Cum Clauses
Cum-Clauses. The relative cum derives from the relative adjective stem (in older texts sometimes spelled quom), and is to be distinguished from the preposition cum. cum/quom originates as a temporal adverb, and hence introduces a temporal clause.
Cum-Temporal. When the cum-clause defines or dates a specific point in time, its verb stands in the indicative. The temporal reference of both verbs will then be absolutely identical. Such clauses with the indicative are referred to as ‘cum-temporal clauses’. Note that cum followed by the demonstrative tum (‘then’) can mean ‘while … so also …’, ‘as … so …’, and hence ‘not only … but also …’.
cum haec gerēbantur, apud Scipiōnem eram.‘While these things were going on, I was with Scipio.’cum contiōnem habuit, Rōmae fuī.‘When he held the assembly, I was at Rome.’
cum hoc cōnsilium prōposuī, tum omnēs cōnsēnsērunt.‘As I proposed this plan, so also did everyone agree.’
Cum-Inversum. Sometimes the idea of the temporal clause is expressed as the main verb, and the (logically) principal action is relegated to the position of a subordinate clause. This is referred to as cum inversum; the verb must be in the indicative:
diēs novem nōndum intercesserant, cum fīlius necātus est.‘Nine days had not yet intervened, when his son was killed..’Cum-Circumstantial. But if the temporal clause characterizes the time-frame of the principal verb, the verb of the cum-clause goes into the subjunctive. This is known as ‘cum-circumstantial’, and may be translated by ‘when’ or ‘while’:
Italia, cum servīlī bellō premerētur, ab hōc auxilium expetīvit.‘While Italy was laboring under the Slave War, she sought his help.’cum interrogārētur … respondit ….‘When he was asked … he answered … .’
Cum-Conditional. When the temporal clause denotes an indefinite time and approximates to ‘whenever’, it follows the pattern of conditional statements (cf. ch. 33): the future vividly represented requires a future or future perfect indicative in both clauses; a less likely future requires the present subjunctive. The imperfect subjunctive refers to present contrary to fact situations; the pluperfect subjunctive refers to past contrary to fact situations. (Rules of sequence apply.)
cum signum dederō, tum invādite. (future vivid)‘When I give the sign, at that moment invade!’dīxit sēsē, cum opus esset, signum datūrum esse. (fut. vivid, 2ndry seq.)‘He said he would give the signal when it was necessary.’
quod cum tū negārēs, haud esset magnī momentī. (present contrafact.)‘Were you to deny it, it would hardly be of great importance.’
Cum-Causal. As a special instance of the relative clause of characteristic, cum-clauses may express cause (= ‘since’) when the verb is in the subjunctive.
quae cum ita sint, videāmus … .‘Since these things are so, let us see … .’Caesar, cum cōnstituisset hiemāre in continentī, obsidēs imperāvit.‘Since Caesar decided to winter on the continent, he exacted hostages.’
Cum-Concessive. As a special instance of the relative clause of characteristic, cum-clauses may express cause (= ‘although’) when the verb is in the subjunctive. The principal clause may have a corresponding tamen.
patrem meum, cum prōscriptus nōn esset, tamen iugulāvistis.‘Although my father was not an outlaw, still you butchered him.’cum in angustiīs maior esset caedēs, tūtum tamen receptum habuit.‘Although the slaughter in the passageways was rather great, still he madea safe retreat..’