Ch. 46

HW: 46A 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,10

CUM CLAUSES

The word cum as a preposition takes the ablative case and means "with". You see it in ablative of accompaniment (We went with the sailors. "cum nautis") and ablative of manner (He graduated with great praise. "magna cum laude").

The word cum as a conjunction is an alternate spelling for "quom," the spelling used by Cicero and others of the first century BC and earlier.

Cum the conjunction introduces a full clause (clauses have verbs, phrases do not) and is translated: when, since, although, whereas, or whenever.

Here are the three types of cum clauses that always take the subjunctive; notice the names all begin with c, hopefully this will help you remember them. They all follow sequence of tenses.

Cum Circumstantial (tells the circumstances in which the main clause occurs)

When the enemy was beseiging us, we had a small supply of food.
Cum hostes nos obsiderent*, parva nobis copia erat cibi.
*imperfect subjunctive shows same (_or later) relative time in secondary sequence
When he arrived, we greeted him.
Cum advenisset*, eum salutavimus.
*pluperfect subjunctive shows earlier relative time in secondary sequence

Cum Causal (tells the cause or reason for the main clause)

Since/because you are coming, we will win.
Cum venias*, vincemus.
*present subjunctive shows same (or later) relative time in primary sequence
Since/because he left (has left), we are leaving too.
Cum discesserit*, quoque discedimus.
*perfect subjunctive shows earlier relative time in primary sequence

Cum Concessive (tells the adverse or opposing situation in spite of which the main clause occurs)
In English, the main clause often has "still" or "nevertheless"; in Latin "tamen" and "nihilominus" are similarly often found.

Although you had helped, we were (still) defeated.
Cum adiuvisses*, (tamen) victi sumus.
*pluperfect subjunctive shows earlier relative time in secondary sequence
Although she is here, he (nevertheless) will not look at her.
Cum illa adsit*, ille (nihilominus) ipsam/illam/eam non spectabit.
*present subjunctive shows same (or later) relative time in primary sequence

Cum Temporal

When cum refers only to a time relationship, indicative may be used and must be used for primary tenses (present, future, future perfect). Indicative may even be used with other tenses when marked by time adverbs or phrases which suggest that the main or only important relationship between the clauses is TIME.

Examples:
When you were consul, then (at the time) I was still a soldier.
Cum consul eras, tum (eo tempore) iam eram miles.
When you first arrived (As soon as you arrived), we greeted you.
Cum primum advenisti, te salutavimus.

Cum = whenever

Cum can be translated "whenever" with indicative tense. As your book indicates, this will usually (but not always) be when the cum clause verb is perfect (with present main clause), future perfect (with future main clause), or pluperfect (with past tense, espe. impf., main clause) so that the cum clause clearly shows it is earlier than the main clause. This construction is akin to the present, future, and past general conditions which use si/nisi + inidcative verb. Sometimes this kind of cum clause will be associated with a main-clause word or phrase such as always (semper) or often (saepe).

Examples:
Whenever I saw him, I (always/continually) thanked him (used to thank him).
Cum eum videram, ei gratias (semper) agebam.
Whenever he comes (will have come), I will (always) help him.
Cum venerit, ei (semper) succurram.
Whenever he leaves, we (always) follow.
Cum exiit, (semper) sequimur.

Inverted Cum Clause or Cum Inversum

A cum clause with an indicative verb may be placed at the end of the sentence for emphasis. It is called an inverted cum clause. Sometimes a time word meaning suddenly or unexpectedly (subito, repente, de improviso) will occur in the cum clause; sometimes the main clause will have a word/phrase such as "just now" (iam/iam modo) or "only barely" (tantum/modo). The cum clause usually has a perfect or present indicative verb.

Examples:
The sun was rising when (suddenly) we saw the enemy approaching.
Sol oriebatur cum (subito) vidimus hostes appropinquare/appropinquantes.
The general had just finished his speech when (unexpectedly) the spears fell out of the sky.
Dux orationem iam modo perfecit cum de improviso hastae de caelo cadunt (vivid historical present).


Since this/that is so...

In English expressions of this sort, Latin usually uses a plural connecting relative pronoun to link back to the previous sentence, and the verb thus is plural agreeing with the relative pronoun subject:

Since that had been so...
Quae cum ita fuissent...
Since this is the case...
Quae cum ita sint...

Cum...tum as correlative "both...and"

Though they literally mean "when" and "then". Cum and tum may be used as a stronger version of et...et, that is, "both...and". When they are used this way, they may join single words or whole phrases.

I saw both the senators and the people.
Cum senatores tum plebem vidi.
I will eat green eggs and ham both on a boat and with a goat.
Ovis et perna prasina cum in nave tum cum capro vescar.