Result Clauses

What is a Result Clause?

A Result clause is a type of subordinate clause in Latin grammar which describes the result or consequence of an action.
They are often introduced by conjunctions such as ut (so that) or ita (so), which indicates a result or outcome from a certain situation or event.

Structure of Result Clauses

Result clauses are typically made up of an introducing clause, which sets the scene or presents the action, and the consequence clause, which reveals the result or outcome.
The consequence clause begins with a conjunction (ut or ita), followed by the verb in a subjunctive mood.

Example of Result Clauses

For instance, the sentence “He was so tired, that he could not walk” can be translated in Latin as “Tam fessus erat, ut ambulare non posset.”

Indicators of Result Clauses

Words or phrases within the main clause indicating degree or extent (like tam, ita, sic, tantus, talis, tot etc.) often signal a result clause.
So if you see such words in a sentence, be alert for potential result clauses.

Translation of Result Clauses

When translating result clauses into English, the conjunction is usually translated as that or so that.
The verb of the result clause is often translated in a way that expresses possibility, in statements like ‘he could walk’ or ‘he might walk’, for instance.

Practice with Result Clauses

Continual practice with sentence translation will help in recognising and understanding result clauses in Latin texts.
Identify the main clause and its indicators, and work to translate the consequence clause accurately, paying attention to the role of the verb in the subjunctive mood.

Finally, it is crucial to remember that Latin grammar is not always straightforward, and the same word can take on slight variants of meaning depending on the context. Make sure to consider the sentence as a whole when exploring the different grammatical elements.