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 auxiliary and a perfect participle such as , , or by the auxiliary and a supine such as .

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.

: : = I : was led : by Caesar

: : = you : were led : by Caesar

: : = the man : was led : by Caesar

Moreover, the participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.

: : = the man : was led : by Caesar

: : = the woman : was led : by Caesar

: : = the boys : were led : by Caesar

However, the supine in the " infinitive" paradigm does not vary.

: : = that : the man : would be led : by Caesar

: : = that : the woman : would be led : by Caesar

: : = that : the boys : would be led : by Caesar

perfect periphrasis

The perfect periphrasis is composed of the auxiliary and a perfect participle such as .

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.

: : = I : held : Caesar : hidden

: : = you : held : Caesar : hidden

: : = the man : held : Caesar : hidden

The participle varies according to the gender and number of the object.

: : = Caesar : held : the man : hidden

: : = Caesar : held : the woman : hidden

: : = Caesar : held : the boys : hidden

This became the regular way of forming the perfect in French and Italian.

perfect periphrasis

The perfect periphrasis is composed of the auxiliary and a perfect paticiple such as .

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.

: : = I : held : Caesar : hidden

: : = you : held : Caesar : hidden

: : = the man : held : Caesar : hidden

The participle varies according to the gender and number of the object.

: : = Caesar : held : the man : hidden

: : = Caesar : held : the woman : hidden

: : = Caesar : held : the boys : hidden

Future periphrasis

The future periphrasis is composed of the auxiliary and a future paticiple such as .

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of also the subject.

: : = I : would lead : Caesar

: : = you : would lead : Caesar

: : = the man : would lead : Caesar

The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.

: : = the man : would lead : Caesar

: : = the woman : would lead : Caesar

: : = the boys : would lead : Caesar

Future infinitive periphrases

The future infinitive periphrases are composed of one of three auxiliaries (, or ), the word and a verb from one of two verb paradigms ("present subjunctive" or "imperfect subjunctive").

The auxiliary does not vary.

The verb varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.

: : : = that: I : would lead : Caesar

: : : = that: you : would lead : Caesar

: : : = that: the man : would lead : Caesar

Gerundive periphrasis

The gerundive periphrasis (aka periphrastic conjugation of the passive) is composed of the auxiliary and a gerundive such as .

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.

: : = I : needed to be led : by Caesar

: : = you : needed to be led : by Caesar

: : = the man : needed to be led : by Caesar

The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.

: : = the man : needed to be led : by Caesar

: : = the woman : needed to be led : by Caesar

: : = the boys : needed to be led : by Caesar

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 present periphrasis is composed of the auxiliary and an infinitive such as .

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.

: : = I : was leading : Caesar

: : = you : were leading : Caesar

: : = the man : was leading : Caesar

The infinitive does not vary.

References