The use of "come"

Question

HiCould you please explain the meaning and use of come in this sentence. (The last letter of the heroine to her friend before she left her country for good)I will be thinking of all of you come September.Thanks,Tom

Yankee · Accepted Answer

Hi Tom

I will be thinking of all of you come September. = I will be thinking of all of you when September comes/arrives (or simply "in September").

It seems to be a reference to the fact that the heroine expects something specific to happen in September which will cause her to "think of all of you".

Mr. Tom · Answer

Thanks, Amy.

Two more questions:

Is the use of come natural in the given sentence? Can I use it in everyday conversation? I will invite you to dinner come December.

Which part of speech is come in the given sentence?

Tom

Yankee · Answer

Hi Tom

Mr. TomCan I use it in everyday conversation?

I'd say it's sometimes used in everyday conversation.

Mr. TomIs the use of come natural in the given sentence?... I will invite you to dinner come December.

I'd say that would be possible, but only if the reason for the choice of December in particular is already known to both people in the conversation. In other words, the context is very important. For example, if in the broader context the speaker had already mentioned that, as of December, he will no longer be putting in the excessive hours he is doing now at work -- i.e. if it had already been mentioned that the speaker expects to have more time available to do things other than work. If the reason for the choice of Decemebr is not already known to the listener, then I would expect the speaker to mention it immediately after using that sentence.

I'd say this particular use of "come" is technically subjunctive, but I'd also say that nowadays this wording should be looked at simply as an idiom rather than as a specific form of the verb.

We also use expressions such as "come what may" and "come rain or shine", for example.

Mr. Tom · Answer

Thanks a lot, Amy. One last question: can I use some incident with come instead of a month?

I'll be missing you greatly come my birthday.

Tom

Yankee · Answer

Hi Tom

I suppose someone might say that. I would interpret it to mean this:

I'll be missing you greatly by the time my birthday rolls around (arrives).

The use of "come"

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