Latin Indirect Questions — num, nonne, -ne and the Subjunctive
An indirect question tucks the question into a subordinate clause: not “Who was that?”, but “I ask who that was”. In Latin such a clause is always in the subjunctive — yet you translate it into English with the indicative. This article sorts the introductory words and the sequence of tenses. It belongs to the Learn-Latin section; a close relative is the subjunctive in subordinate clauses.
- Introduction: question words and the particles -ne, num, nonne
- The double question utrum … an (and “or not”: annon/necne)
- The subjunctive and the sequence of tenses
- The governing verbs, common mistakes and the memory hook
What is an indirect question in Latin?
An indirect question is a subordinate clause depending on a verb of asking, knowing or doubting (e.g. rogare, scire, nescire). It is introduced by a question word (quis, ubi, cur …) or a question particle (-ne, num, nonne) and is always in the subjunctive in Latin. In English you translate that subjunctive with the indicative.
Rogo, ubi sis. = “I ask where you are.” — Nescio, num verum sit. = “I don’t know whether it is true.”
Introducing: question words and particles
There are two kinds of indirect question. Word questions begin with a question word (quis, quid, ubi, cur, quando, quomodo, quantus). Yes/no questions begin with a particle:
| Particle | Meaning (indirect) | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ne (attached) | whether | Rogat, veniasne. — He asks whether you are coming. |
| num | whether (neutral!) | Nescio, num verum sit. — I don’t know whether it is true. |
| nonne | whether not (rare) | Quaerit, nonne id sciam. — He asks whether I don’t know that. |
Watch the num-trap: in a direct question num means “surely not”. In an indirect question, however, it means simply and neutrally “whether”.
In the double question (“whether … or …”) the first part has utrum or -ne, the second an: Rogo, utrum verum an falsum sit. (“I ask whether it is true or false.”) “Or not” is annon or necne: Nescio, veniatne necne. (“I don’t know whether he is coming or not.”)
The subjunctive and the sequence of tenses
An indirect question is always in the subjunctive (the “oblique subjunctive”). Which tense is set by the sequence of tenses — depending on the tense of the main clause and the time relationship (contemporaneous, prior, subsequent):
| Time relationship | after primary (pres./perf./fut.) | after secondary (impf./perf./pluperf.) |
|---|---|---|
| contemporaneous | present subjunctive | imperfect subjunctive |
| prior | perfect subjunctive | pluperfect subjunctive |
| subsequent | -urus sim | -urus essem |
Examples: Nescio, quis hoc fecerit. (prior, primary) — “I don’t know who did this.” Rogavi, ubi esses. (contemporaneous, secondary) — “I asked where you were.” Rogo, quid facturus sis. (subsequent) — “I ask what you will do.” Subsequent time is expressed by the future participle + esse. An overview is on Wikipedia.
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Governing verbs — and the common mistakes
An indirect question is triggered by a verb of asking, knowing or doubting in the main clause: rogare (to ask), quaerere (to ask), scire (to know), nescire (not to know), dubitare (to doubt) — or phrases like incertum est (“it is uncertain”). Find such a verb and the subjunctive in the clause is explained.
The most common mistakes:
- The num-trap: num in an indirect question simply means “whether” — not “surely”.
- Carrying over the subjunctive: the Latin subjunctive becomes an English indicative — “I ask who did it”, not “who may have done it”.
- Confusing interrogative and relative: qui, quae, quod (“which”) looks like the relative pronoun — the governing verb of asking marks the question.
- Ignoring the sequence of tenses: the tense of the subjunctive follows the main-clause tense and the time relationship.
More on this in the Dickinson College Commentaries grammar and in the indirect speech overview.
FAQ — Latin indirect questions
What does num mean in an indirect question?
In an indirect question num simply means whether — unlike a direct question, where num expects a no answer (surely not). Nescio, num verum sit means I don’t know whether it is true.
Which mood does an indirect question take?
In Latin an indirect question is always in the subjunctive. In English it is translated with the indicative: Rogo, ubi sis = I ask where you are, not where you may be. Which tense the subjunctive has is set by the sequence of tenses.
How do you form the double indirect question?
The double question (whether … or …) begins in the first part with utrum or attached -ne, in the second part with an: Rogo, utrum verum an falsum sit. For or not it uses annon or necne: Nescio, veniatne necne.
Understand Latin instead of cramming — try it right now.
Latin subjunctive in subordinate clauses · Latin cum clauses — indicative or subjunctive · Latin conditional clauses — real, potential, unreal · Latin relative clauses — qui, quae, quod · ACI Latin explained simply · All grammar topics in the Learn-Latin section · Latinum preparation — the plan · Practice Latin verb forms
