Latin/Lesson 3-Subjunctive Imperfect

The conjugation of the subjunctive imperfect active follows a simple rule. The verb in its infinitive form, that is, the second principle part, (am&#257;re, to love, for example) simply has the active personal endings (-m/ō, -s, -t, -mus, -tis, -nt) added:

ego     am&#257;rem

tu      am&#257;r&#275;s

is      am&#257;ret

nos     am&#257;r&#275;mus

vos     am&#257;r&#275;tis

ei      am&#257;rent

the passive voice is formed by the addition of passive personal endings (-r, -ris (-re), -tur, -mur, -minī, -ntur) onto the infinitive stem

ego     am&#257;rer

tu      am&#257;r&#275;ris (-re)

is      am&#257;r&#275;tur

nos     am&#257;r&#275;mur

vos     am&#257;r&#275;mini

ei      am&#257;rentur

Application
The imperfect subjunctive is only used for complex syntactic constructions; cum clauses and indirect questions and the like. Rarely, if ever, does it stand alone.

Because/Cum
One application is in its use with 'cum' in the sense of 'because' as a clause. e.g.
 * Diutius cum sustinere nostrorum impetus non possent, Helvetii se in montem receperunt.:When(Because) the Helvetis could not sustain/resist our attacks for long, they retreated to the mountains.