[*] 512. A complete Conditional Sentence consists of two clauses the Protasis and the Apodosis. The clause containing the condition is called the PROTASIS the clause containing the conclusion is called the APODOSIS:—
- “sī quī exīre volunt [PROTASIS], cōnīvēre possum [APODOSIS] ” (Cat. 2.27) , if any wish to depart, I can keep my eyes shut.
- “sī est in exsiliō [PROTASIS], quid amplius postulātis [APODOSIS] ” (Lig. 13) , if he is in exile, what more do you ask?
[*] Note.--These compounds are sīn , nisi , etiam sī , etsī , tametsī , tamenetsī (see Conditional and Concessive Particles, p. 138). An Indefinite Relative, or any relative or concessive word, may also serve to introduce a conditional clause: see Conditional Relative Clauses (§§ 519, 542); Concessive Clauses (§ 527).
[*] b. The Apodosis is often introduced by some correlative word or phrase: as, ita , tum (rarely sīc ), or eā condiciōne etc.:—- “ ita enim senectūs honesta est, sī sē ipsa dēfendit ” (Cat. M. 38) , on this condition is old age honorable, if it defends itself.
- “sī quidem mē amāret, tum istuc prōdesset ” (Ter. Eun. 446) , if he loved me, then this would be profitable.
- “ sīc scrībēs aliquid, sī vacābis ” (Att. 12.38.2) , if you are (shall be) at leisure, then you will write something.
- “sepultūrā quoque prohibitūrī, nī rēx humārī iussisset ” (Q. C. 8.2.12) , intending also to deprive him of burial, unless the king had ordered him to be interred.
- “quod sī praetereā nēmō sequātur, tamen sē cum sōlā decimā legiōne itūrum [esse] ” (B. G. 1.40.14) , but if no one else should follow, he would go with the tenth legion alone.
- sī quōs adversum proelium commovēret, hōs reperīre posse (id. 40.8), if the loss of a battle alarmed any, they might find, etc.
[*] Note.--When the Apodosis itself is in Indirect Discourse, or in any other dependent construction, the verb of the Protasis is regularly in the Subjunctive (as in the above examples, see § 589).