Theseus decided to fight the minotaur in order that he might free his country.

Latin translation: Theseus cum Minotauro pugnare constituit ut patriam suam liberare posset.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Theseus decided to fight the minotaur in order that he might free his country.
Latin translation:Theseus cum Minotauro pugnare constituit ut patriam suam liberare posset.
Entered by: Joseph Brazauskas

09:30 Sep 29, 2005
English to Latin translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Linguistics / languages
English term or phrase: Theseus decided to fight the minotaur in order that he might free his country.
It is an extract from the text Latin via Ovid
Timochu
Theseus cum Inotauro pugnare constituit ut patriam suam liberare posset.
Explanation:
Final clause (principal sequence of tenses)

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Note added at 3 hrs 42 mins (2005-09-29 13:12:26 GMT)
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cum Minotauro

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Note added at 3 hrs 43 mins (2005-09-29 13:14:02 GMT)
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Excuse me, HISTORICAL sequence of tenses.

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Note added at 4 hrs 50 mins (2005-09-29 14:20:23 GMT)
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It is a typical final clause (clause following a verb indicating purpose, intent, etc.). 'Constituit' is perfect indicative, an historical tense; therefore 'posset' is imperfect subjunctive because, as the context suggests, Theseus' intention of freeing his homeland is not yet complete at the time of the main verb ('constituit', not 'pugnare').
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Joseph Brazauskas
United States
Local time: 08:31
Grading comment
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Summary of answers provided
5 +2Theseus cum Inotauro pugnare constituit ut patriam suam liberare posset.
Joseph Brazauskas


  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
theseus decided to fight the minotaur in order that he might free his country.
Theseus cum Inotauro pugnare constituit ut patriam suam liberare posset.


Explanation:
Final clause (principal sequence of tenses)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs 42 mins (2005-09-29 13:12:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

cum Minotauro

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs 43 mins (2005-09-29 13:14:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Excuse me, HISTORICAL sequence of tenses.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs 50 mins (2005-09-29 14:20:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It is a typical final clause (clause following a verb indicating purpose, intent, etc.). 'Constituit' is perfect indicative, an historical tense; therefore 'posset' is imperfect subjunctive because, as the context suggests, Theseus' intention of freeing his homeland is not yet complete at the time of the main verb ('constituit', not 'pugnare').

Joseph Brazauskas
United States
Local time: 08:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 14
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
41 mins
  -> Tibi gratias, Victoria, ago.

agree  Flavio Ferri-Benedetti: Mirabiliter scripsisti! :)
50 mins
  -> Benigne dicis, Flavi.
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