Learn Hardcore Latin: Utinam hodie plus temporis haberemus; tum versus nostros diligentius corrigeremus. - If only we had more time today; then we would correct our verses more carefully.

Breakdown of Utinam hodie plus temporis haberemus; tum versus nostros diligentius corrigeremus.

Why does the sentence begin with utinam?

Utinam is a particle used to introduce a wish. A learner can often think of it as if only or would that.

In this sentence, utinam tells you right away that the speaker is expressing something desired rather than stating a simple fact.

A very common pattern is:

The exact tense of the subjunctive then helps show what kind of wish it is.

Why are haberemus and corrigeremus in the imperfect subjunctive?

They are in the imperfect subjunctive because the sentence expresses a present wish contrary to fact.

So the idea is:

The imperfect subjunctive is commonly used in Latin for:

So haberemus does not simply mean we were having here. It means something more like we had in the sense of if only we had.

Likewise, corrigeremus means we would correct under that unreal condition.

Is this basically a conditional sentence, even though there is no si?