And, besides mathematical or quantitative relations, there are others (usually considered qualitative because indefinite) which cannot be justly expressed by the logical copula.

We ought to read propositions expressing time-relations (and inferences drawn accordingly) thus: B--is before--C; A--is before--B: .'.

A--is before--C.
And in like manner _A--is simultaneous with--B; etc._ Such arguments (as well as the mathematical) are intuitively sound and verifiable, and might be generalised in axioms if it were worth while: but it is not, because no method could be founded on such axioms.
The customary use of relative terms justifies some Mediate Inferences, as, _The father of a father is a grand-father_.
Some cases, however, that at first seem obvious, are really delusive unless further data be supplied.

Thus _A co-exists with B, B with C; .'.

A with C_--is not sound unless _B_ is an instantaneous event; for where B is perdurable, _A_ may co-exist with it at one time and _C_ at another.
Again: _A is to the left of B, B of C; .'.