Uses of Iam

Origin of Iam

“Of uncertain formation” (AG, 215.6)

Summary of Use

Iam is an adverb and may be translated now, already, at length, or presently

“With negatives, iam means no longer.” (AG, 322b)

Iam may modify any tense.

• With the imperfect or pluperfect, iam is ingressive, marking the start of past action.

Use

• I have already said before: iam anteā dīxī.
• There is no longer room for mercy: nōn est iam lēnitātī locus.
• This has come to be a practice: hōc iam erat īnstitūtum. (ingressive iam)

Nunc versus Iam

Nunc merely notes the present, the immediate, the pressing.

Iam adds “a reference to the previous time through which the present state of affairs has been or will be reached.” (AG, 322b)

Iam will mark a transition between the previous and present; nunc only considers the present.

Compounds

Etiam (viz. ‘et iam’) is an adverb and may be translated also, even, yes

Etiam usually precedes the verb it modifies, making it more emphatic than quoque, which usually follows

• He acts not only with words, but also with force: nōn verbīs sōlum sed etiam vī ēgit.
• Are you well? Yes, indeed I am: Agis benē? Etiam egō.

Etiamsī (viz. ‘etiam sī’) begins a concessive clause and should be translated even if

• Even if you have nothing to write, write anyway: etiamsī quod scrībās nōn habēbis, scrībitō tamen.

Iamdiū and iamdūdum are adverb and should be translated for a long time

These take present verbs in Latin, but perfect verbs in English translation.

• For a long time I have not know what you were doing: iam diū īgnōrō quid agās.
• I have long been urging you: tē iam dūdum hortor.

Where they take imperfect verbs in Latin, iamdiū and iamdūdum denote “an action continuing in the past but begun at some previous time.” (AG, 471b)

• I had been weeping for some time: iamdūdum flebam.

The Essential AG: 322b

Famous Phrase: etiamsī omnēs, egō nōn: even if all others [abandon you], I will not.

[Jesus to Peter, Matthew 26:33-4]

iam_uses.pdf

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