[Grammar] expressions like 'come spring'

[vpkannan]

Hi,

'Come spring, the trees will blossom.'

The above sentence starts with the verb 'come'. Could you please give me some more sentences with some other verbs?

Thanks.

 

[Rover_KE]

It's a preposition – not a verb – in this context. [link]

 

[vpkannan]

If 'come' is a preposition in the given context, is it similar to the following sentence in structue?

'Given a chance, he can prove his point.'

 

[Rover_KE]

No. That's a participle phrase.

 

[jutfrank]

I agree that Come spring is not imperative. It means When spring has come or When spring comes or When spring is here.

You could use many other future time phrases after Come to make predictions.

Come Christmas and the whole place will be white with snow.
Come next year, we'll be millionnaires.
Eat now because come two o'clock you'll be starving!

Come seems to be working as a preposition.

 

[vpkannan]

No. That's a participle phrase.

'Given' is also considered as a preposition in the following authentic dictionary links with examples similar to mine:

1. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/given
2. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/given
3. https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/given

 

[jutfrank]

If 'come' is a preposition in the given context, is it similar to the following sentence in structue?

'Given a chance, he can prove his point.'

Well, I see some structural resemblance, yes, but I don't see a lot of point comparing the two.

(Plus, it doesn't really matter whether Given is a participle form if you're thinking about structure.)

 

[bubbha]

"Come X, ..." means "When X comes, ..." (where X is a future time or event).

"Come graduation, I will have a job waiting."
"Come October, he'll be in jail."
"Come the rapture, can I have your car?" (from a bumper sticker I've seen)

 

[Skrej]

Hi,
The above sentence starts with the verb 'come'. Could you please give me some more sentences with some other verbs?

Be that as it may....
Should the need arise...
Would that it were....

Those are set expressions, however. Of course many interrogative sentences start with some form of an auxiliary verb or modal verb, but those are questions and you seem to be looking for statements.

Edit: Those examples are probably open to the same arguments as to whether they're truly functioning as verbs or not.

 

[Skrej]

Let's not go there - at least not in this thread.

Go there as you will, or won't.