Since students don’t know how to use the subjunctive in English, explaining the constructions in Latin is complicated. The presentations linked in this blog post are a visual way to teach – or review – the sequence of tenses for purpose clauses, indirect command, indirect question, verbs of fearing and result clauses. Students like the truck as it races down the hill; the idea that “ut is a like a warning sign – it warns you to watch out ahead” wakes them up to its purpose in the sentence. In addition, there is enough time for them to translate the sentences, too. One set uses primary sequence, and the other secondary sequence. I found it useful to show the particular subjunctive use as we got to it, and then each time I introduced a new use, I would show the slides from the beginning, to remind them how it works. Nothing like repetition!
Trucks and the Subjunctive: Primary Sequence
Trucks and the Subjunctive: Secondary Sequence
By Ruth Breindel, who taught Latin, Greek, Linguistics and Mythology at Moses Brown School for 30 years.