Overview

Result clauses, also known as consecutive clauses, are those in which the first part of the sentence has an effect on the second part of the sentence.

I was so tired that I went to bed early.

They are recognised by a word for 'so ...' in the first part of the sentence. Many of these are linked to the Latin words for 'how ...', known as correlatives. e.g.:

tam, sic, itasoadeo to such an extent
talisof such a kindqualisof what kind
totie(n)sso oftenquotienshow often
totso manyquothow many
tantusso greatquantushow big
tantumso much, many, to such a degreequantumhow much, many

In Latin these are formed using ut + subjunctive.

The negative is formed using ut non + subjunctive (NOT ne). Alternatives to ut non: ut nemo, ut nullus, ut numquam etc.

The tenses of the subjunctive follow the sequence of tenses. A future subjunctive is created for future results, made up of a future participle and the present subjunctive of sum. There is, however, exception: the perfect subjunctive can be used after a secondary verb when either the result was not continuous, and was completed, or the result did definitely follow.

Notes:

  1. there does not have to be a demonstrative trigger word preceding the subordinate clause.
  2. result clauses can be introduced by qui rather than ut.