Present and Imperfect Subjunctive Forms and Translations

Below I use these verbs for examples:
amō, amāre, amāvī, amātus
moneō, monēre, monuī, monitus
mittō, mittere, mīsī, missus
cupiō, cupere, cupīvī, cupītus
veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventus

SUBJUNCTIVE
Subjunctive is a mood. Other moods in Latin are indicative (regular verbs of statements and questions) and imperative (verb forms used in commands). Infinitives are sometimes called a separate mood, though technically they are something completely different. The subjunctive mood exists in English too, thouh as with other English verb forms, it is often expressed with a helping verb or modal verb. Here are some examples of modal verbs used to translate subjunctives: may, might, would, and should, as well as sometimes can, could, will, and shall.

What they do…
Subjunctives are typically used to show things like possibility/probability, wishes, and advice or suggestions.

English examples:
Let it be.
May the Force be with you!
That may be.
Be that as it may.
If I were king, I would eat cake all day long.

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE ACTIVE
Let’s beat a giant friar/liar!
The above sentence does two things.

1) It reminds us of one way to translate the present subjunctive.
Let subject verb! e.g. Videat! = Let him/her see!
2) It reminds us of which vowels are used for the present subjunctive by each conjugation.
1st = e, 2nd = ea, 3rd = a, 3rd & 4th = ia

Formation:
To make the present subjunctive you…
1) get the present stem (2nd principal part minus re)
2) replace the final vowel with the new vowel(s) for present subjunctive.
*Note: The last subjunctive vowel is treated as long.
3) then add the active personal endings: m, s, t, mus, tis, nt.
*Note: Final m, r, and t always shorten the preceding vowel, and nt shortens the preceding vowel anywhere in the word.

1st: amem*, amēs, amet*, amēmus, amētis, ament*
2nd: moneam*, moneās, moneat*, moneāmus, moneātis, moneant*
3rd: mittam*, mittās, mittat*, mittāmus, mittātis, mittant
3rd io: cupiam*, cupiās, cupiat*, cupiāmus, cupiātis, cupiant*
4th: veniam*, veniās, veniat*, veniāmus, veniātis, veniant*
*vowel shortened

IMPERFECT ACTIVE SUBJUNCTIVE
Formation:
1) get the 2nd principal part (present active infinitive)
2) lengthen the final e
3) then add the active personal endings: m, s, t, mus, tis, nt.

1st: amārem*, amārēs, amāret*, amārēmus, amārētis, amārent*
2nd: monērem*, monērēs, monēret*, monērēmus, monērētis, monērent*
3rd: mitterem*, mitterēs, mitteret*, mitterēmus, mitterētis, mitterent
3rd io: cuperem*, cuperēs, cuperet*, cuperēmus, cuperētis, cuperent*
4th: venīrem*, venīrēs, venīret*, venīrēmus, venīrētis, venīrent*

INDEPENDENT OR MAIN CLAUSE SUBJUNCTIVES
Three types are introduced here.

Jussive (or hortatory) subjunctive is used for mild or polite commands. In English we translate with “let.”
Veniat! Let him come! Eāmus! Let’s go!

Optative subjunctive is used for wishes. In Latin there will often be an utinam in the clause. We translate with “May” as the first word or add “Would that…!” or “I wish…” to the beginning of the clause.
(Utinam) Vīs tēcum sit! May the Force be with you! (Utinam) discederet! I wish he were leaving!

Potential subjunctive is used to expressed possibilities. It is translated with helping verbs like may, might, can, could, and would.
Crēderēs mihi. You would/could/might believe me. Fortasse mox veniat. Perhaps he may come soon.

PURPOSE CLAUSES

A purpose clause tells “why?” or “for what purpose?” something is done. In English they start with “so that” or “in order that” and may/will or might/would. In English purpose may also be expressed with a purpose infinitive (which Latin does not have). An English infinitive of purpose is sometimes introduced by “in order” or “so as”, e.g.: “I left (so as) to escape notice.”
In Latin, purpose clauses start with ut or nē (if negative), and the verb is subjunctive mood, present, if in primary sequence, and imperfect, if in secondary sequence.

How to Tell Sequence

All past tense indicative verbs are secondary.
All present, future, and future perfect indicative verbs as well as all imperatives are primary.
Perfect tense may be treated either as primary (only when translated “has/have verbed”) or secondary.

EXAMPLES
I came so that I might/would see him. = I came to see (purpose infinitive) him.
Vēnī ut eum vidērem*.
*imperfect subjunctive in secondary sequence
You are coming (in order) to help. = You are coming so that you may/will help.
Venis ut adiuvēs*.
*present subjunctive in primary sequence
He had left so that I would not see him. = He had left in order for me not to see him.
Discesserat nē eum vidērem*.
*imperfect subjunctive in secondary sequence