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Purpose and Result
Ut and Ne Clauses

Purpose and Result

Prerequisites: Subordinate Clauses, Subjunctive, Tense, Mood and Voice in Main Clauses, Infinitive and participle constructions

Next: Cum and Temporal Clauses

Two clauses introduced by ut take the subjunctive and are easily confused. A purpose clause says why an action is done: he comes in order to see. A result clause says what follows from an action or a quality: he was so tired that he fell asleep. This page treats both, with the negative forms, the sequence of tenses and the signal words that tell the clauses apart. It then compares the other ways of expressing purpose (the relative clause, the gerundive, the supine, the future participle) and surveys the verbs of asking, commanding, fearing and effort that take ut and nē. The general rules of mood and sequence are on the page Subordinate clauses.

Purpose clauses

ut and nē

A purpose clause takes the subjunctive and is introduced by ut (in order that) for a positive purpose and by nē (in order that not, lest) for a negative one. There is no signal word in the main clause.

Sequence Tense of the subjunctive Example (constructed) Translation
Primary present Venit ut videat. He comes in order to see.
Historic imperfect Vēnit ut vidēret. He came in order to see.
Primary, negative present Fortiter pugnat nē capiātur. He fights bravely so as not to be captured.
Historic, negative imperfect Fortiter pugnābat nē caperētur. He was fighting bravely so as not to be captured.
  1. The tense depends on the main verb, as in the table. A purpose clause looks to the future of the main verb, so the perfect and pluperfect subjunctive are not used.
  2. After nē, Latin uses the forms quis, ūllus, umquam and usquam, not aliquis, nūllus and numquam: nē quis that no one, nē umquam that never. (Do not write ut nēmō.)
  3. A second negative purpose is joined by nēve or neu: nē fugiant nēve pugnent that they may not flee or fight.
  4. The clause answers the question why? or for what purpose?

Ēsse oportet ut vīvās, nōn vīvere ut edās.

One must eat in order to live, not live in order to eat. (a saying attributed to Socrates in Rhetorica ad Herennium 4.39; ēsse is the infinitive of edō, with a long ē that separates it from esse, to be)

Relative clause of purpose

A relative pronoun with the subjunctive can express purpose. It is equivalent to ut is, ut ea, and its antecedent is a noun in the main clause, usually the object of a verb of sending or choosing:

Sequence Example (constructed) Translation
Primary Mittō hominem quī haec nūntiet. I send a man to announce these things.
Historic Lēgātōs mīsit quī pācem peterent. He sent envoys to seek peace.

The relative clause of purpose is also treated on the page Indirect questions and relative clauses.

quō with a comparative

When the purpose clause contains a comparative, quō (by which, in order that thereby) replaces ut:

Example (constructed) Translation
Librum scrībit quō facilius discant. He writes a book so that they may learn more easily.
Haec dīxī quō melius intellegerēs. I said this so that you might understand better.

Result clauses

A result clause says what follows from the main clause. It takes the subjunctive, is introduced by ut (so that, that) and is announced by a signal word in the main clause:

Signal word Meaning Example (constructed)
ita, sīc so, in such a way Ita loquitur ut omnēs eum intellegant. He speaks in such a way that everyone understands him.
tam so (with an adjective or an adverb) Tam fessus erat ut dormīret. He was so tired that he fell asleep.
tantus, -a, -um so great Tanta erat tempestās ut nāvēs frangerentur. The storm was so great that the ships were broken.
tālis, -e of such a kind Tālis est ut omnēs eum ament. He is such a man that everyone loves him.
adeō to such a degree Adeō timēbat ut fugeret. He was so afraid that he fled.
tot, tantopere so many, so greatly Tot hostēs vēnērunt ut urbs caperētur. So many enemies came that the city was captured.

  1. The negative is ut nōn (not nē), or ut nēmō, ut nihil, ut numquam: Tam fessus erat ut nōn loquerētur. He was so tired that he did not speak. (constructed)

  2. Tense. The present follows a primary main verb and the imperfect a historic one when the result is an ongoing or habitual state. When the result is a single completed fact, Latin uses the perfect subjunctive even after a historic main verb:

    Result Example (constructed) Translation
    ongoing, after a historic verb Tanta erat tempestās ut nāvēs frangerentur. The storm was so great that the ships were being broken.
    single fact, after a historic verb Tanta tempestās coorta est ut nāvēs frāctae sint. Such a storm arose that the ships were broken.

  3. Signal words may be implied: Nēmō tam stultus est ut hoc crēdat. No one is so foolish as to believe this. (constructed)

Ita vīxī ut nōn frūstrā mē nātum exīstimem.

I have so lived that I do not think I was born in vain. (Cicero, De Senectute 84; ita ... ut with the present subjunctive in a result clause)

Substantive result clauses

Some verbs and expressions of accomplishing and happening take ut with the subjunctive as a noun clause, with the negative ut nōn:

Expression Example (constructed) Translation
efficiō ut, faciō ut, perficiō ut Efficiam ut intellegās. I shall bring it about that you understand.
fit ut Fit ut errem. It happens that I make a mistake.
accidit ut Accidit ut Caesar abesset. It happened that Caesar was away.
mōs est ut Mōs est ut hospitēs recipiantur. It is the custom that guests are received.

Purpose and result compared

Purpose Result
Meaning the aim of the action, which may not be achieved the consequence, which is stated as a fact
Negative nē ut nōn
Signal word in the main clause none ita, tam, tantus, tālis, adeō, tot
Tense present or imperfect only present, imperfect or perfect (the pluperfect is rare), with the perfect for a single fact
Question answered why? with what result?

The two are close in meaning, and the signal word is the surest guide. A negative clause is the clearest test: ut nōn is a result, nē a purpose.

Other ways of expressing purpose

Latin has several constructions for purpose. They are close in meaning, and the first is the most common in prose.

Construction Example (constructed) Translation
ut with the subjunctive Vēnit ut auxilium peteret. He came to ask for help.
relative clause with the subjunctive Lēgātōs mīsit quī auxilium peterent. He sent envoys to ask for help.
ad with the gerundive Lēgātōs ad pācem petendam mīsit. He sent envoys to seek peace.
gerundive with causā or grātiā Pācis petendae causā lēgātōs mīsit. He sent envoys for the sake of seeking peace.
supine in -um after a verb of motion Vēnērunt auxilium petītum. They came to ask for help.
future participle Lēgātī pācem petītūrī vēnērunt. The envoys came to seek peace.
  1. The gerund and the gerundive are described on the page Infinitives, participles, gerund, gerundive, supine and used on Infinitive and participle constructions.
  2. The supine is limited to verbs of motion.
  3. The future participle of purpose is rare in classical prose and more frequent in poetry and in later writers.
  4. In poetry the infinitive can also express purpose.

Verbs of asking, commanding, fearing and effort

Many verbs take a noun clause with ut or nē and the subjunctive. The clause is the object of the verb, and the tense follows the sequence.

Verbs Clause Example (constructed) Translation
imperō, persuādeō, ōrō, rogō, petō, hortor, moneō, postulō ut / nē + subjunctive Rogō tē ut veniās. I ask you to come.
Hortātur eōs nē fugiant. He urges them not to flee.
cūrō, dō operam, labōrō ut + subjunctive Cūrā ut valeās. See that you stay well.
iubeō, vetō, sinō, patior accusative and infinitive Eōs abīre iussit. He ordered them to leave.
timeō, vereor, metuō nē = that; ut or nē nōn = that not Timeō nē veniat. I fear that he will come.
Timeō ut veniat. I fear that he will not come.
  1. persuādeō and imperō take the dative of the person, and ōrō, rogō, moneō and hortor take the accusative: Mīlitibus imperat ut castra mūniant. He orders the soldiers to fortify the camp. (constructed)
  2. iubeō and vetō take the infinitive, not ut.
  3. Verbs of fearing reverse the usual sense of nē and ut: nē gives the thing feared and ut (or nē nōn) a hoped-for event that may fail.
  4. The tense follows the sequence: Timēbam nē venīret. I feared that he would come. (constructed)

Cīvitātī persuāsit ut dē fīnibus suīs cum omnibus cōpiīs exīrent.

He persuaded the state to leave their territory with all their forces. (Caesar, De Bello Gallico 1.2; persuāsit takes the dative and ut with the imperfect subjunctive after a historic verb)

The letters of Cicero close with the formula Cūrā ut valeās. Take care to stay well.

Parsing practice

Identify the clause, the mood and tense, and the sequence, and translate.

  1. ut videat
  2. ut vidēret
  3. nē capiātur
  4. quī pācem peterent
  5. quō facilius discant
  6. ut nōn frūstrā mē nātum exīstimem (Cicero, De Senectute 84)
  7. tam fessus erat ut dormīret
  8. ut dē fīnibus suīs cum omnibus cōpiīs exīrent (Caesar, De Bello Gallico 1.2)
  9. ad pācem petendam
  10. auxilium petītum
  11. timeō nē veniat
  12. timeō ut veniat
  13. ut nēmō sciat
  14. fit ut

Answers

  1. Purpose clause, present subjunctive, primary sequence: in order to see.
  2. Purpose clause, imperfect subjunctive, historic sequence: in order to see.
  3. Negative purpose clause, present passive subjunctive, primary sequence: so as not to be captured.
  4. Relative clause of purpose, imperfect subjunctive, historic sequence: who were to seek peace, to seek peace.
  5. Purpose clause with quō and a comparative, present subjunctive: so that they may learn more easily.
  6. Result clause, present subjunctive, with ita in the main clause: that I do not think I was born in vain.
  7. Result clause, imperfect subjunctive, with tam: so tired that he fell asleep.
  8. Substantive clause of command after persuāsit, imperfect subjunctive, historic sequence: to leave their territory with all their forces.
  9. Gerundive of purpose with ad: to seek peace.
  10. Supine in -um of purpose after a verb of motion: to ask for help.
  11. Noun clause after a verb of fearing, with nē: I fear that he will come.
  12. Noun clause after a verb of fearing, with ut: I fear that he will not come.
  13. Result clause with ut nēmō, present subjunctive, primary sequence: so that no one knows.
  14. A substantive clause of result: fit ut with the subjunctive means it happens that.

Common pitfalls

  • Using nē for a negative result. The negative result is ut nōn; nē is for purpose.
  • Using ut nēmō or ut nōn quis for a negative purpose. After nē, use quis, ūllus and umquam: nē quis.
  • Forgetting the sequence of tenses. Vēnit ut vidēret, not Vēnit ut videat, after a historic main verb.
  • Using a perfect subjunctive in a purpose clause. Purpose looks forward and uses the present or the imperfect only.
  • Leaving out the signal word of a result clause. ita, tam, tantus, tālis or adeō points to a result.
  • Using the indicative after ut of purpose or result. Both take the subjunctive.
  • Using the infinitive for purpose in prose. Use ut, the relative, the gerundive, the supine or the future participle.
  • Using ut after iubeō and vetō. They take the infinitive.
  • Reversing nē and ut after a verb of fearing. timeō nē veniat is I fear that he will come.
  • Translating ut always as that. It means in order that in a purpose clause and so that in a result clause.

Self-test

  1. How does Latin say He came in order to see? What is the sequence?
  2. How do you say He fights bravely so as not to be defeated and He was so tired that he did not speak?
  3. Translate: Lēgātōs mīsit quī pācem peterent. Haec dīxī quō melius intellegerēs.
  4. How does a result clause differ from a purpose clause? Name the signal words.
  5. What is the tense of the result clause in Tanta tempestās coorta est ut nāvēs frāctae sint, and why?
  6. Give three other ways of expressing the purpose of Lēgātōs mīsit ut pācem peterent.
  7. Translate: Rogō tē ut veniās. Hortātur eōs nē fugiant. Eōs abīre iussit.
  8. What is the difference between timeō nē veniat and timeō ut veniat?
  9. Which verbs take ut and which take the infinitive: persuādeō, iubeō, rogō, vetō?
  10. Parse ut ... exīrent in Caesar, De Bello Gallico 1.2.

Answers

  1. Vēnit ut vidēret. The sequence is historic, so the imperfect subjunctive is used.
  2. Fortiter pugnat nē vincātur. and Tam fessus erat ut nōn loquerētur.
  3. He sent envoys to seek peace. I said this so that you might understand better.
  4. A purpose clause states the aim, takes nē in the negative, and has no signal word. A result clause states the consequence, takes ut nōn, and has a signal word (ita, tam, tantus, tālis, adeō, tot).
  5. The perfect subjunctive, since the result is a single completed fact, even after a historic main verb.
  6. Lēgātōs quī pācem peterent mīsit.; Lēgātōs ad pācem petendam mīsit.; Pācis petendae causā lēgātōs mīsit. (also the supine of purpose in -um, or the future participle).
  7. I ask you to come. He urges them not to flee. He ordered them to leave.
  8. timeō nē veniat: I fear that he will come. timeō ut veniat: I fear that he will not come.
  9. persuādeō and rogō take ut; iubeō and vetō take the infinitive.
  10. A noun clause after persuāsit, an indirect command with ut and the imperfect subjunctive in historic sequence.

Next: Cum and Temporal Clauses

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