William of Ockham

On Quantity

Latin Grammar: Omitted Conditionals with Question Words

Quis enim prohiberet Deum producere unam substantiam vel qualitatem sine omni accidente distincto a substantia et qualitate?

For who would prohibit God from producing a substance or a quality without any accident distinct from substance and quality?

The protasis and apodosis of conditional sentences in Latin do not always have to be simple sentences. Nor do they have to have to be introduced by si. The above is an example of a question word (quis), introducing the apodosis. In conditionals with question words, the tenses and moods of the verbs are just as they would be in the corresponding standard conditional. In this case, the condition is a present contrary-to-fact condition, so the verb is in the imperfect subjunctive.

protasis: In a conditional sentence “If X, then Y” the protasis is “If X.” Example: If you leave, then I will be sad.
apodasis: In a conditional sentence “If X, then Y” the apodosis is “then Y.” Example: If you leave, then I will be sad.

Fill in the missing verb forms for the following mixed conditional sentences.

1. Quis me (defendere) si tu non adsis?

2. Quomodo ferrarius gladium (facere) si non haberet ferrum?

3. Quid (fieri) si nos prendant?

4. Ubi ibo si miles domum meum (incendere) ?

5. Quando te (placere) hortum videre, si cras non poteris?

Make this exercise printable