Declension: The ending genitive singular (second word in the vocabulary listing) tells you what declension a noun belongs to.
ae – 1st declension ī – 2nd declension is – 3rd declension ūs – 4th declension eī – 5th declension
Case: The case of a Latin noun tells us how it functions in a sentence.
|
Case |
Use |
Example |
|
|
|
|
|
Nominative |
Subject |
Mārcus arborem vidit. Marcus sees the tree.
|
|
|
Predicate nominative |
Cornēlia puella est. Cornelia is a girl.
|
|
Genitive |
Possession |
Haec est villa Flaviae. This is Flavia's house. This is the house of Flavia.
|
|
Dative |
Indirect object |
Sextus canī cibum dat. Sextus gives the dog food. Sextus gives food to the dog.
|
|
Accusative |
Direct object |
Caledōnia cenam coquit. Caledonia cooks dinner.
|
|
|
Place to which |
Dāvus ad hortum ambulat. Davus walks to the garden.
|
|
Ablative |
Place where |
Aurēlia in atriō sedet. Aurelia sits in the atrium.
|
|
|
Place from which |
Cornēlius ēx hortō currit. Cornelius runs out of the garden.
|
|
|
Accompaniment |
Cornēlia cum Flāviā ambulat. Cornēlia walks with Flavia.
|
|
|
Means |
Tītus glādiō pugnat. Titus fights with a sword.
|
|
Vocative |
Direct address |
Sexte, ubi es? Sextus, where are you? |
Endings: the following chart lists the endings for Latin nouns.
|
|
1st f. |
2nd m. |
2nd n. |
3rd m./f. |
3rd n. |
4th m. |
4th n. |
5th f. |
|
Singular |
||||||||
|
Nom. |
a |
us / r |
um |
---* |
---* |
us |
ū |
es |
|
Gen. |
ae |
ī |
ī |
is |
is |
ūs |
ūs |
eī |
|
Dat. |
ae |
ō |
ō |
ī |
ī |
uī |
ū |
eī |
|
Acc. |
am |
um |
um |
em |
---* |
um |
ū |
em |
|
Abl. |
ā |
ō |
ō |
e |
e |
ū |
ū |
e |
|
Plural |
||||||||
|
Nom. |
ae |
ī |
a |
ēs |
a |
ūs |
ua |
ēs |
|
Gen. |
ārum |
ōrum |
ōrum |
um |
um |
uum |
uum |
ērum |
|
Dat. |
īs |
īs |
īs |
ibus |
ibus |
ibus |
ibus |
ēbus |
|
Acc. |
ās |
ōs |
a |
ēs |
a |
ūs |
ua |
ēs |
|
Abl. |
īs |
īs |
īs |
ibus |
ibus |
ibus |
ibus |
ēbus |
* The blank indicates that you just use the nominative as it is given in the vocabulary listing.
The vocative case is the same as the nominative, except for 2nd declension masculine words ending in us or ius.
For the second declension:
|
nominative |
→ |
vocative |
|
us |
→ |
e |
|
ius |
→ |
ī |
|
all others |
→ |
same as nominative |
|
Examples: |
|
|
|
servus |
→ |
serve |
|
filius |
→ |
filī |
|
vir |
→ |
vir |
Declining nouns: the stem of a nouns is found by removing the ending from the gentive singular. Then, add the endings from the chart above. Here are some examples.
|
|
1st declension
|
2nd declension masculine |
2nd declension masculine |
|
|
puella -ae f. |
amīcus -ī m. |
puer -ī m. |
|
|
Singular |
||
|
Nominative |
puella |
amicus |
puer |
|
Genitive |
puellae |
amīcī |
puerī |
|
Dative |
puellae |
amīcō |
puerō |
|
Accusative |
puellam |
amīcum |
puerum |
|
Ablative |
puellā |
amīcō |
puerō |
|
Vocative |
puella |
amīce |
puer |
|
|
Plural |
||
|
Nominative |
puellae |
amīcī |
puerī |
|
Genitive |
puellārum |
amīcōrum |
puerōrum |
|
Dative |
puellīs |
amīcīs |
puerīs |
|
Accusative |
puellās |
amīcōs |
puerōs |
|
Ablative |
puellīs |
amīcīs |
puerīs |
|
Vocative |
puellae |
amīcī |
puerī |
|
|
2nd declension neuter |
3rd declension masculine/feminine |
3rd declension neuter |
|
|
donum -ī n. |
pater -tris m. |
corpus -oris n. |
|
|
Singluar |
||
|
Nominative |
donum |
pater |
corpus |
|
Genitive |
donī |
patris |
corporis |
|
Dative |
donō |
patrī |
corporī |
|
Accusative |
donum |
patrem |
corpus |
|
Ablative |
donō |
patre |
corpore |
|
Vocative |
donum |
pater |
corpus |
|
|
Plural |
||
|
Nominative |
dona |
patrēs |
corpora |
|
Genitive |
donōrum |
patrum |
corporum |
|
Dative |
donīs |
patribus |
corporibus |
|
Accusative |
dona |
patrēs |
corpora |
|
Ablative |
donīs |
patribus |
corporibus |
|
Vocative |
dona |
patrēs |
corpora |
|
|
4th declension masculine |
4th declension neuter |
5th declension
|
|
|
arcus ūs m. |
cornū ūs n. |
diēs -eī m/f |
|
|
Singluar |
||
|
Nominative |
arcus |
cornū |
diēs |
|
Genitive |
arcūs |
cornūs |
dieī |
|
Dative |
arcuī |
cornū |
dieī |
|
Accusative |
arcum |
cornū |
diem |
|
Ablative |
arcū |
cornū |
die |
|
Vocative |
arcus |
cornū |
diēs |
|
|
Plural |
||
|
Nominative |
arcūs |
cornua |
diēs |
|
Genitive |
arcuum |
cornuum |
diērum |
|
Dative |
arcibus |
cornibus |
diēbus |
|
Accusative |
arcūs |
cornua |
diēs |
|
Ablative |
arcibus |
cornibus |
diēbus |
|
Vocative |
arcūs |
cornua |
diēs |
Adjectives decline like nouns. There are two types of adjectives.
First and second declension adjectives
These adjectives have end in -us, -a, -um or -r, -a, -um. The follow the first declension in their feminine form and the second declension in their masculine and neuter forms.
|
|
Masculine |
Feminine |
Neuter |
|
|
|
Singular |
|
|
Nominative |
bonus |
bona |
bonum |
|
Genitive |
bonī |
bonae |
bonī |
|
Dative |
bonō |
bonae |
bonō |
|
Accusative |
bonum |
bonam |
bonum |
|
Ablative |
bonō |
bonā |
bonō |
|
Vocative |
bone |
bona |
bonum |
|
|
|
Plural |
|
|
Nominative |
bonī |
bonae |
bona |
|
Genitive |
bonōrum |
bonārum |
bonōrum |
|
Dative |
bonīs |
bonīs |
bonīs |
|
Accusative |
bonōs |
bonās |
bona |
|
Ablative |
bonīs |
bonīs |
bonis |
|
Vocative |
bonī |
bonae |
bona |
Third declension adjectives
Third declension adjectives have three different kinds of vocabulary listings. The first listing is three words, and these words are the nominatives of the three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter). The stem is found by removing is from the feminine.
celer celeris celere – swift, fast
celer: masculine nominative singular
celeris: feminine nominative singular stem: celer
celere: neuter nominative singular
The second type of listing has two words. The first is the masculine and feminine nominative singular, and the second is the neuter nominative singular. The stem is found by removing is from the feminine.
similis simile – like
similis: masculine/feminine nominative singular stem: simil
simile: neuter nominative singular
The third type of listing also has two words. The first is the nominative singular for all three genders, and the second is the genitive singular for all three genders. The stem is found by removing is from the genitive. You can tell the difference between this kind and the previous kind because the second word in the listing ends in -is, where in the version above it will end in –e.
ingēns ingentis – huge
ingēns: masculine/feminine/neuter nominative singular
ingentis: – masculine/feminine/neuter genitive singular stem: ingent
These adjectives follow the third declension, except in the following cases:
|
case |
regular third |
→ |
adjective third |
|
Abl. sing. |
e |
→ |
ī |
|
Gen. pl. |
um |
→ |
ium |
|
Nom/Acc pl. (neuter only) |
a |
→ |
ia |
(Note: some nouns also follow this pattern. These are called i-stem nouns.)
|
|
Masculine |
Feminine |
Neuter |
|
|
|
Singular |
|
|
Nominative |
celer |
celeris |
celere |
|
Genitive |
celeris |
celeris |
celeris |
|
Dative |
celerī |
celerī |
celerī |
|
Accusative |
celerem |
celerem |
celere |
|
Ablative |
celerī |
celerī |
celerī |
|
Vocative |
celer |
celeris |
celere |
|
|
|
Plural |
|
|
Nominative |
celerēs |
celerēs |
celeria |
|
Genitive |
celerium |
celerium |
celerium |
|
Dative |
celeribus |
celeribus |
celeribus |
|
Accusative |
celerēs |
celerēs |
celeria |
|
Ablative |
celeribus |
celeribus |
celeribus |
|
Vocative |
celerēs |
celerēs |
celerēs |
There are no adjectives in the fourth or fifth declensions.
Noun-adjective agreement: an adjective agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. This does not mean that they will have matching endings, although sometimes they will.
Substantives: An adjective can sometimes be used in place of a noun. In English, this sometimes means that the translator (you!) must supply a noun.
Omnēs laetī sunt. All are happy. Omnia bona sunt. All things are good.
All the people are happy. Everything is good.
Everyone is happy.
Comparison of adjectives: adjectives can have three degrees, called the positive, comparative, and superlative.
Positive Comparative Superlative
big bigger, rather big biggest, very big
good better, rather good best, very good
|
positive |
stem (from feminine) |
comparative (stem + ior) |
superlative (stem + issimus) |
|
altus, alta, altum high, deep |
alt |
altior, altius deeper, higher |
altissimus -a -um deepest, highest |
|
īrātus, īrāta, īrātum angry |
īrāt |
īrātior, īrātius angrier |
īrātissimus -a -um angriest, very angry |
|
audax, audacis bold |
audac |
audacior, audacius bolder |
audacissimus -a -um boldest, very bold |
If the adjective ends in -er, the superlative ends in -errimus
|
positive |
stem (from feminine) |
comparative (stem + ior) |
superlative (masculine + -rimus) |
|
pulcher -a -um beautiful |
pulch |
pulchrior, pulchrius more beautiful |
pulcherrimus -a -um most beautiful |
|
acer, acris, acre sharp |
acr |
acrior, acrius sharper |
acerrimus -a -um sharpest |
There are also six words – facilis (easy), difficilis (difficult), similis (like), dissimilis (unlike), gracilis (slender), humilis (lowly, humble) – that end in -illimus instead of -issimus in the superlative. Their superlatives are facillimus, difficillimus, simillimus, dissimilimus, gracillimus, and humillimus.
There are also several adjectives that have irregular comparatives and superlatives. The most common of these are:
|
positive |
comparative |
superlative |
|
bonus good |
melior better |
optimus best |
|
malus bad |
pēior worse |
pessimus worst |
|
māgnus great |
māior greater |
maximus greatest |
|
parvus small |
minor less |
minimus least |
|
multus much |
plus more |
plūrimus most |
|
multī many |
plūrēs more |
plūrimī most |
Personal pronouns:
|
|
1st person (I, we) |
2nd person (you, y'all) |
|
|
Singular |
|
|
Nom. |
ego |
tū |
|
Gen. |
meī* |
tuī* |
|
Dat. |
mīhi |
tībi |
|
Acc. |
mē |
tē |
|
Abl. |
mē |
tē |
|
|
Plural |
|
|
Nom. |
nōs |
vōs |
|
Gen. |
nōstrum, nostrī* |
vestrum, vestrī* |
|
Dat. |
nōbis |
vōbis |
|
Acc. |
nōs |
vōs |
|
Abl |
nōbis |
vōbis |
* The genitives of these are rarely used; the adjectives meus, tuus, noster, and vester are used to show possession.
3rd person (he, she, it, they)
|
|
m. |
f. |
n. |
|
|
Singular |
||
|
Nom |
is |
ea |
id |
|
Gen |
eius |
eius |
eius |
|
Dat |
eī |
eī |
eī |
|
Acc |
eum |
eam |
id |
|
Abl |
eō |
eā |
eō |
|
|
Plural |
||
|
Nom |
eī |
eae |
ea |
|
Gen |
eōrum |
eārum |
eōrum |
|
Dat |
eīs |
eīs |
eīs |
|
Acc |
eōs |
eās |
ea |
|
Abl |
eīs |
eīs |
eīs |
Demonstrative pronouns
ille – that, those
|
|
m. |
f. |
n. |
|
|
Singular |
||
|
Nom |
ille |
illa |
illud |
|
Gen |
illius |
illius |
illius |
|
Dat |
illī |
illī |
illī |
|
Acc |
illum |
illam |
illud |
|
Abl |
illō |
illā |
illō |
|
|
Plural |
||
|
Nom |
illī |
illae |
illa |
|
Gen |
illōrum |
illārum |
illōrum |
|
Dat |
illīs |
illīs |
illīs |
|
Acc |
illōs |
illās |
illa |
|
Abl |
illīs |
illīs |
illīs |
hic – this, these
|
|
m. |
f. |
n. |
|
|
Singular |
||
|
Nom |
hic |
haec |
hoc |
|
Gen |
huius |
huius |
huius |
|
Dat |
huīc |
huīc |
huīc |
|
Acc |
hunc |
hanc |
hoc |
|
Abl |
hōc |
hāc |
hōc |
|
|
Plural |
||
|
Nom |
hī |
hae |
haec |
|
Gen |
hōrum |
hārum |
hōrum |
|
Dat |
hīs |
hīs |
hīs |
|
Acc |
hōs |
hās |
haec |
|
Abl |
hīs |
hīs |
hīs |
Relative pronoun
quī, quae, quod – who, which
|
|
m. |
f. |
n. |
|
|
Singular |
||
|
Nom |
quī |
quae |
quod |
|
Gen |
cuius |
cuius |
cuius |
|
Dat |
cuī |
cuī |
cuī |
|
Acc |
quem |
quam |
quod |
|
Abl |
quō |
quā |
quō |
|
|
Plural |
||
|
Nom |
quī |
quae |
quae |
|
Gen |
quōrum |
quārum |
quōrum |
|
Dat |
quibus |
quibus |
quibus |
|
Acc |
quōs |
quās |
quae |
|
Abl |
quibus |
quibus |
quibus |
Conjugations: we can tell what conjugation a verb belongs to by looking at the ending of the 2nd principle part.
āre – 1st ēre – 2nd ere – 3rd īre – 4th
Present stem: used to form the present, imperfect, and future tenses.
1st and 2nd conjugations: 2nd principle part minus re
3rd and 4th conjugations: 1st principle part minus ō
Perfect stem: used to form the perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect tenses.
All conjugations: 3rd principle part minus ī
Personal endings:
|
|
Singular |
Plural |
|
1st Person |
ō (I) |
mus (we) |
|
2nd Person |
s (you) |
tis (y’all) |
|
3rd Person |
t (he/she/it) |
nt (they) |
Perfect personal endings (used for perfect tense only):
|
|
Singular (translation) |
Plural (translation) |
|
1st person |
ī (I) |
imus (we) |
|
2nd person |
istī (you) |
istis (y'all) |
|
3rd person |
it (he, she, it) |
ērunt (they) |
Present tense
Possible translations: I send, I am sending, I do send
1st and 2nd conjugation: stem + ending
3rd and 4th conjugation: stem + o, i, or u (fishhook) + ending
|
|
1st conj. |
2nd conj. |
3rd conj. |
3rd conj. |
4th conj. |
|
|
amō -āre |
doceō -ēre |
mittō -ere |
faciō -ere |
audiō -īre |
|
stem: |
amā |
docē |
mitt |
faci |
audi |
|
|
Singular |
|
|||
|
1st |
amō |
doceō |
mittō |
faciō |
audiō |
|
2nd |
amās |
docēs |
mittis |
facis |
audis |
|
3rd |
amat |
docet |
mittit |
facit |
audit |
|
|
Plural |
|
|||
|
1st |
amāmus |
docēmus |
mittimus |
facimus |
audimus |
|
2nd |
amātis |
docētis |
mittitis |
facitis |
auditis |
|
3rd |
amant |
docent |
mittunt |
faciunt |
audiunt |
Imperfect tense
Possible translations: I was sending, I used to send, I sent (rarely)
1st and 2nd conjugation: stem + ba + ending
3rd and 4th conjugation: stem + ēba + endings
|
|
1st conj. |
2nd conj. |
3rd conj. |
3rd conj. |
4th conj. |
|
|
amō -āre |
doceō -ēre |
mittō -ere |
faciō -ere |
audiō -īre |
|
stem: |
amā |
docē |
mitt |
faci |
audi |
|
|
Singular |
||||
|
1st |
amābam |
docebam |
mittēbam |
faciēbam |
audiēbam |
|
2nd |
amābas |
docēbas |
mittēbas |
faciēbas |
audiēbas |
|
3rd |
amābat |
docēbat |
mittēbat |
faciēbat |
audiēbat |
|
|
Plural |
||||
|
1st |
amābamus |
docēbamus |
mittēbamus |
faciēbamus |
audiēbamus |
|
2nd |
amābatis |
docēbatis |
mittēbatis |
faciēbatis |
audiēbatis |
|
3rd |
amābant |
docēbant |
mittēbant |
faciēbant |
audiēbant |
Future tense
Possible translations: I will send
1st and 2nd conjugation: stem + bō, bi, or bu (b plus fishhook) + ending
3rd and 4th conjugation: stem + a or e + endings
|
|
1st conj. |
2nd conj. |
3rd conj. |
3rd conj. |
4th conj. |
|
|
amō -āre |
doceō -ēre |
mittō -ere |
faciō -ere |
audiō -īre |
|
stem: |
amā |
docē |
mitt |
faci |
audi |
|
|
Singular |
||||
|
1st |
amābō |
docebō |
mittam |
faciam |
audiam |
|
2nd |
amābis |
docēbis |
mittēs |
faciēs |
audiēs |
|
3rd |
amābit |
docēbit |
mittet |
faciet |
audiet |
|
|
Plural |
||||
|
1st |
amābimus |
docēbimus |
mittēmus |
faciēmus |
audiēmus |
|
2nd |
amābitis |
docēbitis |
mittētis |
faciētis |
audiētis |
|
3rd |
amābunt |
docēbunt |
mittent |
facient |
audient |
Perfect tense
Possible translations: I sent, I have sent
perfect stem + endings (same for all conjugations and even irregular verbs)
Examples:
|
|
1st conj. |
2nd conj. |
3rd conj. |
3rd conj. |
4th conj. |
|
|
amō -āre -āvī |
doceō -ēre -uī |
mittō -ere misī |
faciō -ere fēcī |
audiō -īre -īvī |
|
stem: |
amāv |
docu |
mis |
fēc |
audīv |
|
|
Singular |
||||
|
1st |
amavī |
docuī |
misī |
fēcī |
audīvī |
|
2nd |
amavistī |
docuistī |
misistī |
fēcistī |
audīvistī |
|
3rd |
amavit |
docuit |
misit |
fēcit |
audīvit |
|
|
Plural |
||||
|
1st |
amavimus |
docuimus |
misimus |
fēcimus |
audīvimus |
|
2nd |
amavistis |
docuistis |
misistis |
fēcistis |
audīvistis |
|
3rd |
amavērunt |
docuērunt |
misērunt |
fēcērunt |
audīvērunt |
Pluperfect tense
Possible translations: I had sent
perfect stem + era + endings (same for all conjugations and even irregular verbs)
Examples:
|
|
1st conj. |
2nd conj. |
3rd conj. |
3rd conj. |
4th conj. |
|
|
amō -āre -āvī |
doceō -ēre -uī |
mittō -ere misī |
faciō -ere fēcī |
audiō -īre -īvī |
|
stem: |
amāv |
docu |
mis |
fēc |
audīv |
|
|
Singular |
||||
|
1st |
amaveram |
docueram |
miseram |
fēceram |
audīveram |
|
2nd |
amaverās |
docuerās |
miserās |
fēcerās |
audīverās |
|
3rd |
amaverat |
docuerat |
miserat |
fēcerat |
audīverat |
|
|
Plural |
||||
|
1st |
amaverāmus |
docuerāmus |
miserāmus |
fēcerāmus |
audīverāmus |
|
2nd |
amaverātis |
docuerātis |
miserātis |
fēcerātis |
audīverātis |
|
3rd |
amaverant |
docuerant |
miserant |
fēcerant |
audīverant |
Future perfect tense
Possible translations: I will have sent
perfect stem + er, eri + endings
Examples:
|
|
1st conj. |
2nd conj. |
3rd conj. |
3rd conj. |
4th conj. |
|
|
amō -āre -āvī |
doceō -ēre -uī |
mittō -ere misī |
faciō -ere fēcī |
audiō -īre -īvī |
|
stem: |
amāv |
docu |
mis |
fēc |
audīv |
|
|
Singular |
||||
|
1st |
amaverō |
docuerō |
miserō |
fēcerō |
audīverō |
|
2nd |
amaveris |
docueris |
miseris |
fēceris |
audīveris |
|
3rd |
amaverit |
docuerit |
miserit |
fēcerit |
audīverit |
|
|
Plural |
||||
|
1st |
amaverimus |
docuerimus |
miserimus |
fēcerimus |
audīverimus |
|
2nd |
amaveritis |
docueritis |
miseritis |
fēceritis |
audīveritis |
|
3rd |
amaverint |
docuerint |
miserint |
fēcerint |
audīverint |
Irregular verbs
The most important irregular verb is sum, esse (“to be”). Also important is its compound possum, posse (“to be able”). These are irregular in the present, imperfect, and future. The perfect, pluperfect, and future perfect are regular.
|
|
Present ("I am") |
Imperfect ("I was") |
Future ("I will be") |
|
|
|
Singular |
|
|
1st |
sum |
eram |
erō |
|
2nd |
es |
erās |
eris |
|
3rd |
est |
erat |
erit |
|
|
|
Plural |
|
|
1st |
sumus |
erāmus |
erimus |
|
2nd |
estis |
erātis |
eritis |
|
3rd |
sunt |
erant |
erunt |
|
|
Present ("I am able") |
Imperfect ("I was able") |
Future ("I will be able") |
|
|
|
Singular |
|
|
1st |
possum |
poteram |
poterō |
|
2nd |
potes |
poterās |
poteris |
|
3rd |
potest |
poterat |
poterit |
|
|
|
Plural |
|
|
1st |
possumus |
poterāmus |
poterimus |
|
2nd |
potestis |
poterātis |
poteritis |
|
3rd |
possunt |
poterant |
poterint |
Other important irregular verbs:
|
Present Tense |
|
|
|
|
|
ferō, ferre |
volō, velle |
eō, īre |
|
|
“bear, carry, bring” |
“want, wish” |
“go” |
|
|
|
Singular |
|
|
1st |
ferō = I bring |
volō = I want |
eō = I go |
|
2nd |
fers = you bring |
vis = you want |
is = you go |
|
3rd |
fert = he/she/it brings |
vult = he/she/it wants |
it = he/she/it goes |
|
|
|
Plural |
|
|
1st |
ferimus = we bring |
volumus = we want |
imus = we go |
|
2nd |
fertis = y'all bring |
vultis = y'all want |
itis = y'all go |
|
3rd |
ferunt = they bring |
volunt = they want |
eunt = they go |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Imperfect |
ferēbam, etc. |
volēbam, etc. |
ībam, etc. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Future |
feram, etc. (like third conjugation) |
volam, etc. (like third conjugation) |
ībō, etc. (like first conjugation) |
No verbs are irregular in the perfect, pluperfect, or future perfect.