Latin Subjunctive -5

Relative Clause of Characteristic and Result Clause
Result is a fact, fixed, defined and specified fact so that result should not be expressed in subjunctive which is potential, not fixed. Logically result and subjunctive are contradictory.

Relative Clause of Characteristic and Result Clause are closely related and basically in the same group, which I would like to call clause with some degree if you do not mind a new name. But the new name would only make the mater more unnecessarily complicated.

As explained in Latin Subjunctive -2, Subjunctive itself has a function of expressing generalization, but a partial or limited generalization - limited by the subjunctive clause.

The following examples show this partial or limited generalization - limited by the subjunctive in both Relative Clause of Characteristic and Result Clause.

Relative Clause of Characteristic

Non is sum qui improbos laudem. I am not the sort of man who praises the wicked.
[Compare: non is sum qui improbo laudo. I am not that (specific) man who is praising the wicked.)

Nemo est quin saepe audierit. There is no one who has not often heard.

Result Clause

Qui est tam demens ut sua voluntate maeret? Who is so senseless that he would mourn by his own free will?

Nemo est tam senex qui se annum non putet posse vivere. No one is so old that he does not think that he could live for a year

Nemo est tam certus quin umquam perturbetur. No one is so certain that he is not ever confused.

The meaning of the above Result Clause examples look like showing the result but more generally implying the meaning of a certain defined degree. That is why subjunctive is used not because it shows a result. So Result clause is rather misleading.


sptt