FEARING CLAUSES

Fearing clauses are exactly what you might expect - someone/something fearing something will happen!

The Latin word ‘timeo’ meaning ‘I fear’ or ‘I am afraid’ is used, followed by ne and a verb in the subjunctive.

E.g. timuit ne in fluminem caderet = He feared that he was falling into the river.

• timuit = verb of fearing

• ne = ‘that’

• caderet = imperfect active subjunctive

Remember, although ‘ne’ looks negative, in a fearing clause it is positive.

‘ut’ is the negative form of ‘ne’ - swapped over from their use in other clauses (e.g. purpose clauses).

E.g. timuit ut uxor eum amaret = He feared that his wife didn’t love him.