A Conversation for Handy Latin Phrases
Indicative or subjunctive help
takshak Started conversation Nov 2, 2003
I'm debating with someone else over wether to use the indicative or subjunctive to translate
"A job half done is well worth walking away from"
Neither of us are experts and neither of us can find out Bradley's Arnold.
I think, as it is an observation, it should be in the indicative, and that the subjunctive will "weaken" the aphorism, but Latin uses subjuntives all over the place... anybody have a more learned opinion?
My suggestion for the translation is:
"Semiperfecto relinquere operae pretium est"
His is:
"rem semifactam relinquere operae pretium sit"
Indicative or subjunctive help
Cefpret Posted Nov 3, 2003
I've learnt that the subjuctive (we called it conjunctive) present tense means "it may" in the sense of "I wish it is". Maybe this helps.
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Indicative or subjunctive help
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