08.04.24: pointing to the future; expressions of time [1]

Apart from those which make a specific reference to the past or future e.g. herī (yesterday) and crās (tomorrow), most expressions of time can be used with any tense since the context and / or the verb itself will indicate when the action took, takes or will take place. Posted are expressions which either specifically refer or can refer to the future. Bear in mind that this is a selection providing you with a ready set of ‘tools’ which allows you to refer to different points in time. In the literature, the way of expressing the idea, the order of words and the choice of case may be different, but you will acquire more as you begin to read the literature.

Some of the examples are from Plautus and other sources e.g. the Vulgate, but most are from Cicero’s letters to Atticus. Authentic examples are selected to illustrate the point, yet are expressed using language that is readily understood, generally unmodified or with slight adaptation; there is no purpose in battling with a lengthy and grammatically complex sentence simply to show that an author used a particular word.

1. Crās igitur mittam. (Cicero) │ So I’ll send <a letter> tomorrow.
2. Crās igitur nōs mātūrē vidēbit (Cicero) │ Therefore, he’ll see ‘us’ [ = me] early tomorrow.
3. Sciēs fortasse crās, summum perendiē (Cicero) │ So you shall hear to-morrow perhaps, at the latest the day after.
4. Mē hinc cōnferam perendiē māne. │ I’ll go from here the day after tomorrow in the morning.
5. In crāstinum differam rēs sevērās. │ I’ll put off serious things until tomorrow.
6. Sed nunc properō. Perscrībam ad tē paucīs diēbus omnia. (Cicero) │ I am in a hurry now. I will write everything in a few days’ time.
7. Post trēs diēs resurgam (Vulgate) │ After three days I will rise again.
8. Solvite templum hoc et in tribus diēbus excitābō illud (Vulgate) │ Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.
9. Ergō, ut spērō, prope diem tē vidēbō. (Cicero) │ So, as I hope, I shall see you soon.
10. Ex eō diē diēs XLV rēctē putābis. (Cato) │ You will trim <the olive yard> correctly from this day for 45 days.
11. Septimō diē cessābis (Vulgate) │ On the seventh day you will stop <working>
12. Et illūdent eī, et cōnspuent eum, et flagellābunt eum, et interficient eum: et tertia diē resurget. (Vulgate) │ And they will mock him, and spit upon him, and flog him, and kill him; and on the third day he will rise.