ordinary English translations of the Conditional Statement do not properly represent the Latin. The following differences in idiom should be carefully noticed:
(A) Indicative:
| sī peccābō, fătēbŏr | If I do wrong, I will own it. | |
| sī peccāvărō, fătēbăr |
(B) Subjunctive, Primary tenses:
| sī peccem, fătĕăr | If I did wrong, I should own it. | |
| sī peccāvĕrim, fătĕăr |
(C) Subjunctive, Secondary tenses:
| Impferfect (referring to the present) | sī peccārem, fătērer | If I did wrong, I should own it | |
| Imperfect (referring to the past) | sī peccārem, fătērer | If I had done wrong,I should have owned it | |
| Pluperfect: | sī peccāssem, fassŭs essem |
Principles of Indirect Quotation.
§ 245. In Indirect or Oblique Quotation, what has been said, is not quoted in the words of the speaker, but in construction after a Verb of Saying, of Questioning, or of Requesting.
The Indicative and Imperative are not used in Indirect Quotation.
There are three kinds of Indirect Quotation: Indirect Statement, Indirect Question, and Indirect Request.
§ 246. Indirect Statements.—These are made in the Infinitive with the Accusative.
Clōdĭŭs ăbĭīt Clodius has departed becomes in the Indirect Statement, dīcĭt Clōdĭum ăbīsse he says that Clodius has departed. In Negative Statements nĕgō is generally used instead of dīcō .... nōn; Clōdĭus nōn ăbībĭt Clodius will not depart becomes nĕgăt Clōdĭum ăbĭtūrum he says Clodius will not depart.
Caution.—The Latin quŏd is never used to translate the English that in Indirect Statements.
§ 247. Indirect Questions.—Direct Questions are Simple, Alternative, or Particular (§ 210).
When Simple Questions are made Indirect, an Interrogative Particle (-nĕ or num) must be inserted. Direct: ăbĭīt (or ăbĭītnĕ) Clōdĭŭs? has Clodius departed? Indirect:
