On the Scholar
Latin Grammar: Quod Causal Clauses
Ex ignorantia istorum duorum problematum tenet multitudo quod Caesar mortuus sit homo, et quod homo mortuus sit animal, et quod Christus in triduo fuit homo, et alia infinita falsissima et stultissima circa restrictiones et ampliationes in propositionibus, et circa necessitates et contingentias et alia, de quibus omnibus disputandum est per ordinem suis locis.
quod Causal Clauses
The use of quod (meaning "that") in a causal clause has an interesting effect on a sentence. If it is followed by the indicative, we learn what reason the speaker is giving; if quod is followed by a subjunctive, we know that the rationale presented is that of another person. Look at the following sentences, two of which are from the Latin passage above, and determine whether the facts following quod are the speaker's own ideas or those of another person. Mark an "S" is they are the speaker's thoughts, an "A" if the speaker is another person's opinion.
1. Tu agis gratias mihi quod audisses me esse dives.
2. Ago gratias tibi quod es amicus meus.
3. Hostis fortissimus est quod nihil desiderare habet.
4. Caesar dixit quod Ariovistus nihil desiderare haberet.
5. Multitudo tenet quod Caesar mortuus sit homo.
6. Teneo quod Caesar mortuus vel vivus est homo.
7. Tenet quod homo mortuus animal sit.