Latin Grammar: Conditional Sentences of Comparison

Et sic est de infinitis in quibus bruta animalia cogitant multa per ordinem respectu unius rei quam intendunt, ac si arguerent apud se conclusionem ex premissis. Sed decursum sue cogitationis non disponunt in modo et figura, nec ex deliberatione distingunt ultima a primis. Nec percipiunt se huiusmodi discursum facere, quia ex solo similis argumento et sillogismo, et ideo auctores perspective vocant argumentum et sillogismum. Et certe magis propria hand cognitionem vocant sillogisticam quam distinctionem universalium et particularium prius visorum vocant cognitionem per scientiam.

In conditional sentences of comparison, the apodosis (the "then" statement) is omitted and replaced with ut si, velut si, ac si, tamquam si, quasi, velut, or tamquam, translated "as if." The verb is in the subjunctive mood and follows the sequence of tenses rather than the normal conditional tenses. Practice translating the conditional sentence of comparison by translating the following Latin sentences into English.

1. Hoc fecit ac si dei imperaverint.

a. This will happen if the gods order it
b. He did this as if the gods had ordered it
c. He will do this when the gods order it

2. Me time ut si tuus dominus sim.

a. Fear me as if I am your master
b. If you fear me, I will be your master
c. You fear me and so I am your master

3. Cucurrimus quasi alas haberemus.

a. We ran as fast as we could
b. We run like those with wings
c. We ran as if we had wings

4. Pugnabatis velut si pro patria propria.

a. You have fought like your own father
b. You will fight if your own country wishes
c. You fought as if on behalf of your own fatherland

5. Metus exercitum cepit tamquam milites modo clamorem hostium audiverint.

a. Fear seized the army as if the soldiers had just heard the enemy's war cry
b. The army began to fear so that it was hearing shouts of the enemy soldiers
c. The fear of the army began so that the soldiers began to hear themselves as enemies

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