1787. In old Latin, the indicative occurs often in connections where the
subjunctive would be used in classical Latin: as,
#dīc, quis est#, Pl. _B._ 558, _say, who is it?_ whereas #dīc quis sit#
would mean _say who it is_. In such cases the question is not
subordinate, but coordinate, usually with an imperative (1697), or with
some such expression as #tē rogō#, #volō scīre#, #scī̆n#, or the like.
Such coordination occurs exceptionally in the classical period: as, #et
vidē, quam conversa rēs est#, _Att._ 8, 13, 2, _and observe, how
everything is changed_. #adspice, ut ingreditur#, V. 6, 856, _see, how
he marches off_.
1788. The indicative is used with #nesciō# followed by a pronominal
interrogative, when this combination is equivalent to an indefinite
pronoun or adverb: as,
#prōdit nesciō quis#, T. _Ad._ 635, _there’s some one coming out_. This
is a condensed form for #prōdit nesciō quis sit#, _there’s coming out I
don’t know who it is_, the real question, #sit#, being suppressed, and
#nesciō quis# acquiring the meaning of #aliquis#, _somebody_. Similarly
#nesciō# with #unde#, #ubī̆#, #quandō#, #quot#, &c., in writers of all
ages. Plautus uses #sciō quid#, #sciō ut#, &c., somewhat in this way
once or twice with the indicative: as, #scio quid agō#, _B._ 78, _I’m
doing I know what_.
1789. This combination often expresses admiration, contempt, or regret:
as, #contendō tum illud nesciō quid praeclārum solēre existere#, _Arch._
15, _I maintain that in such a combination the beau ideal of perfection
always bursts into being_. #paulum nesciō quid#, _RA._ 115 _an
unconsidered trifle_. #dīvīsa est sententia, postulante nesciō quō#,
_Mil._ 14. _the question was divided, on motion of what’s his name_.
#nesciō quō pactō#, _C._ 31, _unfortunately_.
1790. The indicative is used in like manner with many expressions,
originally exclamatory, which have become adverbs: such are #immāne
quantum#, _prodigiously_, #mīrum quantum#, _wonderfully_, #sānē quam#,
_immensely_, &c., &c. See 712 and the dictionary.
1791. Relative constructions often have the appearance of indirect
questions, and care must be taken not to confound the two. Thus, #ut# is
a relative in #hanc rem, ut factast, ēloquar#, Pl. _Am._ 1129, _I’ll
tell this thing as it occurred_, i.e. not _how it occurred_. #nōstī quae
sequontur#, _TD._ 4, 77, _you know the things that follow_, i.e. not
_what follows_.