Exercise 29: Purpose clauses (aka ‘ut-clauses’ or ‘final clauses’)
a) I/you (etc) eat in order to live.
b) I/you (etc) eat in order that I/you may live.
c) I/you ate in order that I/you might live.
d) We built the bridge in order that they might cross the river.
The clause in italics is an expression of the purpose of the action described in the main clause. There are various ways of expressing this in English (as exemplified here): for the present use ‘in order that’ for ut and ‘ . . . may (after primary tense) / might (after historic tense) . . . ’ for the verb in the purpose clause, because this will always work (whereas type [a] only sometimes does). You can use more discretion when you are used to the Latin construction.
Purpose clauses consist of: ut/ne + subjunctive
RULE: after a historic main verb the subjunctive is imperfect; after a primary main verb the subjunctive is present. Sometimes the relative pronoun can be used instead of ut.
PURPOSE CLAUSES DEPENDING ON PRIMARY MAIN VERBS
Caesar viam facit ut urbem intret.
= Caesar is building a road in order that he may enter the town.
Caesar viam facit ut nautae urbem intrent.
= Caesar is building a road in order that the sailors may enter the town.
PURPOSE CLAUSES DEPENDING ON HISTORIC MAIN VERBS
Caesar viam fecit ut urbem intraret.
= Caesar built a road in order that he might enter the town.
Caesar viam fecit ut nautae urbem intrarent
= Caesar built a road in order that the sailors might enter the town.
NEGATIVES IN PURPOSE CLAUSES
| negative | purpose | alternative translation |
| … that not … | ne | lest |
| … that no-one … | ne quis | lest anyone |
| … that nothing … | ne quid | lest anything |
| … that never … | ne umquam | lest ever |
NB: ut with the indicative = when/as.
