| Latin grammar |
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From a semantic perspective, a tense is a temporal circumstance in which an event takes place relative to a given point in time.[i][ii][iii] It is absolute (primary) if it relates the represented event to the time of the speech event [iv][v][vi][vii] and it is relative if it relates the represented event to the time of another event in the context of discourse.[viii][ix][x][xi] In turn, a relative tense may be “relative to absolute” (secondary)[xii] if it relates the represented event to the primary tense[xiii][xiv]. Read more about possible tenses in the article on grammatical tense.
In indicative clauses, Latin has three primary tenses [xv] and three series of secondary tenses. The primary tenses are the future agam ('I will do'), the present agō ('I am doing'), and the past ēgī ('I did'). The series of secondary tenses are: 1) the secondary future series āctūrus erō ('I will be about to do'), āctūrus sum ('I am about to do'), and āctūrus eram ('I was about to do'); 2) the secondary present series agam ('I will be doing'), agō ('I am doing'), and agēbam ('I was doing'); and 3) the secondary past series ēgerō ('I will have done'), ēgī ('I have done'), and ēgeram ('I had done').
This article covers only free indicative clauses for what took place, is taking place, or will take place. For bound indicative clauses, visit Latin tenses in relative clauses and Latin tenses in dependent clauses. For indications of frequency, possibility, volition and obligation, visit the article on Latin tenses with modality. For commands, see Latin tenses in commands.
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