Below is a complete clarity version of the Latin tense table, listing the Indicative (left) and Subjunctive (right), with all singular and plural forms for each conjugation, using one model verb from each.
1st Conjugation — amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum (love)
| Indicative | Subjunctive |
|---|---|
| Present | Present |
| amō – I love | amem – (that) I may love |
| amās – you love | amēs – you may love |
| amat – he/she loves | amet – he/she may love |
| amāmus – we love | amēmus – we may love |
| amātis – you (pl.) love | amētis – you (pl.) may love |
| amant – they love | ament – they may love |
| Imperfect | Imperfect |
| amābam – I was loving | amārem – I might love |
| amābās – you were loving | amārēs – you might love |
| amābat – he/she was loving | amāret – he/she might love |
| amābāmus – we were loving | amārēmus – we might love |
| amābātis – you (pl.) were loving | amārētis – you (pl.) might love |
| amābant – they were loving | amārent – they might love |
| Perfect | Perfect |
| amāvī – I loved / have loved | amāverim – I may have loved |
| amāvistī – you loved | amāverīs – you may have loved |
| amāvit – he/she loved | amāverit – he/she may have loved |
| amāvimus – we loved | amāverīmus – we may have loved |
| amāvistis – you (pl.) loved | amāverītis – you (pl.) may have loved |
| amāvērunt – they loved | amāverint – they may have loved |
| Pluperfect | Pluperfect |
| amāveram – I had loved | amāvissem – I might have loved |
| amāverās – you had loved | amāvissēs – you might have loved |
| amāverat – he/she had loved | amāvisset – he/she might have loved |
| amāverāmus – we had loved | amāvissēmus – we might have loved |
| amāverātis – you (pl.) had loved | amāvissētis – you (pl.) might have loved |
| amāverant – they had loved | amāvissent – they might have loved |
| Future | (no distinct subjunctive) |
| amābō – I shall love | — |
| amābis – you will love | — |
| amābit – he/she will love | — |
| amābimus – we shall love | — |
| amābitis – you (pl.) will love | — |
| amābunt – they will love | — |
| Future Perfect | — |
| amāverō – I shall have loved | — |
| amāveris – you will have loved | — |
| amāverit – he/she will have loved | — |
| amāverimus – we shall have loved | — |
| amāveritis – you (pl.) will have loved | — |
| amāverint – they will have loved | — |
2nd Conjugation — moneō, monēre, monuī, monitum (advise)
Follow exactly the same pattern:
| Indicative | Subjunctive |
|---|---|
| Present | moneam, moneās, moneat, moneāmus, moneātis, moneant |
| Imperfect | monērem, monērēs, monēret, monērēmus, monērētis, monērent |
| Perfect | monuerim, monuerīs, monuerit, monuerīmus, monuerītis, monuerint |
| Pluperfect | monuissem, monuissēs, monuisset, monuissēmus, monuissētis, monuissent |
| (Future & Future Perfect as in 1st conj.) |
3rd Conjugation — regō, regere, rēxī, rēctum (rule)
| Indicative | Subjunctive |
|---|---|
| Present | regam, regās, regat, regāmus, regātis, regant |
| Imperfect | regerem, regerēs, regeret, regerēmus, regerētis, regerent |
| Perfect | rēxerim, rēxerīs, rēxerit, rēxerīmus, rēxerītis, rēxerint |
| Pluperfect | rēxissem, rēxissēs, rēxisset, rēxissēmus, rēxissētis, rēxissent |
4th Conjugation — audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum (hear)
| Indicative | Subjunctive |
|---|---|
| Present | audiam, audiās, audiat, audiāmus, audiātis, audiant |
| Imperfect | audīrem, audīrēs, audīret, audīrēmus, audīrētis, audīrent |
| Perfect | audīverim, audīverīs, audīverit, audīverīmus, audīverītis, audīverint |
| Pluperfect | audīvissem, audīvissēs, audīvisset, audīvissēmus, audīvissētis, audīvissent |
Notes for A2 → B1 Study
- Core indicative tenses to master first:
Present, Imperfect, Perfect, Pluperfect.
These cover nearly all narrative and conversation needs. - Core subjunctives to add at B1:
Present (purpose, result, indirect command)
and Imperfect (conditional, indirect speech). - Perfect and pluperfect subjunctives belong to B2 mastery (sequence of tenses, indirect discourse, etc.).
- Future tenses are less used in classical texts, often replaced by subordinate subjunctives or participles.
Below is a “Tense Usage Table” showing how indicative and subjunctive tenses function in purpose, result, and conditional clauses, with one clear Latin example for each and a literal English translation.
All examples use simple, regular verbs (amō, moneō, regō, audiō) so the forms are familiar.
USE OF LATIN TENSES IN SUBORDINATE CLAUSES
| Clause Type | Indicative (factual statement) | Subjunctive (dependent or qualified idea) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose Clause (“so that…”, “in order that…”) | — | Present Subjunctive for present/future purpose. Veniō ut amem te. – “I come in order that I may love you.” Imperfect Subjunctive for past purpose. Vēnī ut amārem tē. – “I came in order that I might love you.” |
| Result Clause (“so that…”, “with the result that…”) | — | Present Subjunctive for present/future result. Tantum laborat ut vincat. – “He works so hard that he wins.” Imperfect Subjunctive for past result. Tam fessus erat ut vinceret. – “He was so tired that he won.” |
| Conditional Clause (“if…”) | Indicative for real conditions (likely or factual). Sī venit, gaudeō. – “If he comes, I am glad.” Sī vēnit, gāvīsus sum. – “If he came, I rejoiced.” | Imperfect Subjunctive for unreal present. Sī venīret, gauderem. – “If he were coming, I should rejoice.” Pluperfect Subjunctive for unreal past. Sī vēnisset, gāvīsus essem. – “If he had come, I should have rejoiced.” |
| Indirect Command (“he told him to…”) | — | Present or Imperfect Subjunctive. Imperat ut discās. – “He commands that you learn.” Imperāvit ut discerēs. – “He commanded that you should learn.” |
| Temporal Clause (“while, until, before…”) | Indicative for definite time. Dum laborat, cantat. – “While he works, he sings.” | Subjunctive for anticipated or indefinite time. Antequam veniat, parāmus omnia. – “Before he comes, we prepare everything.” Antequam venīret, parāvimus omnia. – “Before he came, we had prepared everything.” |
Sequence of Tenses (A2 → B1 Core Rule)
When a main verb is:
- Primary tense (present, future, future perfect) → Present or Perfect Subjunctive in the clause.
e.g. Dīcit ut veniat – “He says that he may come.” - Historic tense (imperfect, perfect, pluperfect) → Imperfect or Pluperfect Subjunctive in the clause.
e.g. Dīxit ut venīret – “He said that he might come.”
(This is called the “sequence of tenses” rule.)
Notes for Teachers / Students
- At A2, learners should recognise purpose and result clauses by ut and nē with present subjunctive.
- At B1, they should produce both present and imperfect subjunctives correctly in dependent clauses and start recognising sequence of tenses.
- At B2, they should handle conditional, temporal, and indirect command clauses fluently, including perfect/pluperfect subjunctives.
Below is the Passive Voice Extension Table, showing how the subjunctive tenses are used in purpose, result, conditional, indirect command, and temporal clauses — but now with passive forms.
It’s laid out for clarity and progression from A2 → B2, using amō, amārī (“to love / be loved”) as the model.
All examples are literal, so students can see the grammar directly.
USE OF SUBJUNCTIVE IN PASSIVE VOICE CLAUSES
| Clause Type | Active Example | Passive Equivalent | Literal English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose Clause | Veniō ut amem tē. | Veniō ut amer. | I come in order that I may be loved. |
| Vēnī ut amārem tē. | Vēnī ut amārer. | I came in order that I might be loved. | |
| Result Clause | Tantum laborat ut vincat. | Tantum bene agit ut ametur. | He behaves so well that he is loved. |
| Tam bene ēgit ut amārētur. | (same) | He behaved so well that he was loved. | |
| Conditional Clause | Sī venīret, gauderem. | Sī amārer, gauderem. | If I were loved, I should rejoice. |
| Sī vēnisset, gāvīsus essem. | Sī amātus essem, gāvīsus essem. | If I had been loved, I should have rejoiced. | |
| Indirect Command | Imperat ut discās. | Imperat ut amēris. | He orders that you be loved (i.e., “treated kindly”). |
| Imperāvit ut discerēs. | Imperāvit ut amārēris. | He ordered that you should be loved. | |
| Temporal Clause | Antequam veniat, parāmus omnia. | Antequam ametur, laudātur. | Before he is loved, he is praised. |
| Antequam venīret, parāvimus omnia. | Antequam amārētur, laudātus erat. | Before he was loved, he had been praised. |
Subjunctive Passive Endings (Regular Pattern)
| Tense | Active Ending | Passive Ending | Example (1st conj.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | -em, -ēs, -et, -ēmus, -ētis, -ent | -er, -ēris, -ētur, -ēmur, -ēminī, -entur | amer, amēris, ametur… |
| Imperfect | -ārem, -ārēs, -āret, -ārēmus… | (same stems) | amārer, amārēris, amārētur… |
| Perfect | -erim, -eris, -erit, -ērimus… | amātus sim, amātus sīs, amātus sit… (with sim) | amātus sim = “that I may have been loved” |
| Pluperfect | -issem, -issēs, -isset… | amātus essem, amātus essēs, amātus esset… (with essem) | amātus essem = “that I might have been loved” |
(For other conjugations, simply replace am- with the perfect participle stem: e.g. monitus sim, rēctus sim, audītus sim.)
Notes for Learners (B1 → B2)
- The present and imperfect subjunctive passive appear in purpose, result, and indirect command clauses exactly as in the active voice.
- The perfect and pluperfect passive subjunctives are compound tenses (participle + sim/essem).
- Be alert for impersonal passive forms in Latin:
- pugnātur ut vincātur – “they fight so that it may be won.”
- parātur ut audiātur – “it is prepared so that it may be heard.”
- Classical Latin prefers present and imperfect passive subjunctives for elegant narrative variation, especially in indirect speech.
This final section completes the A2 → B2 progression.
Here is a Reference Sheet of Irregular Subjunctive Forms — the verbs most learners find difficult to memorise because they don’t follow regular conjugation patterns.
All are shown in full for clarity, with English meaning and the four key tenses used in real texts (Present, Imperfect, Perfect, Pluperfect).
Future and future perfect do not exist in the subjunctive.
IRREGULAR SUBJUNCTIVE REFERENCE SHEET
1️⃣ sum, esse, fuī — to be
| Tense | Forms | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | sim, sīs, sit, sīmus, sītis, sint | may be |
| Imperfect | essem, essēs, esset, essēmus, essētis, essent | might be |
| Perfect | fuerim, fuerīs, fuerit, fuerīmus, fuerītis, fuerint | may have been |
| Pluperfect | fuissem, fuissēs, fuisset, fuissēmus, fuissētis, fuissent | might have been |
2️⃣ possum, posse, potuī — to be able, can
| Tense | Forms | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | possim, possīs, possit, possīmus, possītis, possint | may be able |
| Imperfect | possem, possēs, posset, possēmus, possētis, possent | might be able |
| Perfect | potuerim, potuerīs, potuerit, potuerīmus, potuerītis, potuerint | may have been able |
| Pluperfect | potuissem, potuissēs, potuisset, potuissēmus, potuissētis, potuissent | might have been able |
(Formed by combining “pos-/pot-” with forms of sum.)
3️⃣ volō, velle, voluī — to want, wish
| Tense | Forms | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | velim, velīs, velit, velīmus, velītis, velint | may want |
| Imperfect | vellem, vellēs, vellet, vellēmus, vellētis, vellent | might want |
| Perfect | voluerim, voluerīs, voluerit, voluerīmus, voluerītis, voluerint | may have wanted |
| Pluperfect | voluissem, voluissēs, voluisset, voluissēmus, voluissētis, voluissent | might have wanted |
4️⃣ nōlō, nōlle, nōluī — to be unwilling, refuse
| Tense | Forms | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | nōlim, nōlīs, nōlit, nōlīmus, nōlītis, nōlint | may not want / may refuse |
| Imperfect | nōllem, nōllēs, nōllet, nōllēmus, nōllētis, nōllent | might not want |
| Perfect | nōluerim, nōluerīs, nōluerit, nōluerīmus, nōluerītis, nōluerint | may have refused |
| Pluperfect | nōluissem, nōluissēs, nōluisset, nōluissēmus, nōluissētis, nōluissent | might have refused |
(Formed from nē + volō → nōlō.)
5️⃣ ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum — to bear, carry, bring
| Tense | Forms | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | feram, ferās, ferat, ferāmus, ferātis, ferant | may carry |
| Imperfect | ferrem, ferrēs, ferret, ferrēmus, ferrētis, ferrent | might carry |
| Perfect | tulerim, tulerīs, tulerit, tulerīmus, tulerītis, tulerint | may have carried |
| Pluperfect | tulissem, tulissēs, tulisset, tulissēmus, tulissētis, tulissent | might have carried |
6️⃣ eō, īre, iī (īvī), itum — to go
| Tense | Forms | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | eam, eās, eat, eāmus, eātis, eant | may go |
| Imperfect | īrem, īrēs, īret, īrēmus, īrētis, īrent | might go |
| Perfect | ierim, ierīs, ierit, ierīmus, ierītis, ierint | may have gone |
| Pluperfect | iissem (īvīssem), iissēs, iisset, iissēmus, iissētis, iissent | might have gone |
7️⃣ fiō, fierī, factus sum — to become, be made (serves as passive of faciō)
| Tense | Forms | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | fiam, fiās, fiat, fiāmus, fiātis, fiant | may become / be made |
| Imperfect | fierem, fierēs, fieret, fierēmus, fierētis, fierent | might become / be made |
| Perfect | factus sim, factus sīs, factus sit, factī sīmus, factī sītis, factī sint | may have been made |
| Pluperfect | factus essem, factus essēs, factus esset, factī essēmus, factī essētis, factī essent | might have been made |
8️⃣ mālō, mālle, māluī — to prefer
| Tense | Forms | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present | mālim, mālīs, mālit, mālīmus, mālītis, mālint | may prefer |
| Imperfect | māllem, māllēs, māllet, māllēmus, māllētis, māllent | might prefer |
| Perfect | māluerim, māluerīs, māluerit, māluerīmus, māluerītis, māluerint | may have preferred |
| Pluperfect | māluissem, māluissēs, māluisset, māluissēmus, māluissētis, māluissent | might have preferred |
Teaching Notes (for B1–B2 consolidation)
- The irregular subjunctives follow predictable patterns once you see stem + regular ending:
sim, possim, velim, feram, eam, fiam, etc. - sum and possum are core; volō/nōlō/mālō form a family from the same root.
- ferō and eō follow the 3rd/4th conjugation vowel pattern.
- fiō behaves as the passive of facio, so appears often in clauses of becoming or result.
- The perfect and pluperfect subjunctives of all irregular verbs are regularly formed from the perfect stem + endings (-erim / -issem).
Here is the Irregular Subjunctives Master Chart — a one-page quick-reference sheet for A2 → B2 learners to memorise forms at a glance.
Each verb shows its Present, Imperfect, Perfect, and Pluperfect Subjunctive in a compact line.
You can copy this directly into WordPress or print it as a classroom handout.
IRREGULAR SUBJUNCTIVES — QUICK REFERENCE
| Verb | Present | Imperfect | Perfect | Pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sum (be) | sim, sīs, sit, sīmus, sītis, sint | essem, essēs, esset, essēmus, essētis, essent | fuerim, fuerīs, fuerit, fuerīmus, fuerītis, fuerint | fuissem, fuissēs, fuisset, fuissēmus, fuissētis, fuissent |
| possum (can) | possim, possīs, possit, possīmus, possītis, possint | possem, possēs, posset, possēmus, possētis, possent | potuerim, potuerīs, potuerit, potuerīmus, potuerītis, potuerint | potuissem, potuissēs, potuisset, potuissēmus, potuissētis, potuissent |
| volō (want) | velim, velīs, velit, velīmus, velītis, velint | vellem, vellēs, vellet, vellēmus, vellētis, vellent | voluerim, voluerīs, voluerit, voluerīmus, voluerītis, voluerint | voluissem, voluissēs, voluisset, voluissēmus, voluissētis, voluissent |
| nōlō (not want) | nōlim, nōlīs, nōlit, nōlīmus, nōlītis, nōlint | nōllem, nōllēs, nōllet, nōllēmus, nōllētis, nōllent | nōluerim, nōluerīs, nōluerit, nōluerīmus, nōluerītis, nōluerint | nōluissem, nōluissēs, nōluisset, nōluissēmus, nōluissētis, nōluissent |
| mālō (prefer) | mālim, mālīs, mālit, mālīmus, mālītis, mālint | māllem, māllēs, māllet, māllēmus, māllētis, māllent | māluerim, māluerīs, māluerit, māluerīmus, māluerītis, māluerint | māluissem, māluissēs, māluisset, māluissēmus, māluissētis, māluissent |
| ferō (carry, bring) | feram, ferās, ferat, ferāmus, ferātis, ferant | ferrem, ferrēs, ferret, ferrēmus, ferrētis, ferrent | tulerim, tulerīs, tulerit, tulerīmus, tulerītis, tulerint | tulissem, tulissēs, tulisset, tulissēmus, tulissētis, tulissent |
| eō (go) | eam, eās, eat, eāmus, eātis, eant | īrem, īrēs, īret, īrēmus, īrētis, īrent | ierim, ierīs, ierit, ierīmus, ierītis, ierint | iissem, iissēs, iisset, iissēmus, iissētis, iissent |
| fiō (become, be made) | fiam, fiās, fiat, fiāmus, fiātis, fiant | fierem, fierēs, fieret, fierēmus, fierētis, fierent | factus sim, factus sīs, factus sit, factī sīmus, factī sītis, factī sint | factus essem, factus essēs, factus esset, factī essēmus, factī essētis, factī essent |
Usage Summary
- Present – “may / should”
ut sit → that he may be - Imperfect – “might / would” (in past time)
ut esset → that he might be - Perfect – “may have” (primary sequence)
ut fuerit → that he may have been - Pluperfect – “might have” (historic sequence)
ut fuisset → that he might have been
Teaching Note
This chart covers every irregular subjunctive encountered in:
- Purpose & result clauses
- Indirect statements / commands
- Conditional & temporal clauses
- Oratio obliqua (indirect speech)
All other Latin verbs follow the regular four-conjugation patterns already presented.
Excellent — this final sheet completes the A2 → B2 Latin subjunctive sequence.
It summarises the principal uses of the subjunctive mood in one clear, compact page — ideal for wall display, reference, or inclusion in your study series.
THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD — PRINCIPAL USES
1️⃣ Purpose Clauses — ut / nē (“in order that / lest”)
- Express the purpose or intention of an action.
- Tense:
- Present Subjunctive → purpose in present or future time.
- Imperfect Subjunctive → purpose in past time.
Examples
- Vēnit ut discat. — He came in order that he may learn.
- Vēnit nē disceret. — He came lest he might learn.
- Mittit nūntium ut veniat. — He sends a messenger so that he may come.
2️⃣ Result Clauses — ut / ut nōn (“so that / with the result that”)
- Express the outcome or effect of something.
- Trigger words in the main clause: tam, ita, sīc, tantus, adeō, tōt.
- Tense:
- Present Subjunctive → result in present/future.
- Imperfect Subjunctive → result in past time.
Examples
- Tam fortis est ut vincat. — He is so brave that he wins.
- Tam fortis erat ut vinceret. — He was so brave that he won.
- Tantus erat clāmor ut nēmō audīret. — The shouting was so great that no one could hear.
3️⃣ Indirect Commands — ut / nē (“that / that not” after verbs of ordering, asking, persuading)
- Follow verbs such as imperō, hortor, persuādeō, moneō, rogo, petō.
- Tense:
- Present Subjunctive = command in present/future.
- Imperfect Subjunctive = command in past time.
Examples
- Imperat ut veniat. — He orders that he come.
- Monuit nē loquerētur. — He warned that he should not speak.
4️⃣ Cum Clauses — cum + subjunctive (“when, since, although”)
- Temporal (when): cum + subjunctive for circumstances.
- Causal (since): reason (cum + subjunctive).
- Concessive (although): cum + subjunctive, often with tamen.
Examples
- Cum vēnisset, tacuit. — When he had come, he was silent.
- Cum hōc scīret, tacuit. — Since he knew this, he was silent.
- Cum hōc scīret, tamen tacuit. — Although he knew this, he was silent.
5️⃣ Conditional Clauses
| Type | Construction | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real | si + indicative | Sī venit, gaudeō. | If he comes, I am glad. |
| Potential | si + present subjunctive | Sī veniat, gaudeam. | If he should come, I should rejoice. |
| Unreal (present) | si + imperfect subjunctive | Sī venīret, gauderem. | If he were coming, I should rejoice. |
| Unreal (past) | si + pluperfect subjunctive | Sī vēnisset, gāvīsus essem. | If he had come, I should have rejoiced. |
6️⃣ Indirect Questions — question word + subjunctive
- Follow verbs of knowing, asking, or saying: rogō, quaerō, sciō, dīcō.
- The tense of the subjunctive follows the sequence of tenses rule.
Examples
- Rogat quid faciās. — He asks what you are doing.
- Rogāvit quid facerēs. — He asked what you were doing.
7️⃣ Indirect Speech (Oratio Obliqua) — reported statement with subjunctive
- After verbs of saying, thinking, knowing (dīcō, putō, sciō).
- The verb in the dependent clause becomes subjunctive, with tense by sequence.
Examples
- Dīcit sē venīre. — He says that he is coming.
- Dīxit sē venīret. — He said that he was coming.
8️⃣ Jussive and Potential Subjunctives (Independent Uses)
- Jussive: 3rd person command — Veniat! “Let him come!”
- Hortatory: 1st person plural — Eāmus! “Let us go!”
- Negative command: nē + perfect subjunctive — Nē fēceris! “Don’t do it!”
- Potential: polite or tentative possibility — Dīcās eum fessum esse. “You might say he is tired.”
9️⃣ Sequence of Tenses (Summary Table)
| Main Verb | Subordinate Time | Subjunctive Tense |
|---|---|---|
| Primary (present, future, future perfect) | same time / later | Present |
| earlier | Perfect | |
| Historic (imperfect, perfect, pluperfect) | same time / later | Imperfect |
| earlier | Pluperfect |
10️⃣ Level Guide
| Level | Mastery Goals |
|---|---|
| A2 | Recognise ut/nē purpose clauses; understand basic subjunctive endings. |
| B1 | Use present and imperfect subjunctives correctly in purpose, result, indirect command; follow sequence of tenses. |
| B2 | Confident with cum clauses, conditional, indirect speech, and perfect/pluperfect subjunctives; aware of stylistic uses (jussive, potential). |