Chapter 449 Allen and Greenough's Latin Grammar Dickinson College Christopher Francese

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The Future Imperative is used in commands, etc., where there is a distinct reference to future time: —

In connection with some adverb or other expression that indicates at what time in the future the action of the imperative shall take place. So especially with a future, a future perfect indicative, or (in poetry and early Latin) with a present imperative:— crās petitō , dabitur (Pl. Merc. 769) , ask to-morrow [and] it shall be given. cum valētūdinī cōnsulueris, tum cōnsulitō nāvigātiōnī ; ( Fam. 16.4.3 ), when you have attended to your health, then look to your sailing. Phyllida mitte mihī, meus est nātālis, Iollā; cum faciam vitulā prō frūgibus, ipse venītō (Ecl. 3.76) , send Phyllis to me, it is my birthday , Iollas; when I [shall] sacrifice a heifer for the harvest, come yourself. dīc quibus in terrīs, etc., et Phyllida sōlus habētō ( id . 3.107), tell in what lands , etc., and have Phyllis for yourself. In general directions serving for all time, as Precepts, Statutes, and Wills:— is iūris cīvīlis cūstōs estō (Legg. 3.8) , let him (the prætor) be the guardian of civil right. Boreā flante, nē arātō , sēmen nē iacitō (Plin. H. N. 18.334) , when the north wind blows, plough not nor sow your seed.

The verbs sciō , meminī , and habeō (in the sense of consider ） regularly use the Future Imperative instead of the Present:— fīliolō mē auctum scītō (Att. 1.2) , learn that I am blessed with a little boy. sīc habētō , mī Tirō ; ( Fam. 16.4.4 ), so understand it, my good Tiro. dē pallā mementō , amābō ; ( Pl. Asin. 939 ), remember , dear , about the gown.

The Future Indicative is sometimes used for the imperative; and quīn ( why not? ) with the Present Indicative may have the force of a command:— sī quid acciderit novī, faciēs ut sciam (Fam. 14.8) , you will let me know if anything new happens. quīn accipis (Ter. Haut. 832) , here , take it (why not take it?).

Instead of the simple Imperative, cūrā ut , fac ( fac ut ), or velim , followed by the subjunctive (§ 565 ), is often used, especially in colloquial language:— cūrā ut Rōmae sīs (Att. 1.2) , take care to be at Rome. fac ut valētūdinem cūrēs (Fam. 14.17) , see that you take care of your health domī adsītis facite (Ter. Eun. 506) , be at home, do. eum mihi velim mittās (Att. 8.11) , I wish you would send it to me.

For commands in Indirect Discourse, see § 588 .

For the Imperative with the force of a Conditional Clause, see § 521 . b.

Prohibition (Negative Command)

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