Verbs of Fearing

The two verbs of fearing are timeo and vereor.

Examples:

1. Antonius timebat ne in manus hostium caderet.
     Antony feared lest/that he might fall into the hands of the enemy.

2. Cleopatra verebatur ne Octaviano proderetur.
     Cleopatra was afraid she would/might be betrayed to Octavian.

3. timemus ne hostes nos capiant.
     We are afraid the enemy may catch us.

Fears for the future are expressed by ne + subjunctive: present subjunctive if the leading verb is present or future; imperfect subjunctive if the leading verb is past.
English introduces such clauses by either 'lest' or 'that', or without any connecting conjunction.

This page was written by Ben Bloor.

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