Latin periphrases

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 sum auxiliary and a perfect participle such as ductus, ducta, ductum or by the īrī auxiliary and a supine such as ductum.

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.


 * ego : ā Caesare : ductus sum = I : was led : by Caesar
 * tū : ā Caesare : ductus es = you : were led : by Caesar
 * homō : ā Caesare : ductus est = the man : was led : by Caesar

Moreover, the participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.


 * homō : ā Caesare : ductus est = the man : was led : by Caesar
 * mulier : ā Caesare : ducta est = the woman : was led : by Caesar
 * puerī : ā Caesare : ductī sunt = the boys : were led : by Caesar

However, the supine in the 'īrī infinitive' paradigm does not vary.


 * hominem : ā Caesare : ductum īrī = that : the man : would be led : by Caesar
 * mulierem : ā Caesare : ductum īrī = that : the woman : would be led : by Caesar
 * puerōs : ā Caesare : ductum īrī = that : the boys : would be led : by Caesar

Habeō perfect periphrasis
The habeō perfect periphrasis is composed of the habeō auxiliary and a perfect participle such as occultum.

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.


 * ego : Caesarem : occultum habeō = I : held : Caesar : hidden
 * tū : Caesarem : occultum habēs = you : held : Caesar : hidden
 * homō : Caesarem : occultum habet = the man : held : Caesar : hidden

The participle varies according to the gender and number of the object.


 * Caesar : hominem : occultum habet = Caesar : held : the man : hidden
 * Caesar : mulierem : occultam habet = Caesar : held : the woman : hidden
 * Caesar : puerōs : occultōs habet = Caesar : held : the boys : hidden

This became the regular way of forming the perfect in French and Italian.

Teneō perfect periphrasis
The teneō perfect periphrasis is composed of the teneō auxiliary and a perfect paticiple such as occultum.

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.


 * ego : Caesarem : occultum teneō = I : held : Caesar : hidden
 * tū : Caesarem : occultum tenēs = you : held : Caesar : hidden
 * homō : Caesarem : occultum tenet = the man : held : Caesar : hidden

The participle varies according to the gender and number of the object.


 * Caesar : hominem : occultum tenet = Caesar : held : the man : hidden
 * Caesar : mulierem : occultam tenet = Caesar : held : the woman : hidden
 * Caesar : puerōs : occultōs tenet = Caesar : held : the boys : hidden

Future periphrasis
The future periphrasis is composed of the sum auxiliary and a future paticiple such as ductūrus.

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of also the subject.


 * ego : Caesarem : ductūrus eram = I : would lead : Ceasar
 * tū : Caesarem : ductūrus erās = you : would lead : Ceasar
 * homō : Caesarem : ductūrus erat = the man : would lead : Ceasar

The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.


 * homō : Caesarem : ductūrus erat = the man : would lead : Ceasar
 * mulier : Caesarem : ductūra erat = the woman : would lead : Ceasar
 * puerī : Caesarem : ductūrī sunt = the boys : would lead : Ceasar

Future infinitive periphrases
The future infinitive periphrases are composed of one of three auxiliaries (fore, futūrum or futūrum esse), the word ut 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.


 * fore ut : ego : Caesarem : dūcerem = that: I : would lead : Caesar
 * fore ut : tū : Caesarem : dūcerēs = that: you : would lead : Caesar
 * fore ut : homō : Caesarem : dūceret = that: the man : would lead : Caesar

Gerundive periphrasis
The gerundive periphrasis (aka periphrastic conjugation of the passive ) is composed of the sum auxiliary and a gerundive such as dūcendus.

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.


 * ego : ā Caesare : dūcendus eram = I : needed to be led : by Caesar
 * tū : ā Caesare : dūcendus erās = you : needed to be led : by Caesar
 * homō : ā Caesare : dūcendus erat = the man : needed to be led : by Caesar

The participle varies according to the gender and number of the subject.


 * homō : ā Caesare : dūcendus erat = the man : needed to be led : by Caesar
 * mulier : ā Caesare : dūcenda erat = the woman : needed to be led : by Caesar
 * puerī : ā Caesare : dūcendī erant = 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."

Coepī present periphrasis
The coepī present periphrasis is composed of the coepī auxiliary and an infinitive such as dūcere.

The auxiliary varies according to the speech role and number of the subject.


 * ego : Caesarem : dūcere coeperam = I : was leading : Caesar
 * tū : Caesarem : dūcere coeperās = you : were leading : Caesar
 * homō : Caesarem : dūcere coeperat = the man : was leading : Caesar

The infinitive does not vary.