ut (Result: So ... That)

So ... That

Level 5

So ... that: a signal word, then ut and the subjunctive.

How It Works

Purpose clauseResult clause
asksWhat for?What happened?
negativeneut non
signal wordnonetam, ita, adeo, tantus, talis
exampleVenit ut videat. He comes to see.Tam fessus est ut dormiat. He is so tired that he sleeps.

The English that is the clue. When the clause answers so what happened, it is a result. The verb is subjunctive, even though the result really happened.

The tense follows the main verb, as usual. When a negative word such as nemo or nihil fits, use it after ut: ut nemo audiret. Otherwise use ut non.

Examples (5)

  1. Tam fessus erat ut statim dormiret.

    He was so tired that he slept at once.

    Tam in the main clause signals a result. Dormiret is the imperfect subjunctive after the past erat.

  2. Tantus erat clamor ut nemo audiret.

    The noise was so great that no one could hear.

    Tantus signals the result. Ut nemo is the negative: no one.

  3. Nox tam obscura erat ut nihil viderem.

    The night was so dark that I saw nothing.

    Ut nihil gives a negative result. Viderem is the imperfect subjunctive.

  4. Sic enim Deus dilexit mundum, ut Filium suum unigenitum daret.

    For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.

    John 3:16. Sic is the signal word and daret is the result verb.

  5. Tam laetus erat Marcus ut non dormiret.

    Marcus was so happy that he did not sleep.

    Ut non is the plain negative of a result clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using ne in a result clause.

    Tam laetus erat Marcus ne dormiret.
    Tam laetus erat Marcus ut non dormiret.

    Ne starts a purpose clause. A result clause uses ut non, so the sentence says that Marcus was so happy that he did not sleep.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ut (Result: So ... That)Level 5So ... That

Learn This First

A result clause also uses ut and the subjunctive.

Words in This Pattern

uttamitaadeotantustalis