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Latin grammar Part of Chapter 9

CEFR B1-B2

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Test yourself (16 questions)

Latin cum Clauses: when, since and although

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 12 October 2026

is two words. With a noun in the ablative it is the preposition with. With a clause it is a conjunction: the indicative only dates the action, while the subjunctive explains it and means when, since or although.

ablativecum + indicative: time onlycum + subjunctivetamen: read althoughWhat do the colours mean?
cum withLatinEnglish
ablative .He/she came with the soldiers.
indicative , .When he/she comes, we shall see.
subjunctive , .When he/she had said this, he/she left.
subjunctive , .Since the leader was away, the soldiers did nothing.
subj. + , .Although he/she was brave, he/she still fled.

Quick check

Now use it: three quick questions on the chart above. The full practice is further down.

Spot the mistake

0/3

In each sentence cum means with. Tap the word that is wrong.

Preposition or conjunction?

ablativecum + indicative: time onlyWhat do the colours mean?

Look at what follows . A noun in the ablative makes it the preposition; a clause with its own verb makes it the conjunction.

cum isLatinEnglish
preposition .He/she came with his/her father.
conjunction , .When father comes, I am glad.

With the personal pronouns the preposition goes on the end: , with me; , with you; , with us.

cum with the indicative: time only

cum + indicative: time onlyWhat do the colours mean?

When does nothing but fix the time, it takes the indicative. Three places you meet it:

UseLatinEnglish
future , .When he/she comes, we shall see.
at once , .As soon as he/she saw the enemy, he/she fled.
whenever , .Whenever the leader comes, the soldiers rejoice.

is a future where English has a present (when he comes). Latin marks the time in the clause as well as the main verb, exactly as after .

cum with the subjunctive: three meanings

cum + subjunctivetamen: read althoughWhat do the colours mean?

Otherwise, and above all in a story about the past, takes the subjunctive. The clause no longer just dates the action; it describes the circumstances, and those can be a time, a reason or an obstacle.

MeaningLatinEnglish
when , .When we were in the city, we saw many things.
since , .Since the leader was away, the soldiers did nothing.
although , .Although he/she had a lot, he/she gave nothing.

Nothing in the clause itself marks which meaning is meant, so read the main clause:

  1. (nevertheless) in the main clause: read although.
  2. The clause explains why the main clause happened: read since.
  3. Otherwise read when, the commonest sense in a story.

Where when and since both make sense (when the leader was away, or since he was), the Latin leaves it open, and so may your English.

When: imperfect or pluperfect

the tense signWhat do the colours mean?

In a past story the tense says how the clause sits against the main verb. The imperfect subjunctive is going on at the time; the pluperfect is already over.

  • cum haec dixissem (pluperfect: over before)

  • pater intravit (father came in)

  • cum haec dicerem (imperfect: going on)

Timeline from past to now, with now marked.

TenseLatinEnglish
imperfect , .While I was saying this, father came in.
pluperfect , .When I had said this, father came in.

The highlight is the tense sign: -re- (the infinitive) for the imperfect, -isse- for the pluperfect. The Vulgate opens the story of the Magi with a pluperfect:

Iesus in Bethleem Iudaeae in Herodis , magi Hierosolymam.

When Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem. (Matthew 2:1, Vulgate)

Since: quae cum ita sint

cum + subjunctiveWhat do the colours mean?

After a present or future main verb, a causal takes the present subjunctive. Its most famous use is a phrase Cicero turns to whenever the facts are in and the conclusion is due:

  • , . - Since this is so, let us go home.

, Catilina, perge .

Since this is so, Catiline, carry on the way you began. (Cicero, In Catilinam 1.10)

, especially since, is the same clause with the reason underlined.

How to read a cum clause

StepLook atIt tells you
1the next wordablative noun: with
2the mood of the verbindicative: when, time only
3the main clause: although
4the sensea reason: since; else when
5the tense, in a storyimperfect: while; pluperfect: after

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
The preposition takes the ablative
goes on the end of a pronoun
... : whenalthough marks although
: had saidwas sayingimperfect subj.: going on at the time
: with whichsince this is so here opens a clause

The last row is the classic first-year slip: a straight after looks like the preposition, but is a connecting relative (and these things), and the verb shows that opens a clause.

What to do next

  1. Learn the five-step reading table and run it on every you meet.
  2. Write one sentence for each meaning: when, since, although.
  3. Then go back over purpose and result clauses, and on to the ablative absolute, which often does a clause's job in two words.

Practise: test yourself

Sort into groups

0/6

What does cum mean in each sentence?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Complete the story

0/3

Choose the verb. The English: When the soldiers had reached the city, they saw the gates open. While they were coming in, the leader shouted. Although the enemy were many, they did not flee.

At the gates

Cum milites ad urbem , portas apertas viderunt. Cum in urbem , dux clamavit. Cum multi hostes , tamen non fugerunt.

Gap 1 of 3

Spot the mistake

0/3

In each sentence cum means with. Tap the word that is wrong.

Matching

0/4

Match the Latin to its English.

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Frequently asked questions

When does take the subjunctive in Latin?
When the clause describes the circumstances rather than just fixing a date: nearly every clause in a past narrative, and every meaning since or although. , is when he/she had said this, he/she left. takes the indicative when it only dates the action, as in , (when he/she comes, we shall see), with (as soon as) and with meaning whenever.
How do you know if means when, since or although?
Read the main clause. If it has (nevertheless), read although: , , although he/she was brave, he/she still fled. If the clause explains why the main clause happened, read since: , , since the leader was away, the soldiers did nothing. Otherwise read when, the commonest sense in a story. Where when and since both make sense, the Latin leaves it open.
How do you tell the preposition from the conjunction?
Look at what follows. The preposition is followed by a noun or pronoun in the ablative: , with his/her father. The conjunction opens a clause with its own verb: , when father comes. With the personal pronouns the preposition sticks to the end: , , .
What does mean?
Since this is so, or literally since these things are so. is a connecting relative (and these things) and is causal with the present subjunctive. Cicero uses it to turn from the facts to what must be done about them, and it survives as a set phrase.
What is the difference between with the imperfect and the pluperfect subjunctive?
Time. In a past story the imperfect subjunctive describes something going on when the main action happened: , , while he/she was saying this, father came in. The pluperfect describes something already over: , , when he/she had said this, father came in.