The Sequence of Tenses.
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| Sī scĭĕrīs vellĕ ălĭquem imprūdentem sŭpĕr aspĭdem assīdĕrĕ, imprŏbē fēcĕrīs nĭsĭ mŏnŭĕrīs nē assīdăt | If you knew that someone was going to sit down on an asp without knowing it, you would act wickedly if you did not warn him not to sit down. |
§ 389. Primary or Secondary Sequence.—
{a) Perfect Proper.
With Primary Sequence.
| Taurīs nātūrā dătum est ŭt prō vĭtŭlīs contendant. | Bulls have been given the natural instinct of fighting for their calves. |
| Oblītŭs ĕs quĭd ĭntĭō dīxĕrim | Have you forgotten what I said at the beginning? |
With Secondary Sequence.
| Haec nōn ŭt vōs excĭtārem lŏcūtŭs sum | I have not said this to rouse you. |
| Hŏdĭē expertŭs sum quam cădūcă esset fēlīcĭtās | I have found out to-day how perishable happiness is. |
(b) Historic Present.
With Secondary Sequence.
| Persu|ādet Casticō ŭt rēgnum occŭpārĕt | He persuades Casticus to seize the kingly power. |
With Primary Sequence.[1]
| Ubĭī ōrant ŭt sĭbĭ parcat | The Ubii implore him to spare them. |
§ 390. After the Present and Future Infinitive, the Participles and other Verbals, the Sequence is determined by the leading Verb.
| Spērō fŏrĕ ŭt contingăt | I hope it will happen. |
| Spērāvī fŏrĕ ŭt contingĕrŏt | I hoped it would happen. |
| Rŏgātŭs ŭbĭ sīs, quĭd respondĕās? | If you were asked where you are would you answer? |
| If you had been asked where you were, what would you have answered? |
- ↑ Primary Tenses make the narrative more vivid.
