Purpose clauses
A purpose clause is a subordinate clause. As we have seen before, “clause” means it has its own subject and verb. “Subordinate” means that it is dependent on the main clause of the sentence and does not stand alone. Simple indicative dependent clauses, such as relative adverb and relative pronoun clauses, were introduced as dependent clauses earlier in this module. The terms “dependent” and “subordinate” are interchangeable for our purposes. As the name indicates, purpose clauses explain the reason(s) behind the main action: why, or for what purpose, the action of the main clause was done. The verb of a purpose clause in ancient Greek is never in the indicative mood.
Identify the purpose expressed in these English sentences:
- He told them everything so that they would understand.
- So that she wouldn’t have to climb stairs, she slept on the first floor of the house.
- The students practiced their Greek forms daily to learn them better.
- We live in order to love.
The structure of a purpose clause in ancient Greek has the following features:
- it is introduced by a specific subordinating conjunction: ἵνα, ὡς, or ὅπως
- if the verb in the purpose clause is negated, it is negated by μή
- the verb within the purpose clause will be in the subjunctive or the optative mood, according to the sequence of moods. Purposes clauses that are introduced by clauses whose verb is in a primary tense (like present or future) will use the subjunctive mood. The optative is used when that verb is in a secondary (or past) tense
- the tense of the verb in the purpose clause (present vs. aorist) expresses the aspect of the action, not time. The relative time of the action in a purpose clause is subsequent to the main verb (something happens in the main clause in order for something else to happen later).
Practice with purpose clauses
In the reading for Module 2, the house and living arrangements of Euphiletos were described in simplified prose. In the original speech, purpose clauses explain a bit more. Let’s return to that passage and see why the usual arrangements were flipped, as we practice purpose clauses, as well as simple indicative subordinate clauses, and participles, too.
In each of the following sections, identify the boundaries of each clause and copy each clause onto a separate line. Underline connecting words; circle finite verbs and identify the form of the verb in each clause. Which clauses are subordinate? Which are purpose clauses? What is the sequence of the purpose clause?
ἐπειδὴ δὲ τὸ παιδίον ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς, ἡ μήτηρ αὐτὸ ἐθήλαζεν: ἵνα δὲ μή κινδυνεύοι κατὰ τῆς κλίμακος καταβαίνουσα, ὁ μὲν Εὐφίλητος ἄνω διῃτᾶτο, αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες κάτω. (modified from Lysias 1.9)
Now contrast with: ἐπειδὴ δὲ τὸ παιδίον ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς, ἡ μήτηρ αὐτὸ ἐθήλαζεν: ἵνα δὲ μή κινδυνεύῃ κατὰ τῆς κλίμακος καταβαίνουσα, ὁ μὲν Εὐφίλητος ἄνω διαιτᾶτο, αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες κάτω. (modified from Lysias 1.9)
προϊόντος δὲ τοῦ χρόνου, ἧκε μὲν ἀπροσδοκήτως ἐξ ἀγροῦ, μετὰ δὲ τὸ δεῖπνον τὸ παιδίον ἐβόα καὶ ἐδυσκόλαινεν ὑπὸ τῆς θεραπαίνης ἐπίτηδες λυπούμενον, ἵνα ταῦτα ποιοῖ. ὁ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος ἔνδον ἦν. (modified from Lysias 1.11)
Now contrast with: προϊόντος δὲ τοῦ χρόνου, ἧκε μὲν ἀπροσδοκήτως ἐξ ἀγροῦ, μετὰ δὲ τὸ δεῖπνον τὸ παιδίον ἐβόα καὶ ἐδυσκόλαινεν ὑπὸ τῆς θεραπαίνης ἐπίτηδες λυπούμενον, ἵνα ταῦτα ποιῇ. ὁ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος ἔνδον ἦν. (unmodified from Lysias 1.11)