Latin C2: Consecutio temporum: sequence of tenses · Phrases

Every subjunctive in a subordinate clause takes its tense from the main verb. Primary sequence (main verb present or future): present subjunctive for the same time or later, perfect for earlier: Nescio quid agas, quid egeris. Historic sequence (main verb in a past tense): imperfect for the same time, pluperfect for earlier: Nesciebam quid ageres, quid egisses. Later actions use the future participle with sim or essem: quid acturus sis.

• consecutio temporum — sequence of tenses
• nescio — I don’t know
• nesciebam — I didn’t know
• quaero — I enquire
• quaesivi — I enquired
• acturus — about to do
• tempus — tense, time
• modus — mood, manner

• Nescio quid acturus sis. — I don’t know what you are going to do.
• Quaesivi ubi fuisses. — I asked where you had been.
• Scio cur veneris. — I know why you came.
• Nesciebam quis esset. — I didn’t know who he was.