The word cum has two separate functions:
[1] It is a preposition with the ablative case
meaning ‘(together) with’
[2] It is a conjunction which, depending upon
context, can mean ‘when’, ‘since’ or ‘although’
Here, we are looking at its use as a conjunction introducing
subordinate clauses.
Cum may be followed either by an
indicative verb, or a subjunctive verb. In this post, we will focus only
on its use with an indicative verb.
indicative
When used with the indicative, cum means ‘when’; it
introduces a temporal clause that focusses
on the time / period when the action in the main clause occurs:
[i] Cum
nimis dolēmus [present indicative], ¦ lacrimās fundimus. │ When we
grieve too much, ¦ we shed tears.
[i] Militēs, ¦ cum montēs vīdērunt [perfect indicative],
¦ gāvīsī sunt. │ The soldiers, when they saw the mountains, ¦ rejoiced.
[ii] Maximā sum
laetitiā adfectus ¦ cum audīvī [perfect indicative] cōnsulem tē
factum esse (Cicero) │ I was very much pleased ¦ when I heard that you
had been made a consul.
[iii] Ea, quae iam
tum, ¦ cum aderās [imperfect indicative], ¦ offendere eius animum
intellegēbam … (Cicero) │ Those things which I already understood at the time, ¦
when you were present, ¦ to be offending his feelings …
[iv] … tum, ¦ cum
in Asiā rēs māgnās permultī āmīserant [pluperfect indicative] (Cicero)│
at that time, ¦ when many had lost great fortunes in Asia
In Latin, unlike in
English, future tenses are used in the clause of time:
[v] Signa nostra …
cum commodissimē poteris [future indicative], velim impōnās
(Cicero) │ I would like you to ship the statues when you can [literally:
when you will be able to] do so most conveniently.
When reading the
letters of Cicero, note that, when he writes about when something will
happen, he very frequently uses the future perfect i.e. indicating
what will have happened. English translation can be looser, whereas the
Latin is precise, indicating the completion of the future action.
[vi] Est igitur
animus in hortīs; quōs tamen īnspiciam, cum vēnerō (Cicero) │ So
my mind is set on the gardens: however I'll have a look at them, when I
arrive [literally: when I shall have arrived].
[vii] Ex mē, cum
vēneris, cognōscēs (Cicero) │ You will find out from me when you
arrive / you have arrived [literally: when you will have arrived]
[viii] Quid sit,
sciēmus, cum vēneris (Cicero) │ We shall know what it is, when
you arrive / you have arrived.
The English
translations of the following two quotations do emphasise that sense of
completion. In both of them Cicero is distinctly looking ahead to actions that
he will have done.
[ix] Luccēius quid
agat, scrībam ad tē, cum Caesarem vīderō, quī aderit bīduō
(Cicero) │ How Lucceius is getting on I will write and tell you, when I have
seen [literally: when I shall have seen] Caesar, who will be here in
a couple of days’ time.
[x] Cum
perspexerō voluntātēs nōbilium, scrībam ad tē (Cicero) │ When I have grasped
/ discovered the intentions of the nobles, I shall write to you.
The future perfect
tense was discussed here:
23.10.24: Level 2;
reading; dē porculō [4]; future perfect tense [1]; introduction
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/231024-level-2-reading-de-porculo-4.html
25.10.24: Level 2;
future perfect tense [2]; forms of the future perfect tense
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/251024-level-2-future-perfect-tense-2.html
25.10.24: Level 2;
future perfect tense [3]; practice [1]
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/251024-level-2-future-perfect-tense-3.html
27.10.24: Level 2;
future perfect tense [4]: practice [2]
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/271024-level-2-future-perfect-tense-4.html
27.10.24: Level 2;
future perfect tense [5]: practice [3]
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/271024-level-2-future-perfect-tense-5.html
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