Hildegard of Bingen

On the Elements

Latin Grammar: Conditionals

Aqua enim frigida erat et non fluebat in initio creaturarum, cum terra erat inanis et vacua, sed spiritus domini ferebatur super aquas et eas calefecit, ut ignem in se haberent et ut liquefacte fluerent Et idem frigus aquae naturaliter ex se emittit ignem et inde fervet. Nam aqua habet in se ignem et ignis in se naturaliter frigus aquae, quoniam aqua non flueret, si ignem in se non haberet, et ignis numquam extingueretur, sed semper arderet, si frigus aquae in eo non esset.

Conditional Sentences
An important construction to master in studying Latin is the structure of conditional sentences. These are  types of sentences which mean roughly "if [x], then [y]." [x], or the condition, is called the protasis, while [y], or the result, is called the apodosis. The two can come in any order, so it's important to distinguish between the condition and the result. For example, instead of "if [x], then [y]," we could rewrite the sentence "[y] if [x]."

Complete the sentences below with the vocabulary provided.

habeo, habere, habui, habitus: to have
fluo, fluere, fluxi, fluxus: to flow
sum, esse, fui: to be
ardeo, ardere, arsi, arsus: to burn
extinguo, extinguere, extinxi, extinctus: to extinguish

If the fire should be extinguished, then it would not be burning. (future less vivid) If the water is warm, then it has fire. (present general)
1. future more vivid
  Si aqua ignem [habere], [fluere].
2. present contrary to fact
  Si aqua frigida [esse], non ullum ignem in se [habere].
3. past contrary to fact
  Si ignem frigidum [esse], non [ardere].

4. future less vivid
  Si ignis [extinguere], non [ardere].
5. present general
  Si aqua calidus [esse], ignem [habere].


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