adsunt” (Livy)
- “unless my eyes are deceiving me,” he said, “your mother and wife and children are here”
Dēcēdēs, cum volēs, nisi forte iam dēcessistī (Cicero)
- You will depart when you wish — unless perhaps you have already departed / if you haven’t already departed.
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