Latin periphrases


In Latin, there are multiple periphrases for tense and mode. Here we list the most common.

Perfect periphrasis

The perfect periphrasis is composed of the sum auxiliary and a perfect participle such as ductus, ducta, ductum or by the īrī auxiliary and a supine such as ductum.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
Moreover, the participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.
However, the supine in the "īrī infinitive" paradigm does not vary.

perfect periphrasis

The habeō perfect periphrasis is composed of the habeō auxiliary and a perfect participle such as occultum.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
The participle varies according to the gender and number of the object.
This became the regular way of forming the perfect in French and Italian.

perfect periphrasis

The teneō perfect periphrasis is composed of the teneō auxiliary and a perfect paticiple such as occultum.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
The participle varies according to the gender and number of the object.

Future periphrasis

The future periphrasis is composed of the sum auxiliary and a future paticiple such as ductūrus.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of also the subject.
The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.

Future infinitive periphrases

The future infinitive periphrases are composed of one of three auxiliaries, the word ut and a verb from one of two verb paradigms.
The auxiliary does not vary.
The verb varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
ParadigmLatin exampleMeaningComment
"subjunctive present"fore ut dūcamfuture in present'that I will lead'
"subjunctive present"fore ut dūcarfuture in present'that I will be led'
"subjunctive imperfect"fore ut dūceremfuture in past'that I was going to lead'
"subjunctive imperfect"fore ut dūcererfuture in past'that I was going to be led'

ParadigmLatin exampleMeaningComment
"subjunctive present"futūrum ut dūcamfuture in present'that I will lead'
"subjunctive present"futūrum ut dūcarfuture in present'that I will be led'
"subjunctive imperfect"futūrum ut dūceremfuture in past'that I was going to lead'
"subjunctive imperfect"futūrum ut dūcererfuture in past'that I was going to be led'

ParadigmLatin exampleMeaningComment
"subjunctive present"futūrum esse ut dūcamfuture in present'that I will lead'
"subjunctive present"futūrum esse ut dūcarfuture in present'that I will be led'
"subjunctive imperfect"futūrum esse ut dūceremfuture in past'that I was going to lead'
"subjunctive imperfect"futūrum esse ut dūcererfuture in past'that I was going to be led'

Gerundive periphrasis

The gerundive periphrasis is composed of the sum auxiliary and a gerundive such as dūcendus.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.
Although the gerundive periphrasis is similar to the future periphrasis in appearance, they are not parallel in meaning nor function. Woodcock writes of the gerundive periphrasis: "But for the introduction of the idea of necessity, it would form a periphrastic future passive tense parallel to the periphrastic future active."

present periphrasis

The coepī present periphrasis is composed of the coepī auxiliary and an infinitive such as dūcere.
The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.
The infinitive does not vary.