§447. Subjunctive Mood

The Potential Subjunctive has the following uses:—

• In cautious or modest assertions in the first person singular of expressions of saying, thinking, or wishing(present or perfect):—

  • pāce tuā dīxerim (Mil. 103), I would say by your leave.
  • haud sciam an (Lael. 51), I should incline to think.
  • tū velimsīc exīstimēs (Fam. 12.6), I should like you to think so.
  • certum affīmāre nōn ausim (Liv. 3.23), I should not dare to assert as sure.

• In the indefinite second person singular of verbs of saying, thinking, and the like (present or imperfect):—

  • crēdāsnōn dē puerō scrīptum sed ā puerō; (Plin. Ep. 4.7.7), you would think that it was written not about a boy but by a boy.
  • crēderēsvictōs (Liv. 2.43.9), you would have thought them conquered.
  • reōs dīcerēs (id. 2.35.5), you would have said they were culprits.
  • vidērēssusurrōs (Hor. S. 2.8.77), you might have seen them whispering (lit. whispers).
  • fretō assimilāre possīs (Ov. M. 5.6), you might compare it to a sea.

• With other verbs, in all persons, when some word or phrase in the context implies that the action is expressed as merely possible or conceivable:—

  • nīl egocontulerimiūcundō sānus amīcō; (Hor. S. 1.5.44), when in my senses I should compare nothing with an interesting friend.
  • fortūnam citiusreperiās quam retineās (Pub. Syr. 168), you may sooner find fortune than keep it.
  • aliquis dīcat (Ter. And. 640), somebody may say.

a. Forsitan, perhaps, regularly takes the Potential Subjunctive except in later Latin and in poetry, where the Indicative is also common:—

• forsitan quaerātis quī iste terror sit (Rosc. Am. 5), you may perhaps inquire what this alarm is.
• forsitan temerē fēcerim (id. 31), perhaps I have acted rashly.

b. Fortasse, perhaps, is regularly followed by the Indicative; sometimes, however, by the Subjunctive, but chiefly in later Latin:—

• quaerēs fortasse (Fam. 15.4.13), perhaps you will ask.