This past weekend at CAMWS 2010, I learned a new acrostic acronym from Tom Garvey for the four independent uses of the subjunctive. Since we’re covering that in my Latin 102 class, I’m going to give it a shot. I don’t remember exactly how it went, so my apologies if it’s slightly different from him.

I – Jussive* (commands)

P – Possibility

O – Optative (wishes)

D – Deliberative (questions)

* This works because the Latin J was spelled with an I. Also note that this covers the Jussive and the Hortatory. Essentially, these are “polite commands”.