This course aims to explain the Latin subjunctive. Many learners of Latin find the subjunctive a confusing and even scary construction. However, if it does have its difficult parts, it is mostly not particularly difficult. So long as it is broken up into its basic parts, and so long as these parts are explained where possible with English examples, the subjunctive can be robbed of nearly all its terrors.

What I do therefore in this course is to begin by explaining how to recognise the forms of the subjunctive. Excepting in the present tense, these forms are very easy to recognise. I then go through each of the main uses of the subjunctive. Most of these are at least a little odd for native speakers of English, but are easily recognised and logical. The only real difficulties are encountered in the last video, where I try to explain conditional statements. Even here, though, there is a surprising correspondence between Latin and English use.

By the end of this course, you will not have a complete understanding of the Latin subjunctive, but you will have a basic understanding, and you will be able to approach the more complete explanations in the standard grammars with confidence.