ut / ne (Purpose: So That, In Order To)
So That, In Order to
Ut or ne, then the subjunctive.
How It Works
| Main verb | Purpose clause |
|---|---|
| present | Marcus Romam it ut amicos videat. Marcus goes to Rome to see his friends. |
| past | Marcus Romam venit ut amicos videret. Marcus came to Rome to see his friends. |
A negative purpose uses ne, never ut non. The words ut non belong to result clauses.
The English to see or in order to see is a clause with its own verb in Latin. The usual Latin way is ut and the subjunctive, even when the English has a plain infinitive.
The Vulgate uses the same pattern, as in ut salvetur mundus (so that the world may be saved).
Examples (5)
- Marcus venit ut Iuliam videat.
Marcus comes to see Iulia.
Ut starts the purpose, and videat is the present subjunctive after a present main verb.
- Puer tacet ne magistrum offendat.
The boy is quiet so as not to offend the teacher.
Ne gives a negative purpose. Offendat is the present subjunctive.
- Marcus Romam venit ut amicos videret.
Marcus came to Rome to see his friends.
The main verb is past here, so the purpose verb is the imperfect subjunctive videret.
- Non enim misit Deus Filium suum in mundum, ut iudicet mundum, sed ut salvetur mundus per ipsum.
For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.
John 3:17. Two purpose clauses, with iudicet and the passive salvetur. Misit counts as has sent, so the present subjunctive follows. A plain past sending would take the imperfect.
- Omnia clausa sunt ne fures intrent.
Everything is locked so that thieves cannot get in.
Ne with intrent gives a negative purpose after a present-time main verb.
Common Mistakes
Using ut non for a negative purpose.
Puer tacet ut non magistrum offendat.Puer tacet ne magistrum offendat.A negative purpose clause starts with ne. Ut non belongs to result clauses.
Putting the verb in the indicative.
Marcus venit ut Iuliam videt.Marcus venit ut Iuliam videat.Ut with the indicative means as or when, so videt would read: Marcus comes as he sees Iulia. For so that, the verb is subjunctive: videat.
How It Connects
Learn This First
A purpose clause uses the present and imperfect subjunctive.
Related Patterns
- ut (Result: So ... That)So ... That
The other clause that begins with ut and takes the subjunctive.
Level 5 - qui + Subjunctive (Purpose)Who Is to: Qui with the Subjunctive
Another way to give a purpose.
Level 5 - Reported Commands: ut and ne
Ut and ne with the subjunctive after verbs of asking.
Level 5 - Which Tense of the Subjunctive
Why the verb is present or imperfect.
Level 5
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ut / ne (Purpose: So That, In Order To) in Bubblegum
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