In Latin, there are multiple periphrases for tense and mode. Here we list the most common.

Perfect periphrasis

The perfect periphrasis is composed of the auxiliary and a

perfect participle In linguistics, a participle () (from Latin ' a "sharing, partaking") is a nonfinite verb form that has some of the characteristics and functions of both verbs and adjectives. More narrowly, ''participle'' has been defined as "a word derived from ...

such as , , or by the auxiliary and a

supine In grammar, a supine is a form of verbal noun used in some languages. The term is most often used for Latin, where it is one of the four principal parts of a verb. The word refers to a position of lying on one's back (as opposed to ' prone', l ...

such as . The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject. : : : = I : was led : by Caesar : : : = you : were led : by Caesar : : : = the man : was led : by Caesar In contrast, the participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject. : : : = the man : was led : by Caesar : : : = the woman : was led : by Caesar : : : = the boys : were led : by Caesar However, the supine in the ' infinitive' paradigm does not vary. : : : = that : the man : would be led : by Caesar : : : = that : the woman : would be led : by Caesar : : : = that : the boys : would be led : by Caesar

perfect periphrasis

The perfect periphrasis is composed of the auxiliary and a perfect paticiple such as . The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject. : : : = I : held : the man : hidden : : : = you : held : the man : hidden : : : = Caesar : held : the man : hidden The participle varies according to the gender and number of the object. : : : = Caesar : held : the man : hidden : : : = Caesar : held : the woman : hidden : : : = Caesar : held : the boys : hidden This became the regular way of forming the perfect in French and Italian.

perfect periphrasis

Future periphrasis

The future periphrasis is composed of the auxiliary and a future paticiple such as . The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of also the subject. : : : = I : would lead : the man : : : = you : would lead : the man : : : = Caesar : would lead : the man The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject. : : : = Caesar : would lead : the man : : : = Aurelia : would lead : the man : : : = Caesar and Aurelia : would lead : the man

Future infinitive periphrases

The future infinitive periphrases are composed of one of three auxiliaries (, or ), the word and a verb from one of two verb paradigms ('present subjunctive' or 'imperfect subjunctive'). The auxiliary does not vary. The verb varies according to the speech role and number of the subject. : : : : = that: I : would lead : the man : : : : = that: you : would lead : the man : : : : = that: Caesar : would lead : the man

Gerundive periphrasis

The gerundive periphrasis (aka periphrastic conjugation of the passiveGildersleeve & Lodge (1895), p. 166.) is composed of the auxiliary and a gerundive such as . The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject. : : : = I : needed to be led : by Caesar : : : = you : needed to be led : by Caesar : : : = the man : needed to be led : by Caesar The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject. : : : = the man : needed to be led : by Caesar : : : = the woman : needed to be led : by Caesar : : : = the boys : needed to be led : by Caesar Although the gerundive periphrasis is similar to the future periphrasis in appearance, they are not parallel in meaning nor function. Woodcock writes of the gerundive periphrasis: 'But for the introduction of the idea of necessity, it would form a periphrastic future passive tense parallel to the periphrastic future active.'Woodcock (1959), p. 163.

present periphrasis

The present periphrasis is composed of the auxiliary and an infinitive such as . The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject. : : : = I : was leading : the man : : : = you : were leading : the man : : : = Caesar : was leading : the man The infinitive does not vary.

References

{{reflist Latin grammar