THE SUBJUNCTIVE OF CHARACTERISTIC 169
LESSON LXIX
THE SUBJUNCTIVE OF CHARACTERISTIC OR DESCRIPTION
THE PREDICATE ACCUSATIVE
389. Akin to the subjunctive of consequence or result is the use of the subjunctive in clauses of characteristic or description. This construction is illustrated in the following sentences:
- Quis est quī suam domum nōn amet? who is there who does not love his own home?
- Erant quī hoc facere nōllent, there were (some) who were unwilling to do this.
- Tū nōn is es quī amīcōs trādās, you are not such a one as to, or you are not the man to, betray your friends.
4. Nihil videō quod timeam, I see nothing to fear (nothing of such as character as to fear it).
a. Each of these examples contains a descriptive relative clause which tells what kind of a person or thing the antecedent is. To express this thought the subjunctive is used. A relative clause that merely states a fact and does not describe the antecedent uses the indicative. Compare the sentences
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Cæsar is the man who is leading us, Caesar est is quī nōs dūcit Cæsar is the man to lead us, Caesar est is quī nōs dūcat |
b. Observe that in this construction a demonstrative pronoun and a relative, as is quī, are translated such a one as to, the man to.
c. In which of the following sentences would you use the indicative and in which the subjunctive?
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These are not the men who did this These are not the men to do this |
390. Rule. Subjunctive of Characteristic. A relative clause with the subjunctive is often used to describe an antecedent. This is called the subjunctive of characteristic or description.
