Latin for Beginners · Lesson LXVIII · Part 14: Participles, result and description clauses
68. The verb fīō; the subjunctive of result
Goal: Your child conjugates fīō and translates result clauses ('so … that') and tells them apart from purpose clauses.
You'll need
- The book (the lesson pages)
- A notebook and pencil
- Index cards from earlier lessons
What's in the book
fīō as the passive of faciō (§ 383, with full forms in § 500), result clauses with examples and notes (§ 384), the rules (§§ 385 and 386), how purpose and result clauses differ (§ 387), and Latin drills, sentences and nine English sentences (§ 388, on the next page).
The lesson, step by step
Warm up
Your child gives a purpose clause in Latin with ut and one with nē.
fīō
fīō, fierī, factus sum means 'become, happen, be made'. It is the passive of faciō in the present system. The ī is long except before -er and in fit. Read its forms in § 500 aloud: fīō, fīs, fit; fīmus, fītis, fīunt.
Result clauses
'So brave that they win' is a result. Latin uses ut (negative ut nōn) with the subjunctive, but it is translated like a plain fact:
Terror erat tantus ut omnēs fugerent
The terror was so great that all fled. A warning word like tam, tantus, ita or eius modī usually comes first. After verbs of 'bringing about', the ut clause is the object:
Terror fēcit ut omnēs fugerent
Purpose or result?
Purpose: in order that, negative nē. Result: so that, negative ut nōn, usually with tam or tantus in front. Compare the book's pair: Tam graviter vulnerātus est ut caperētur (he was so badly wounded that he was captured) and Graviter vulnerātus est ut caperētur (he was badly wounded so that he might be captured).
Latin to English
Do the fīō drills, then the sentences. Two of them:
Hominēs erant tam audācēs ut nūllō modō continērī possent.
Sōl facit ut omnia sint pulchra.
Ask each time: purpose or result?
English to Latin
Write the nine sentences. Sentences 4 to 7 come in pairs: one result, one purpose.
Wrap-up
Your child explains how to tell purpose from result. Memorize fīō and the rules in §§ 385 and 386.
Afterwards
Two days: fīō and result clauses, then the comparison with purpose and the exercises.
Tip
The book's teacher notes advise: translate result clauses like an indicative, and don't worry about the theory.
Answers to the book's problems
Our copy did not show the numbering of the drills clearly; the sentences are numbered as in the book. Drills: it happens (is made), it will happen, that it may happen, we were becoming; I become, you will become, that they might become, to become, they become; you will become, that we may become, you become, we shall become. 4. The soldiers were so slow that they did not reach the camp before night. 5. The sun makes everything beautiful. 6. The dangers were of such a kind that no one wanted to set out. 7. The enemy's horsemen fought with our cavalry on the march, but with the result that our men were superior everywhere. 8. The courage of our soldiers caused the enemy not to withstand even one attack. 9. The men were so bold that they could in no way be held back. 10. The space was so small that the soldiers could not easily throw their weapons. 11. When this battle had been fought, the barbarians were so terrified that envoys were sent to Caesar from the most distant tribes. 12. This battle was fought so that envoys might not be sent to Caesar.
Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.