← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
54.1 Tum then puer boy fēlīx happy erat was
54.2 Magister teacher tum then discipulōs pupils docēbat was teaching
54.3 Tunc then omnēs all laetī happy fuērunt were
54.4 Mīles soldier tum then pugnāre to fight incipiēbat was beginning
54.5 Tunc then sacerdōs priest templum temple intrāvit entered
54.6 Diēs day tum then longior longer erat was
54.7 Tunc then nōbīs to us grātiam favor dedit he gave
54.8 Servus slave tum then labōrāre to work dēbēbat had to
54.9 Tunc then agricola farmer laetus happy ad to agrum field iit went
54.10 Māter mother tum then fīliō to son cibum food dabat was giving
54.11 Tunc then hostēs enemies urbem city relīquērunt left
54.12 Pāx peace tum then in in terrā earth erat was
54.13 Tunc then discipulī pupils melius better studēbant were studying
54.14 Sapiens wise man tum then multa many things dīxit said
54.15 Tunc then omnēs all gaudēbant were rejoicing
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54.1 Fēlīx tum erat puer. The boy was happy then.
54.2 Discipulōs magister tum docēbat. The teacher was then teaching the pupils.
54.3 Laetī tunc fuērunt omnēs. Everyone was happy then.
54.4 Incipiēbat tum mīles pugnāre. The soldier was then beginning to fight.
54.5 Templum tunc sacerdōs intrāvit. Then the priest entered the temple.
54.6 Longior diēs tum erat. The day was longer then.
54.7 Grātiam tunc nōbīs dedit. Then he gave us a favor.
54.8 Labōrāre servus tum dēbēbat. The slave had to work then.
54.9 Ad agrum tunc agricola laetus iit. Then the happy farmer went to the field.
54.10 Fīliō māter tum cibum dabat. The mother was then giving food to her son.
54.11 Urbem tunc hostēs relīquērunt. Then the enemies left the city.
54.12 In terrā tum pāx erat. Then there was peace on earth.
54.13 Melius tunc discipulī studēbant. Then the pupils were studying better.
54.14 Multa sapiens tum dīxit. Then the wise man said many things.
54.15 Gaudēbant tunc omnēs. Then everyone was rejoicing.
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54.1 Fēlīx tum erat puer.
54.2 Discipulōs magister tum docēbat.
54.3 Laetī tunc fuērunt omnēs.
54.4 Incipiēbat tum mīles pugnāre.
54.5 Templum tunc sacerdōs intrāvit.
54.6 Longior diēs tum erat.
54.7 Grātiam tunc nōbīs dedit.
54.8 Labōrāre servus tum dēbēbat.
54.9 Ad agrum tunc agricola laetus iit.
54.10 Fīliō māter tum cibum dabat.
54.11 Urbem tunc hostēs relīquērunt.
54.12 In terrā tum pāx erat.
54.13 Melius tunc discipulī studēbant.
54.14 Multa sapiens tum dīxit.
54.15 Gaudēbant tunc omnēs.
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding "tum/tunc" involves several key points: -
Basic Usage: -
Both words mean "then" or "at that time" -
Used as temporal adverbs -
Can appear in various positions in the sentence -
Often used to sequence events in narrative -
Position in Sentence: -
Can appear at beginning (for emphasis) -
Often appears after first word -
Can appear between subject and verb -
Sometimes appears at end for special effect -
Common Combinations: -
tum...tum... = "now...now..." -
et tum = "and then" -
tum dēmum = "then at last" -
tum vērō = "then indeed" -
Differences from English: -
More flexible placement than English "then" -
Can be used with any tense -
Doesn't require comma like English often does -
Can be used more frequently than in English
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Understanding how Romans used "tum/tunc" requires cultural context: -
Historical Writing: -
Essential for Roman historical narrative -
Used to mark sequence of events -
Important in military accounts -
Key to diplomatic records -
Religious Usage: -
Used in ritual descriptions -
Important in prayers -
Found in biblical translations -
Common in Christian texts -
Educational Context: -
Used in classroom explanations -
Part of rhetorical training -
Found in textbooks -
Used in memory exercises -
Modern Relevance: -
Still used in ecclesiastical Latin -
Found in academic writing -
Used in legal documents -
Important for reading ancient texts
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From Augustine's "Confessions" (Book VIII, Chapter 12):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Tum then vērō indeed intellēxī I understood quam how mirabilis wonderful esset was grātia grace tua your, Domine O Lord, quae which mē me ā from peccātīs sins meīs my līberāvit freed et and ad to vītam life novam new dūxit led.
Tum vērō intellēxī quam mirābilis esset grātia tua, Domine, quae mē ā peccātīs meīs līberāvit et ad vītam novam dūxit.
Then indeed I understood how wonderful was your grace, O Lord, which freed me from my sins and led me to a new life.
Augustine uses "tum" to mark a moment of spiritual revelation. The word introduces a crucial turning point in his narrative of conversion.
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"tum vērō" intensifies the temporal marker -
Indirect question with "quam" -
Subjunctive "esset" in indirect question -
Relative clause with "quae" -
Perfect tense verbs for completed action
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54.16 Tum then sacerdōs priest ad to altāre altar Deī of God appropinquāvit approached
54.17 Fidēlēs faithful ones tunc then ōrātiōnem prayer dominicam Lord's recitāvērunt recited
54.18 Tum then omnēs all genūa knees flectēbant were bending
54.19 Tunc then corda hearts nostra our ad to caelum heaven levābāmus we were lifting
54.20 Cantor singer tum then psalmum psalm cantābat was singing
54.21 Tunc then populus people respondēbat was responding 'Āmen' 'Amen'
54.22 Silentium silence tum then in in templō temple erat was
54.23 Tunc then lūx light candēlārum of candles splendēbat was shining
54.24 Episcopus bishop tum then benedīctiōnem blessing dedit gave
54.25 Tunc then campānae bells sonābant were ringing
54.26 Chorus choir tum then hymnum hymn cantābat was singing
54.27 Tunc then thūs incense ad to caelum heaven ascendēbat was ascending
54.28 Fidēlēs faithful ones tum then pācem peace inter among sē themselves dabant were giving
54.29 Tunc then omnēs all corpus body Chrīstī of Christ accēpērunt received
54.30 Grātiās thanks tum then Deō to God agēbant they were giving
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54.16 Ad altāre Deī sacerdōs tum appropinquāvit. Then the priest approached the altar of God.
54.17 Ōrātiōnem dominicam fidēlēs tunc recitāvērunt. Then the faithful recited the Lord's Prayer.
54.18 Genūa tum omnēs flectēbant. Then everyone was bending their knees.
54.19 Ad caelum tunc corda nostra levābāmus. Then we were lifting our hearts to heaven.
54.20 Psalmum cantor tum cantābat. Then the singer was singing the psalm.
54.21 'Āmen' tunc populus respondēbat. Then the people were responding 'Amen'.
54.22 In templō silentium tum erat. Then there was silence in the temple.
54.23 Splendēbat tunc lūx candēlārum. Then the light of the candles was shining.
54.24 Benedīctiōnem episcopus tum dedit. Then the bishop gave the blessing.
54.25 Sonābant tunc campānae. Then the bells were ringing.
54.26 Hymnum chorus tum cantābat. Then the choir was singing the hymn.
54.27 Ad caelum tunc thūs ascendēbat. Then the incense was ascending to heaven.
54.28 Pācem fidēlēs tum inter sē dabant. Then the faithful were giving peace among themselves.
54.29 Corpus Chrīstī tunc omnēs accēpērunt. Then everyone received the body of Christ.
54.30 Deō tum grātiās agēbant. Then they were giving thanks to God.
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54.16 Ad altāre Deī sacerdōs tum appropinquāvit.
54.17 Ōrātiōnem dominicam fidēlēs tunc recitāvērunt.
54.18 Genūa tum omnēs flectēbant.
54.19 Ad caelum tunc corda nostra levābāmus.
54.20 Psalmum cantor tum cantābat.
54.21 'Āmen' tunc populus respondēbat.
54.22 In templō silentium tum erat.
54.23 Splendēbat tunc lūx candēlārum.
54.24 Benedīctiōnem episcopus tum dedit.
54.25 Sonābant tunc campānae.
54.26 Hymnum chorus tum cantābat.
54.27 Ad caelum tunc thūs ascendēbat.
54.28 Pācem fidēlēs tum inter sē dabant.
54.29 Corpus Chrīstī tunc omnēs accēpērunt.
54.30 Deō tum grātiās agēbant.
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The use of "tum/tunc" in Christian liturgical contexts shows several special features: -
Sequence Marking in Ritual: -
Marks stages of liturgical action -
Shows progression of Mass -
Indicates ritual transitions Example: "Ad altāre Deī sacerdōs tum appropinquāvit" -
Verb Tenses with tum/tunc: a) Perfect tense for completed actions: -
"recitāvērunt" (they recited) -
"accēpērunt" (they received) Example: "Ōrātiōnem dominicam fidēlēs tunc recitāvērunt"
b) Imperfect for ongoing actions: -
"cantābat" (was singing) -
"respondēbat" (was responding) Example: "Psalmum cantor tum cantābat" -
Word Order in Liturgical Latin: a) With direct objects: -
Object often precedes verb -
"tum/tunc" can separate them Example: "Benedīctiōnem episcopus tum dedit"
b) With prepositional phrases: -
Can begin sentence -
"tum/tunc" often follows Example: "Ad caelum tunc corda nostra levābāmus" -
Special Liturgical Vocabulary with tum/tunc: a) Ritual actions: -
appropinquāre (to approach) -
flectere (to bend) -
levāre (to lift) Example: "Genūa tum omnēs flectēbant"
b) Sacred objects: -
altāre (altar) -
corpus Chrīstī (body of Christ) -
thūs (incense) Example: "Ad caelum tunc thūs ascendēbat" -
Collective Subjects with tum/tunc: -
fidēlēs (the faithful) -
populus (the people) -
omnēs (everyone) Example: "Corpus Chrīstī tunc omnēs accēpērunt" -
Special Uses in Prayer Context: a) Marking responses: -
'Āmen' responses -
Communal prayers Example: "'Āmen' tunc populus respondēbat"
b) Describing ritual atmosphere: -
silentium (silence) -
sonāre (to sound) Example: "In templō silentium tum erat" -
Position for Emphasis: a) At sentence beginning: -
Emphasizes sequence -
Marks important moments Example: "Tunc campānae sonābant"
b) After key words: -
Highlights important actions -
Emphasizes ritual elements Example: "Deō tum grātiās agēbant"
These constructions show how Latin adapted to Christian liturgical needs while maintaining classical grammar patterns.
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