Ch. 47

Inverse Cum Clause

Sometimes a cum clause with an indicative verb occurs at the end of a sentence. This is called an inverse cum clause. Most commonly the cum clause will have a perfect or present tense verb, and it typically shows a surprising and important bit of information. Sometimes a word like subito (unexpectedly) will occur in the cum clause.

Caesar in oppidum veniēbat cum (subito) Gallus occurrit*.

Caesar was coming into the town when (suddenly) a Gaul ran towards him.

Cum “whenever”

Cum clauses with indicative verbs of the perfect system, most commonly pluperfect, sometimes are used in a generalizing way just like the general conditions that you learned which also use indicative verbs. The main clause in such a sentence may have a word like saepe (often) or semper (always) to indicate the generality/frequency of the situation.

Cum vēnerat, eum (semper) salutābant.

Whenever he came, they always used to greet him.

Cum discessit, (saepe) gaudent.

Whenever he leaves, they (often) rejoice.

Cum vicerint, (semper) memorābunt quod dixi.

Whenever they win, they will (always) recall what I said.

Dum (donec, quoad) Clauses

The word dum + present indicative, even when the main verb is past, means “while”—this is usually the first clause of a sentence.

Then, while the water level (i.e. height/depth of the water) was still increasing, I saw him stumble.

Tum, dum altitudo aquae iam crescit, eum prolabi vidi.

Dum + indicative (present and other tenses too) means “as long as.” This is also found usually as the first clause. The main difference is that dum + present will show time within which something happens; dum + other tenses will show the total duration of time something occurred.

But, as long as I was waiting, the water kept rising higher.

Sed, dum expectabam, altior aqua surgebat.

Dum at the end of a sentence usually means until. It may take indicative or subjunctive, but the subjunctive is preferred if intention or purpose is involved.

I wanted to stay until he arrived (i.e. until he should arrive). Shows intention so subjunctive.

Manere volebam dum adveniret.

Meanwhile he was running as fast as he could (i.e. as quickly as possible) until he became too tired.

Interea quam celerrime currebat dum nimis defessus (or “defessior”) factus est.

Meanwhile he walked till he could walk no more.
Interea ambulabat dum non iam potuit.

Connecting relative

Sometimes where we would use a personal pronoun or a demonstrative (this, that), Latin uses a relative pronoun (qui, quae, quod) at the beginning of a sentence.

Tempestas erat. Quod cum ita esset, nautae timēbant.

There was a storm. Since this was so, the sailors were frightened.

Caesar uxorī imperābat ut discederet. Quae cum nollet, ibi manēbat.
Caesar ordered his wife to leave. Since she (this woman) was unwilling (to leave), she stayed there.