Some Prepositions and Adverbs which imply comparison are followed, like comparatives, by quam , which may be separated by several words, or even clauses.

Such words are ante , prius , post , posteā , prīdiē , postrīdiē ; also magis and prae in compounds:— neque ante dīmīsit eum quam fidem dedit (Liv. 39.10) , nor did he let him go until he gave a pledge. post diem tertium quam dīxerat (Mil. 44) , the third day after he said it. Catō ipse iam servīre quam pūgnāre māvult (Att. 7.15) , Cato himself by this time had rather be a slave than fight. Gallōrum quam Rōmānōrum imperia praeferre (B. G. 1.17) , [they] prefer the rule of Gauls to that of Romans. The ablative of time is sometimes followed by quam in the same way (§ 424 . f ): as,—octāvō mēnse quam (Liv. 21.15) , within eight months after , etc.

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