If He Should Come: si veniat
If He Should Come
If he should come: the present subjunctive in both halves.
How It Works
| If-part | Main part | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| more likely | si venerit | ridebit | If he comes, she will laugh. |
| less likely | si veniat | rideat | If he should come, she would laugh. |
The speaker does not say the event will not happen. The matter is open, and the subjunctive adds distance. It sounds like gentle advice, as in Si hoc dicas, erres.
Watch the English. Should in the if-part and would in the main part point to the present subjunctive. Were or had point to the two kinds of condition that are not true, which come next.
Examples (5)
- Si Marcus veniat, Iulia rideat.
If Marcus should come, Iulia would laugh.
Both veniat and rideat are the present subjunctive.
- Si hoc dicas, erres.
If you were to say this, you would be wrong.
Dicas and erres are both present subjunctive. The speaker thinks it unlikely.
- Si pluat, domi maneamus.
If it should rain, we would stay at home.
Pluat and maneamus are present subjunctive forms.
- Si sacerdos veniat, omnes laeti sint.
If the priest should come, everyone would be glad.
Veniat and sint are present subjunctive, and the sentence looks at a possible visit.
- Si Latine discas, libros Ciceronis legas.
If you were to learn Latin, you would read the books of Cicero.
Discas and legas are present subjunctive forms.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The less vivid condition uses the present subjunctive.
Related Patterns
Practice If He Should Come: si veniat in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Latin lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
