Chapter 1/Lesson 6-Pronouns

Personal Pronouns in English

Pronouns are nouns which are used instead of another noun ('pro', in place of 'noun', noun.)

There are three catagories of pronouns which are divided up into persons: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

• 1st person refers to the person speaking, I, we. • 2nd person refers to the person addressed, thou, ye (you and you all). • 3rd person is for everything else (he, she, it, they (insert any noun here).

In addition, pronouns can be singular or plural. They are declined like all other nouns.

• I is 1st person singular (only me), we is 1st person plural (me and others). • Thou/you is 2nd person singular (only thee), ye/ you all is 2nd person plural (you and others). • He, she, it is 3rd person singular (he/she/it is one), (they are many).

Personal Pronouns in Latin

1st/2nd Person Pronouns

[edit] Table of Personal Pronouns in all of their cases: I, thou, we, ye

Note: Thou is the archaic singular of the archaic plural ye - useful for distinguishing
you (singular) from you (plural)
          

	Singular				Plural
Case	1st Person		2nd Person		1st Person		2nd Person
Nominative	ego	I	tū	you	nōs	we	vōs	you
Genitive	meī	of me	tuī	of you	nostrī(nostrum)	of us	vestrī (vestrum)	of you
Dative	mihi	to me	tibi	to you	nōbīs	to us	vōbīs	to you
Accusative	mē	me	tē	you	nōs	us	vōs	you
Ablative	mē	from me	tē	from you	nōbīs	from us	vōbīs	from you

Nota Bene: the genitive is used in certain phrases like:

1. memor nostrī, mindful of us
2. paucī vestrum, a few of you.

For the possessive uses (my sister, your bicycle), Latin does not use the genitive, but the possessive adjectives:

meus, mea, meum = my;

tuus, tua, tuum = thy;

suus, sua, sum = his/hers/its/their;

noster, nostra, nostrum = our;

vester, vestra, vestrum = your

Example: Pater noster = Our Father

3rd Person Pronouns

Technically 3rd person pronouns do not exist in Latin as they do in English. However they do have equivalents.

Adjectives modify nouns and take the gender of the noun in which it modifies. However adjectives do not necessarily need a substantive present in the sentence to modify. The substantive can be presumed. In this way, '3rd person' pronouns are formed.

Example 1

Take the masculine form of the adjective 'ille'. Literally it means 'That (masculine) thing.' However one could take it for simply meaning 'he', depending on the context. Similarly, the pronoun 'iste' means 'this (masc.) thing'. Iste and ille are declined in exactly the same way.

If no substantive is provided assume words like these: 'man', 'woman', 'thing', 'idea', 'concept', 'reason' etc. Let context be your guide.

Common Adjectives Used as 3rd Person Pronouns In Latin

Declension of Ille (that)

Declension of ille (that): Singular

	Latin			English
	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	ille	illa	illud	he	she	it
Genitive	illīus	illīus	illīus	his	her, hers	its
Dative	illī	illī	illī	to him	to her	to it
Accusative	illum	illam	illud	him	her	it
Ablative	illō	illā	illō	by, with, from him	her	it

Declension of ille (that): Plural

	Latin			English
	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	illī	illae	illa	they, those
Genitive	illōrum	illārum	illōrum	their, theirs, of those
Dative	illīs	illīs	illīs	to them, to those
Accusative	illōs	illās	illa	them, those
Ablative	illīs	illis	illīs	by, with, from them, those

Ille is often used as a kind of pronoun.

Examples of the Usage of Ille:

1. ille est dominus - he is the master (ille as pronoun)
2. ille dominus est malus - that master is bad (ille as adjective)
3. illam videt - he sees her (or 'she sees her' - illam as pronoun)
4. illam puellam videt - he (or she) sees that girl (illam as adjective).

Declension of Is, ea, id: (personal pronouns w/ translations)

            M:       F:       N:
Nominative is       ea       id        he        she        it

Genitive   eius     eius     eius      his       her, hers  its
Dative     eī       eī       eī        to him    to her     to it
Accusative eum      eam      id        him       her        it
Ablative   eō       eā       eō        by, with, from him, her, it.

Nominative ei       eae      ea        they, those

Genitive   eōrum    eārum    eōrum     their, theirs, of those
Dative     eīs,iīs  eīs,iīs  eīs,iīs   to them, to those
Accusative eos      eās      ea        them, those
Ablative   eīs,iīs  eīs,iīs  eīs,iīs   by, with, from them, those

Like ille, is can be used as a form of a pronoun.

Examples of the Usage of Is

1. is est dominus - he is the master (is as pronoun)
2. is dominus est malus - that master is bad (is as adjective)
3. eam videt - he sees her (or 'she sees her' - eam as pronoun)
4. eam puellam videt - he (or she) sees that girl (eam as adjective).

Declension of the Relative pronoun qui, quae, quod: (meaning who, which, he)

            M:       F:       N:
Nominative quī      quae     quod     who       who        which
Genitive   cuīus    cuīus    cuīus    whose
Dative     cuī      cuī      cuī      to whom   to whom    to which
Accusative quem     quam     quod     whom      whom       which
Ablative   quō      quā      quō      by, with, from whom, which.

Nominative qui      quae     quae      who       who        which
Genitive   quorum   quarum   quorum   whose
Dative     quibus   quibus   quibus     to whom, to which
Accusative quos     quas     quos  whom      whom       which
Ablative   quibus   quibus   quibus   by, with, from whom, which

Notice that the same forms are used to ask a question, with the following exceptions:

            M:       F:       N:
Nominative quis     quis     quid     who       which      what
Accusative quem     quam     quid     whom      which      what

Uses of the Relative Pronoun

The relative pronoun takes on the case depending on the function it serves in the relative clause. For example, in the sentence "He sees the man who has a slave," "who" is translated as nominative because it is the subject of the clause "who has a slave." The antecedent (noun to which the pronoun refers) is usually before the relative clause.

Examples of the Usage of the Relative Pronoun

1. Virum videt (he/she sees) qui servum (servant) habet (he/she has).

   He sees the man who has a slave

2. Ille est vir cujus servus est malus.

   That's the man whose slave is bad.

3. Quis eum videt?

   Who sees him?

Declension of hic, haec, hoc (meaning this)

Singular

            M:       F:       N:
Nominative hic      haec     hoc       this
Genitive   huius    huius    huius   
Dative     huic     huic     huic
Accusative hunc     hanc     hoc            
Ablative   hōc      hāc      hōc      

Plural

Nominative hī       hae      haec      these
Genitive   hōrum    hārum    hōrum   
Dative     hīs      hīs      hīs
Accusative hōs      hās      haec              
Ablative   hīs      hīs      hīs     

N.B. Hic as an adverb means 'here'. N.B. Hic can also be used as a pronoun.

Example of the Usage of Hic

hic servus, non ille, est malus: This slave, not that one, is bad.

Exercises

Give a suitable LATIN translation for the following:

1. To him
2. To her
3. For her
4. For him
5. To it
6. I
7. You
8. Ye
9. of You
10. of him
11. We
12. Thou
13. of thee
14. in him
15. in her

Give a suitable ENGLISH translation for the following:

1. meus
2. meī
3. ille
4. illud
5. huic
6. hī
7. hoc
8. nōs
9. nostrī
10. vōs
11. vestrum

Retrieved from "http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Latin/Lesson_6-Pronouns"

Subject: Latin

Lessons in this series:

• Chapter 1/Lesson 1-Nominative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 2-Adjectives
• Chapter 1/Lesson 3-Present Verbs
• Chapter 1/Lesson 4-Adverbs and Prepositions
• Chapter 1/Lesson 5-Accusative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 6-Pronouns
  

Chapter 1/Lesson 5-Accusative

Noun declension tables

	1st declension		2nd declension
	Feminine		Masculine		Masculine		Masculine		Neuter
	SINGULAR	PLURAL	SINGULAR	PLURAL	SINGULAR	PLURAL	SINGULAR	PLURAL	SINGULAR	PLURAL
nominative	puell-a	puell-ae	serv-us	serv-ī	puer	puer-ī	ager	agr-ī	bell-um	bell-a
accusative	puell-am	puell-ās	serv-um	serv-ōs	puer-um	puer-ōs	agr-um	agr-ōs	bell-um	bell-a
			Nota Bene: Puer uses the same suffixes as all other 2nd declension masculine nouns, except it omits the -us suffix in the nominative. Ager, a second declension noun meaning 'field' has no suffix in the nominative like puer, and in addition drops the 'e' when in other cases other than the nominative (see table) Memorise this extended table.

Exercises

Give the accusative singular for:

1. lud-us
2. magn-us
3. triclīni-um
4. bell-um
5. puell-a
6. serv-us
7. ager

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Give the accusative singular.▲

1. ludum
2. magnum
3. triclīnium
4. bellum
5. puellam
6. servum
7. agrum

Give the accusative singular for:

1. lud-us
   
   
   
   
2. magn-us
   
   
   
   
3. triclīni-um
   
   
   
   
4. bell-um
   
   
   
   
5. puell-a
   
   
   
   
6. serv-us
   
   
   
   
7. ager
   
   
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Give the accusative singular.▼

1. ludum
   
   
   
   
2. magnum
   
   
   
   
3. triclīnium
   
   
   
   
4. bellum
   
   
   
   
5. puellam
   
   
   
   
6. servum
   
   
   
   
7. agrum
   
   
   
   

Give the accusative plural for:

1. lud-us
2. magn-us
3. triclīni-um
4. bell-um
5. puell-a
6. serv-us
7. ager

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Give the accusative plural.▲

1. ludos
2. magnos
3. triclīnia
4. bella
5. puellas
6. servos
7. agros

Give the accusative plural for:

1. lud-us
   
   
   
   
2. magn-us
   
   
   
   
3. triclīni-um
   
   
   
   
4. bell-um
   
   
   
   
5. puell-a
   
   
   
   
6. serv-us
   
   
   
   
7. ager
   
   
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Give the accusative plural.▼

1. ludos
   
   
   
   
2. magnos
   
   
   
   
3. triclīnia
   
   
   
   
4. bella
   
   
   
   
5. puellas
   
   
   
   
6. servos
   
   
   
   
7. agros
   
   
   
   

Give the nominative singular for:

1. bon-ī
2. bell-a
3. triclīni-a
4. puell-am
5. agr-ōs
6. serv-ōs
7. puell-ae

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Give the nominative singular.▲

1. bonus
2. bellum
3. triclīnium
4. puella
5. ager
6. servus
7. puella

Give the nominative singular for:

1. bon-ī
   
   
   
   
2. bell-a
   
   
   
   
3. triclīni-a
   
   
   
   
4. puell-am
   
   
   
   
5. agr-ōs
   
   
   
   
6. serv-ōs
   
   
   
   
7. puell-ae
   
   
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Give the nominative singular.▼

1. bonus
   
   
   
   
2. bellum
   
   
   
   
3. triclīnium
   
   
   
   
4. puella
   
   
   
   
5. ager
   
   
   
   
6. servus
   
   
   
   
7. puella
   
   
   
   

Grammar: The Accusative

As you learned in the last lesson, the verb 'esse' (to be) usually takes the nominative case, because then the word after it is a complement. Most other verbs take the 'accusative' case.

In a sentence, the accusative is the "what" - in English grammar, this is known as the direct object.

For example: The girl sells the box.

What did the girl sell? The box. Thus, box is the direct object, and when we translate it into Latin:

Example
English:	The girl	sells	the box.
Latin:	Puella	vendet	cistam.
Explanation:	NOMINATIVE	VERB	ACCUSATIVE

Cistam, then, is in the accusative, because it is the direct object.

Again, when an adjective describes a noun in the accusative case, the adjective must agree in number, case, and gender.

For example:

Example
English:	The girl	sells	the big	box.
Latin:	Puella	vendet	magnam	cistam.
Explanation:	NOMINATIVE	VERB	ADJECTIVE ACCUSATIVE	NOUN ACCUSATIVE

Examples of Adjectives Agreeing with the Nominative and Accusative Case

Abbreviations: NOM = nominative, ACC = accusative, S = singular, P = plural, m. = masculine, f. = feminine

Latin	English	Summary
bon-us lūd-us	The good school	(NOM S m.)
bon-um lūd-um	The good school	(ACC S m.)
bon-ī lūd-ī	The good schools	(NOM P m.)
bon-ōs lūd-ōs	The good schools	(ACC P m.)
bon-us puer	The good boy	(NOM S m.)
bon-ī puer-ī	The good boys	(NOM P m.)
bon-ōs puer-ōs	The good boys	(ACC P m.)
bon-um puer-um	The good boy	(ACC S m.)
bon-a puell-a	The good girl	(NOM S f.)
bon-am puell-am	The good girl	(ACC S f.)
bon-ae puell-ae	The good girls	(NOM P f.)
bon-ās puell-ās	The good girls	(ACC P f.)

Exercise 3

Determine whether the adjective agrees with the substantive in all three categories: case, gender, number.

Questions:	Does it Agree?
1. magn-us agr-ōs	True/False
2. magn-a puella	True/False
3. poet-a* bon-us	True/False
4. magn-um serv-um	True/False
5. poet-ae* magn-ae	True/False
6. bell-a magn-a	True/False

* Nota bene: Poeta (meaning poet) is a masculine noun, even though it ends in -a.

See table above. Determine whether the adjective (magnus, bonus..) agrees with the substantives (ager, puella, poeta) in both case (nominative, accusative...), gender (masculine, female and neuter) and number (singular and plural).

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Answer▲

1. False. Magnus doesn't agree with agrōs; in number and case.

   Magnus: Masculine, singular, nominative.

   Agrōs: Masculine, plural, accusative.

2. True. Magna agrees with puella.

   Magna: Feminine, singular, nominative.

   Puella: Feminine, singular, nominative.

3. True. Bonus agrees with poeta.

   Bonus: Masculine, singular, nominative.

   Poeta: Masculine, singular, nominative.

4. True. Magnum agrees with servum.

   Magnum: Neuter, singular, nominative.

   Servum: Neuter, singular, nominative.

5. False. Magnae doesn't agree with poetae; in gender.

   Magnae: Feminine, plural, nominative.

   Poetae: Masculine, plural, nominative.

6. True. Bella agrees with magna.

   Bella: Neuter, plural, nominative.

   Magna: Neuter, plural, nominative.

See table above. Determine whether the adjective (magnus, bonus..) agrees with the substantives (ager, puella, poeta) in both case (nominative, accusative...), gender (masculine, female and neuter) and number (singular and plural).

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Answer▼

1. False. Magnus doesn't agree with agrōs; in number and case.

   Magnus: Masculine, singular, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   Agrōs: Masculine, plural, accusative.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
2. True. Magna agrees with puella.

   Magna: Feminine, singular, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   Puella: Feminine, singular, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
3. True. Bonus agrees with poeta.

   Bonus: Masculine, singular, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   Poeta: Masculine, singular, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
4. True. Magnum agrees with servum.

   Magnum: Neuter, singular, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   Servum: Neuter, singular, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
5. False. Magnae doesn't agree with poetae; in gender.

   Magnae: Feminine, plural, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   Poetae: Masculine, plural, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
6. True. Bella agrees with magna.

   Bella: Neuter, plural, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   Magna: Neuter, plural, nominative.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   

Grammar: The Use of the Accusative

Lesson Vocabulary
Latin	English
puell-a f.	girl
puer m.	boy
bell-um n. (2nd decl.)	war
(puer) ama-t	(the boy) loves
(puer) curri-t	(the boy) runs
(puer) porta-t	(the boy) carries
(puer) specta-t	(the boy) watches
(puer) da-t	(the boy) gives
fuisse fuī fuistī (puer) fuit fuimus fuistis fuērunt	to have been I have been you have been (the boy) has been we have been you (pl.) have been they have been
Nota Bene: 'fuisse' and all the forms of it, the past tense of 'esse', behaves exactly like the present tense.

The newly introduced verbs, ama-t, curri-t, and porta-t take the accusative as the 'object'. Unless specified, any verb you look up in the dictionary will take the accusative, not the nominative. This means transitive verbs, which are verbs that happen to someone or something, e.g.:

I heal you. (acc.)
You make my day. (acc.)
She hit your arm. (acc.)

In the examples above, the bold words are the subject of the sentence clause- and because something happens "to" them, they can't be in nominative.

Grammatical Explanation Using English Sentences

Grammatical Explanation 1
English:	The boy	hits	the car.
Explanation:	NOMINATIVE	VERB	ACCUSATIVE

Grammatical Explanation 2
English:	The girl	hugs	the boy.
Explanation:	NOMINATIVE	VERB	ACCUSATIVE

Grammatical Explanation 3
English:	He who	flees,	deserves	the guillotine.
Explanation:	NOMINATIVE	VERB	VERB	ACCUSATIVE

Exercise 4: Find the Nominative and Accusative

Find the Nominative and Accusative (if present) in each the sentence.

1. The boy is good.
2. The girl kisses the boy.
3. The boy gives the book.
4. The child watches the TV.
5. Whom it concerns.
6. To the kitchen I run
7. I eat the pizza.

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Find the Nominative and Accusative (if present) in each the sentence.▲

1. The boy {nom} is good {nom}.

   Puer {nom} est bonus {nom}.

2. The girl {nom} kisses the boy {acc}.

   Puella {nom} puerum {acc} basiat.

3. The boy {nom} gives the book {acc}.

   Puer {nom} librum {acc} dat.

4. The child {nom} watches the TV {acc}.

   Infans {nom} televisorium {acc} videt.

5. Whom {acc} it {nom} concerns.

   ???

6. To the kitchen {acc} I {nom} run.

   Ad culinam {acc} [ego {nom}] curro.

7. I {nom} eat the pizza {acc}.

   Pittam {acc} [ego {nom}] edo.

Find the Nominative and Accusative (if present) in each the sentence.

1. The boy is good.
   
   
   
   
2. The girl kisses the boy.
   
   
   
   
3. The boy gives the book.
   
   
   
   
4. The child watches the TV.
   
   
   
   
5. Whom it concerns.
   
   
   
   
6. To the kitchen I run
   
   
   
   
7. I eat the pizza.
   
   
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • Find the Nominative and Accusative (if present) in each the sentence.▼

1. The boy {nom} is good {nom}.

   Puer {nom} est bonus {nom}.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
2. The girl {nom} kisses the boy {acc}.

   Puella {nom} puerum {acc} basiat.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
3. The boy {nom} gives the book {acc}.

   Puer {nom} librum {acc} dat.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
4. The child {nom} watches the TV {acc}.

   Infans {nom} televisorium {acc} videt.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
5. Whom {acc} it {nom} concerns.

   ???
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
6. To the kitchen {acc} I {nom} run.

   Ad culinam {acc} [ego {nom}] curro.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
7. I {nom} eat the pizza {acc}.

   Pittam {acc} [ego {nom}] edo.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   

In the following sentences, identify the accusative and nominative. Then translate.

1. Puer est bonus.
2. Puella puerum amat..
3. Puer cistam portat.
4. Fīlius virum spectat.
5. Ad culīnam currit.

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • In the following sentences, identify the accusative and nominative. Then translate.▲

1. Puer {nom} est bonus {nom}.

   The boy {nom} is good {nom}.

2. Puella {nom} puerum {acc} amat.

   The girl {nom} loves the boy {acc}.

3. Puer {nom} cistam {acc} portat.

   The boy {nom} carries the box {acc}.

4. Fīlius {nom} virum {acc} spectat.

   The son {nom} watched the husband {acc}.

5. Ad culīnam {acc} currit.

   To the kitchen {acc} [he {nom}] runs.

In the following sentences, identify the accusative and nominative. Then translate.

1. Puer est bonus.
   
   
   
   
2. Puella puerum amat..
   
   
   
   
3. Puer cistam portat.
   
   
   
   
4. Fīlius virum spectat.
   
   
   
   
5. Ad culīnam currit.
   
   
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 5-Accusative • In the following sentences, identify the accusative and nominative. Then translate.▼

1. Puer {nom} est bonus {nom}.

   The boy {nom} is good {nom}.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
2. Puella {nom} puerum {acc} amat.

   The girl {nom} loves the boy {acc}.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
3. Puer {nom} cistam {acc} portat.

   The boy {nom} carries the box {acc}.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
4. Fīlius {nom} virum {acc} spectat.

   The son {nom} watched the husband {acc}.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
5. Ad culīnam {acc} currit.

   To the kitchen {acc} [he {nom}] runs.
   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   

Lessons in this series:

• Chapter 1/Lesson 1-Nominative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 2-Adjectives
• Chapter 1/Lesson 3-Present Verbs
• Chapter 1/Lesson 4-Adverbs and Prepositions
• Chapter 1/Lesson 5-Accusative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 6-Pronouns
  

Retrieved from "http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Latin/Lesson_5-Accusative"

Subject: Latin

Chapter 1/Lesson 4-Adverbs and Prepositions

From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection

Comparatives, Superlatives, Conjunctions, Prepositions and Adverbs

Comparatives and superlatives of adjectives are formed by appending the suffix -ior (genitive is -ioris) for comparatives and -issimus for superlatives. All comparatives are declined like third declension nouns while superlatives are declined like second declension nouns, and thus must match the gender of the noun the superlative modifies. Often stem changes occur when appending theses suffixes.

Irregular Adjectives

Fortunately, there are only a few irregular adjectives.

Irregular Adjective: bonus
bonus	melior	optimus
good	better	best

Irregular Adjective: malus
malus	peior	pessimus
bad	worse	worst

.

Adverbs

Adverbs are formed usually by replacing the suffix appended to the stem with the -e, or -i and sometimes -um. Adverbs modify the verb in the clause which the adverb is contained in. The adverb may be placed anywhere with the clause. Adverbs may be of positive, comparative and superlative form. Unlike adjectives and substantives, adverbs do not have declension or gender. And thus they are referred to as being 'indeclinable.' Following suffices are appended to form the comparative and superlative forms of adverbs: -ius for comparatives and -issime for superlative.

Example

Adverbs
forte	fortius	fortissime
bravely	more bravely	most bravely

Irregular Adverbs

Many of the irregular adjectives are irregular in their adjectival forms as well.

Irregular Adverb: bene
bene	melior	optime
well	better	best

Irregular Adverb: male
male	peius	pessime
badly	more badly	most badly

There are many other adverbs which do not have comparative or superlative forms.

Review:

1. What is the comparitive adverbial form of sol-us, sol-a, sol-um (alone)?
2. What is the positive adverbial form of laetus? (happy)
3. What is the positive adjectival form of iratior? (angrier)
4. What is the postive adverbial form of certus? (certain)
5. What is the superlative adjectival form of certus?
6. What is the superlative adverbial form of certe?
7. What is the superlative adjectival form of male?
8. What is the superlative adverbial form of malus?
9. What is the comparative adjectival form of desertus? (deserted)

1. Solius
2. Laete
3. Iratus
4. Certe
5. Certissimus,-a,-um
6. Certissime
7. Pessimus,-a,-um
8. Pessime
9. Desertior,-ius

1. What is the comparitive adverbial form of sol-us, sol-a, sol-um (alone)?
   
   
   
2. What is the positive adverbial form of laetus? (happy)
   
   
   
3. What is the positive adjectival form of iratior? (angrier)
   
   
   
4. What is the postive adverbial form of certus? (certain)
   
   
   
5. What is the superlative adjectival form of certus?
   
   
   
6. What is the superlative adverbial form of certe?
   
   
   
7. What is the superlative adjectival form of male?
   
   
   
8. What is the superlative adverbial form of malus?
   
   
   
9. What is the comparative adjectival form of desertus? (deserted)
   
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 4-Adverbs and Prepositions • Answer▼

1. Solius
   
   
   
2. Laete
   
   
   
3. Iratus
   
   
   
4. Certe
   
   
   
5. Certissimus,-a,-um
   
   
   
6. Certissime
   
   
   
7. Pessimus,-a,-um
   
   
   
8. Pessime
   
   
   
9. Desertior,-ius
   
   
   

Conjunctions

Conjunctions are indeclinable particles that join clauses together to form sentences. Examples of forms of conjunctions in English are: and, but and so. Conjunctions are either coordernating (joining two main clauses) or subordinating (joing a subclause to a main clause).

List of Common Conjunctions
Coordinating Conjunctions
atque	and
aut	or
aut...aut^^	either...or
enim (usually placed second in sentence)	for
ergo	and so, therefore
et	and
et...et^	both...and
igitur	therefore
itaque	and so
nam	for
nec/necque	and not, nor
nec/necque...nec/necque^	neither...nor
-que*	and
sed	but
tamen (usually placed second in a sentence	however
Subordinating Conjunctions
cum	when
dum	while, for the time
nisi	unless, except
quamquam	however
quod	because
si	if
ubi	where, when
ut	as/with result clauses: in order to, so, to

Exercise 2

Based upon your reading of that table, how would one translate these sentences?

1. Aut tu es bonus aut tu es malus ergo dic mihi veritatem.
2. Cavete canem quod nec estis fortes nec cum virtute.
3. Et canis et catus sunt laeti creati.
4. In animo habeo ire ad grammaticum hodie sed habeo laborem domi.
5. Ut abacum heri quod calculator non laborabat.

Prepositions

You have met a few prepositions already. Prepositions are indeclinable and genderless. Prepositions are placed before substantives and adjectives. Most prepositions take only the accusative or ablative case. Some prepositions may take both, however their meanings differ depending on the case.

Below is a list of common prepositions that take the accusative case:

ad, ante, circum, contra, extra, in, inter, per, post, prope, propter, super trans.

Below is a list of common prepositions that take the ablative case:

a/ab, cum, de, e/ex, in pro, sine, sub

Exercise 3

1. Using your dictionary, translate the prepositions above, and write them out with the case they take.

Translate the following sentences:

1. eo domum (Latin omits 'ad' with 'domus,' specific city names, and small islands; e.g. Eunt Romam = They go [to] Rome.)
2. cum bona fortuna ero dives!
3. circum agrum est aedificium cum atrio
4. tu non es vir sine animis.
5. familia venit cum amore.
6. matrimonium gemet filios.
7. Res audiebuntur cum dicantur in lingua Latina.

List of Frequent Adverbs, Prepositions, and Conjunctions in Latin

de 'http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/irvinem/classics203/resources/latin.lex'

• atque, ac (conj): and [also], and; atque is used before consonants, ac before vowels,

e.g. pro rege ac patria, ager ac aedificium

• ad modum: adv. very, quite; fully; + neg. = at all
• ad huc/adhuc: thus far, as yet, still, in addition, in the future
• aliquam: in some degree
• aliqui -qua -quod: some, any
• aliquis -qua -quid: someone, something; some, any
• aliquando: at times, sometimes; once, formerly
• aliquotiens: several times, at different times
• at (form of ad = in addition to): but (intro startling transitions)
• atque: and as well, even, together with, in everything;
• atque...atque, both..and
• atqui: rather, however, but at any rate, but for all that (transition in arg.)
• aut: or, at least, or else; aut...aut: either...or
• autem: but, on the other hand, however
• coram: adv. and prep. in the presence of, before
• dehinc: adv. while, from here, from now, henceforth; then, next
• deinde: adv. from there; then, afterwards; secondly, next (in order), in the second (next) place
• demum: adv. at last, finally, not till then; precisely, exactly, just, in fact, certainly, to be sure; modo demum: only now, just now.
• denique: adv. finally
• donec: while, as long as, until
• dum: conj. while, now; so long as, provided that, if only; until
• enim: (conj) namely, indeed, certainly, in fact, for, because
• eo quod: because
• etenim: (conj) and indeed, for, as a matter of fact
• etiam: also, besides; even, actually; (time) still
• etsi: (conj.) though, although, and yet
• fas (est): indecl. (it is) right, proper
• huc: here, to this place; so far, for this purpose
• ibi: there, then, therein, on that occassion
• idcirco: for that reason, on that account, therefore
• ideo: therefore, for this reason
• illuc: (adv.) (to) there; to that; to him/her
• immo: (adv.) or rather; indeed; no, yes (emphasis)
• interdum: occasionally, sometimes, now and then
• inde: from there, from that source, then, after; from then
• iuxta: (adv) near by, alike, equally; (prep) close to, right after, near to, beside.
  • iuxta (7th-15th c.): according to
  • iuxta aliquid: to some extent
• ita: thus, so, in this way; ita...ut: just as, so...that
  • ita...quomodo: just as
• licet: all right; (with dat + inf) it is right for someone to; (conj) although, even if
• modo: only, just now
• necnon: also, moreover, certainly, besides
• nempe: to be sure, of course
• non numquam: sometimes
• nondum: not yet
• nonnullus -a -um: some, several
• nuper: recently, lately
• nusquam: nowhere
• ob: before, in front of; on account of, because of; for the sake of; instead of; in proportion to
  • ob rem: to the purpose, usefully
  • quam ob rem: wherefore, accordingly
• olim: once; of old; one day
• praeterea: besides, moreover; hereafter
• postea: afterwards
• postmodum: afterwards; presently
• procul: far off
• proinde: adv. consequently, therefore; just as
• propterea: for that reason, therefore
• prorsus/prorsum: (adv.) forwards; absolutely; in short
• prout: (conj) according as
• qua: (adv) where, as far as, how; qua..qua: partly...partly
• qualibit: anywhere, any way, as you please
• qualis -e: what sort of, what kind of, such as, as
• qualiter: adv. how, as, just as
• quam: (adv) how, how much; as, very
• quamdiu: as long as; while; inasmuch as
• quamquam: although
• quamvis: (adv) however; (conj) although
• quando: when (after nisi, ne) ever; (conj) when, since, because
• quandoque: (adv) at some time; (conj) whenever, as often as, since
• quantum: (adv) as much as, as far as, so much as, to what extent
• quantus: how great, how much
  • in quantum: to what extent
  • quanto: for how much
• quantum ad: in terms of, as far as x is concerned, with respect to
• quapropter: wherefore
• quare: by what means, how; why, wherefore
• quasi: as if, as though
• quatenus: adv.(inter.) how far, how long? (rel.) as far as, in so far as, since
• quemadmodum: (adv) in what way, how; (conj) as, just as
• quicquam: anything
• quicumque quae- quod-: whoever, whatever; all that, any whatever
• quidam quae- quid-: a certain one, someone, a kind of
• quidem: indeed, in fact
• quippe: adv. certainly, of course; conj.(explaining) for in fact, because, since
• quisquam quid-: anyone, anything
• quisque quidque: each, each one, every
• quisquis, quidquid: whoever, whatever; all
• quo: where, what for, to what end
• quoad: as to, with respect to
• quocumque: wither so ever, how so ever
• quod: (conj) because, as far as, in so far as, as for the fact that, in that, that
  • quod si: but if
• quodamodo: in a way
• quomodo: how, in what way; (rel) as, just as
• quondam: once, sometimes, formerly
• quoniam: because, since, seeing that, now that
• quoque: also, too
• quot: how many; (conj) as many
• quotiens: how often (rel) as often as
• rursus: again, in turn
• recte: rightly, correctly
• rursum: again
• sane: reasonably, sensibly; certainly, doubtless, truly; of course; c. neg. = really, at all; to be sure, however
• scilicet: adv. evidently, naturally, of course; (as explan. particle:) namely, that is to say, in other words
• semel: once
• seu: = et
• simul: at the same time; together; likewise
• sin: but if
• siquidem: if in fact; if only, if indeed; since indeed, since that
• talis -e: adj. such, of such a kind, the following
• taliter: in such a manner, so
• tam: so, so greatly; tam...quam: so...as, much...as well as
• tamen: yet, nevertheless, still
• tamquam: as, just as; (conj) as if, just as if
• tandem: at last, finally
• tantum: (adv) so much, so greatly; to such a degree; so far; only
• tantus -a -um (adj): of such (a size); so great, so much
• tot: as many, so many
• tunc: (avd) then, just the; thereupon, accordingly, consequently
• ubicumque: wherever, everywhere
• unde: whence, from where; wherefore; this being the case
• usque: as far as, all the way, continually, straight on, up to; until
• ut...ita: while...nevertheless
• uterque -raque -rumque: both, each (of two)
• utinam: would that, if only
• utique: anyhow, at least, at any rate
• utpote: as, in as much as
• utrum: (conj) either, whether
• velut: as, just as, as it were, as though
• verumtamen: but yet, nevertheless
• vero (conj): but, truly
• videlicet: clearly, evidently; namely

Lessons in this series:

• Chapter 1/Lesson 1-Nominative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 2-Adjectives
• Chapter 1/Lesson 3-Present Verbs
• Chapter 1/Lesson 4-Adverbs and Prepositions
• Chapter 1/Lesson 5-Accusative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 6-Pronouns
  

Chapter 1/Lesson 3-Present Verbs

From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection

Verbs are parts of speech which denote action. There are two main forms of verbs in Latin:

• Principle Verbs (the main verb which is found in every sentence)

• Adjectival Verbs (also known as participles, gerunds and gerundives which describe the state of the described noun).

Every sentence must have a verb. In a sense, the principle verb is the sentence and all the nouns, adverbs and participles are only describing the scenario of the verb. Thus in Latin this constitutes a sentence:

est. 

If you want to explain 'who' is or exists, you add a nominative substantive:

Cornēlia est. 

We now know Cornelia 'is'. But what is she? So we add an adjective.

Cornēlia est bona. 

Now we can see that Cornelia is good, but to elaborate further we can add an adverb:

Cornēlia vix est bona. 

Now we know that Cornelia is 'hardly' (vix: hardly, scarcely, barely) good.

Thus, in English, the shortest Latin sentence is:

I am.

in Latin:

sum 

Examples

These two examples will demonstrate the difference between an adjectival verb and a principle verb.

The resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples.

'resurrected' is a perfect participle (Adjectival) describing Jesus, while 'appeared' is the principle verb in the sentence.

The shocked disciples see Jesus.

'shocked' is a perfect participle (Adjectival) describing the disciples, while 'see' is the principle verb in the sentence.

Review:

1. What is the difference between a principle and adjectival verb?
2. What constitutes a sentence?
3. Write a sentence in English, and Latin.
4. Conjugate the verb 'to be' in the past and present tense in English and Latin (I am, You are, He is etc.)
   

1. Principal verbs are main verb which is found in every sentence. Adjectival Verbs are participles, gerunds and gerundives which describe the state of the described noun.
2. a verb
3. Eg.- Sum, I am
4. Sum, es, est, sumus, estis, sunt

Personal Endings

Verbs in Latin are inflected to reflect the person who performs the action. English does the same to some extent in the verb to be:

Latin	English
sum	I am
es	You are
est	(He/she/it) is
sumus	We are
estis	You (all) are
sunt	They are

Latin, however, inflects all verbs, and is much more extensive than English, allowing writers and speakers of Latin to often drop the personal pronoun (as mentioned last lesson), as the performer of the action is understood by the formation of the verb. The Personal pronoun is only usually added for emphasis. In a way, the ending on Latin verbs are a type of pronoun.

Review:

Personal pronouns (ego, tu, nos, vos, etc.) add emphasis. They are usually omitted (left out) because they are understood.

Example: [Ego] amo patrem meum et matrem meam.

I love my mother and my father. (you don't have to write ego, it is understood)

1. What do the personal pronouns indicate?
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 3-Present Verbs • Answer▼

1. Personal pronouns (ego, tu, nos, vos, etc.) add emphasis. They are usually omitted (left out) because they are understood.

   Example: [Ego] amo patrem meum et matrem meam.
   
   

   I love my mother and my father. (you don't have to write ego, it is understood)
   
   

   
   
   

Moods

There are several moods. Each has its own uses to convey certain ideas. The most commons moods are:

• Indicative • Subjunctive or Conjunctive • Imperative

The two moods we will first learn are the imperative (commands and orders) and the indicative (declarative statements and factual questions).

Imperative: Which we use when we make orders.

Go away. Fetch me the keys. Do not order me around!

Indicative: Statements which are declarative, and questions concerning facts.

John plays football.

1. List the most common moods.
   
   
2. What two moods are we going to learn about in this lesson, and what do they let us construct?
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 3-Present Verbs • Answer▼

1. Indicative, subjunctive (or conjunctive) and imperative.
   
   
2. The moods we are going to learn about first are:

   Imperative: Which we use when we make orders.

   Go away. Fetch me the keys. Do not order me around!
   
   

   
   
   

   Indicative: Statements which are declarative, and questions concerning facts.

   John plays football.
   
   

   
   
   

   
   
   

Voice

There are two constructions verbs can have regarding voice.

Verbs can have either an active or passive voice.

Exampli Gratia 'I smash the car.' 'smash' is an active verb construct.

The passive is used when the nominative is affected by the verb.

E.g. 'The car is smashed by me.' 'is smashed' is a passive construct.

Review:

1. What is 'voice'.
2. What is active voice?
3. What is passive voice?
4. Construct a sentence in English using each of these voices.

1. Voice is how a verb is constructed.
2. When the subject affects the verb
3. When the nominative is affected by the verb
4. Ex.- I am carried, I am being carried.

1. What is 'voice'.
   
   
2. What is active voice?
   
   
3. What is passive voice?
   
   
4. Construct a sentence in English using each of these voices.
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 3-Present Verbs • Translate▼

1. Voice is how a verb is constructed.
   
   
2. When the subject affects the verb
   
   
3. When the nominative is affected by the verb
   
   
4. Ex.- I am carried, I am being carried.
   
   

Tense

Tense in Latin is comprised of two parts: TIME and ASPECT. Time reflects when the action is occuring or did occur: past, present, or future. Aspect refers to the nature of the action: simple, completed, or repeated. The "completed" aspect is generally termed "perfective" and repeated aspect "imperfective."

Theoretically, a verb could have nine tenses (combinations of time and aspect). However, Latin only has six, since some possible combinations are expressed by the same verb forms. Latin tenses do not correspond exactly to English ones.

Below is a rough guide to tense in Latin.

	Time
A S P E C T		Present	Future	Past
	Simple	Present Tense "I walk"	Future Tense "I will walk"	Perfect Tense "I walked"
	Imperfective	Present Tense "I am walking"	Future Tense "I will be walking"	Imperfect Tense "I was walking"
	Perfective	Perfect Tense "I have walked"	Future Perfect Tense "I will have walked"	Pluperfect Tense "I had walked"

As is evident, some Latin tenses do "double duty." The Latin Present and Future Tenses can either express simple or progressive aspect. Particularly difficult to grasp is the Latin Perfect tense, which can either express an action completed from the point of view of the present ("I have just now finished walking"), or a simple action in past time (its "aorist" sense, from the old Indo European aorist tense, which Latin lost but is still present in Greek).

1. Revision: Fill this table of noun declensions.

Singular
Nominative	puella	servus	rēx	cornū	rēs
Vocative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
Plural
Nominative	puellae	servī	rēgēs	cornua	rēs
Vocative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative

1. Copy out the table of pronoun declensions from Lesson 6.
2. Memorise all these tables.

Infinitive

The infinitive (impersonal) is the form of the verb which simply means 'to (verb)' e.g. 'to do', or 'to be', or 'to love', or 'to hate' etc. All forms which are not in the infinitive are in the finite (personalised) form.

The infinitive has a -re at the end of the stem of the verb. The infinitive of 'to be' is an exception and is 'esse'.

Dēbeō currere nunc = I ought to run now.

esse, aut nōn esse = To be, or not to be?

Review:

1. The infinitive is the verb-form that simply mean "to (verb)".

   To sing, to dance, to drink, to love.

2. Every verb which is not in the infinitive, is in the finite.

   He smells, we plot, she had drunken, he pours.

1. What is the infinitive? Give an example.
   
   
2. What is the finite? Give an example.
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 3-Present Verbs • Answer▼

1. The infinitive is the verb-form that simply mean "to (verb)".

   To sing, to dance, to drink, to love.
   
   

   
   
   
2. Every verb which is not in the infinitive, is in the finite.

   He smells, we plot, she had drunken, he pours.
   
   

   
   
   

Irregularities

Verbs which use the passive formation in an active sense are known as deponent. Verbs which don't have a form for every tense and mood are known as defective. You will meet a few words like this soon.

1. What is a deponent verb?
2. What is an irregular verb?
3. What is a defective verb?

Personal Pronouns

In case you do ever use a personal pronoun to emphasise the SUBJECT of the verb, one must remember that the personal pronoun must be in the nominative case and the number and person of the verb must match that of the subject. (Revise Lesson 7 if unfamiliar with the terms person and subject).

1. What case should the subject (performer) of the verb be in?
   
   
2. What number should the principle verb be?
   
   
3. What person and number is 'ego'?
   
   
4. What person and number is 'I'?
   
   
5. What person and number is 'we'?
   
   
6. What person and number is 'thou'?
   
   
7. What person and number is 'ye'?
   
   
8. What person and number is 'vōs'?
   
   
9. What person and number is 'nōs'?
   
   
10. What person and number is 'tū'?
    
    
11. What person and number is 'boy'?
    
    

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 3-Present Verbs • Translate▼

1. Nominative case
   
   
2. First person, singular.
   
   
3. First person, singular.
   
   
4. First person, singular.
   
   
5. First person, plural.
   
   
6. Second person, singular.
   
   
7. Second person, plural.
   
   
8. Second person, plural.
   
   
9. First person, plural.
   
   
10. Second person, singular.
    
    
11. Third person, singular.
    
    

Principle Parts

When one looks up a verb in the dictionary, the principle parts are given. From these principle parts you can find the correct form of the verb for every circumstance.

Present Imperfect 1st Person	Imperfect Infinitive	Present Perfect 1st Person	Supine
amō	amāre	amāvi	amātum
Determines whether the vowel is dropped in the 1st person singular present imperfect.	Gives the imperfect stem and infinitive	Gives the perfect stem	Allows you to form adjectival forms of the verb (Participles)

Review:

1. The principle parts are the verb-forms you find when you look in the dictionary. E.g. if you look for the verb amō (love) in a dictionary you would find:

   amō • amāre • amāvi • amātum

These four forms will help you form every latin verb you want.

1. What do the principle parts allow you to do?
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 3-Present Verbs • Answer▼

1. The principle parts are the verb-forms you find when you look in the dictionary. E.g. if you look for the verb amō (love) in a dictionary you would find:

   amō • amāre • amāvi • amātum
   
   

   
   
   

These four forms will help you form every latin verb you want.

Using the Dictionary

All nouns are given in the nominative, as well as the declension and gender of the noun. Verbs are alphabetized using the 1st person singular (the first principle part) and the infinitive is given. Supplementary principle parts are given if the various other principle parts do not follow the standard pattern of formation from the infinitive and 1st person singular.

Verbs: Conjugation in the Present Imperfect

The present imperfect is the simplest tense. To form the present imperfect all that is required is to place the personal endings at the end of the verb stem.

Thus, if you have the stem 'ama' (love), to make it 'I love' you place an ō at the end.

I love  =  amō (amaō*)
we love =  amāmus

• Latin drops the 'a' in amaō forming amō.

Latin could add personal pronouns, however only for added emphasis and in conjunction with the corresponding person ending on the verb. Otherwise the sentence will not make sense. For example:

ego amō = I (not you) love

nōs amāmus = We (not you) love

but that would be for special emphasis: It's I, not you, who love.

Here are the forms of the verb 'porta', carry, in the present imperfect tense:

portō     I carry                     first person singular
portās    thou carriest, you carry    second person singular
portat    he, she, it carries         third person singular
portāmus  we carry                    first person plural
portātis  you (all) carry             second person plural
portant   they carry                  third person plural

'porto' can also be translated 'I am carrying' (present imperfect), 'I do carry' (present emphatic). 'I carry' is known as the 'present simple' tense in English.. Again the 'a' gets dropped when the 'ō' is placed on porta. Porta, and ama are known as 1st conjugation verbs; in other words, verbs which have a stem ending in 'a'.

There are three other conjugations, and below are some examples of verbs from each of the four conjugations (present imperfect tense):

porta, carry (1st. Conj)	mone, warn (2nd Conj)	rege, rule (3rd Conj.)	audī, hear (4th Conj)
portō, I carry	moneō, I warn	regō, I rule	audiō, I hear
portās, thou carriest	monēs, thou warnest	regis, thou rulest	audis, thou hearest
portat, he/she/it carries	monet, he/she/it warns	regit, he/she/it rules	audit, he/she/it hears
portāmus, we carry	monēmus, we warn	regimus, we rule	audimus, we hear
portātis, ye carry	monētis, ye warn	regitis, ye rule	auditis, ye hear
portant, they carry	monent, they warn	regunt, they rule	audiunt, they hear

Each verb uses the same final letter or letters to indicate the 'subject' - I, thou, he/she/it, we, you, they.

Before these final letters, the first conjugation has an 'a' (although when an 'o' is placed, the 'a' is often dropped), the second an 'e', and the third and fourth usually an 'i'. The third person plural forms in the third and fourth conjugations have a 'u'. These verb forms really should be learned by heart.

The commonest verb of all is irregular (see next lesson). Here is a table of the verb in English, Latin and two Romantic languages.

esto: be
Latin	English	French	Spanish	Icelandic
sum	I am	je suis	yo soy	ég er
es	thou art	tu es	tú eres	þú ert
est	he/she/it is	il/elle est	él/ella es	hann/hún/það er
sumus	we are	nous sommes	nosotros/-as somos	við erum
estis	ye are	vous êtes	vosotros/-as sois	þið eruð
sunt	they are	ils/elles sont	ellos/-as son	þeir/þær/þau eru

The personal endings are the same as in the four regular conjugations.

What form of the verb 'amo' (hint: amo is conjugated like porto in the table above) would the following words use to become the suffix:

1. ego (I)
2. tū (thou)
3. puer (the boy)
4. nōs (we)
5. vōs (ye)
6. puellae (the girls)

What form of the verb 'amo' (hint: amo is conjugated like porto in the table above) would the following words use to become the suffix:

1. ego (I)
   
   
2. tū (thou)
   
   
3. puer (the boy)
   
   
4. nōs (we)
   
   
5. vōs (ye)
   
   
6. puellae (the girls)
   
   

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 3-Present Verbs • Translate▼

1. [ego] amo (I love)
   
   
2. [tu] amas (thou lovest pl., you love pl.)
   
   
3. puer amat (the boy loves)
   
   
4. [nos] amamus (we love)
   
   
5. [vos] amatis (ye love pl., you love pl.)
   
   
6. puellae amant (the girls love)
   
   

1. [ego] amo (I love)
2. [tu] amas (thou lovest pl., you love pl.)
3. puer amat (the boy loves)
4. [nos] amamus (we love)
5. [vos] amatis (ye love pl., you love pl.)
6. puellae amant (the girls love)

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is an order (eg. Go!, Run!, Away Now!). The imperative mood is formed by simply using the stem of the verb. If the order is to a large group of people, or you are trying to show respect, you must use the -te suffix.

amō eum = I love him.

amā eum = Love him!.

amāte eum = Love (respectful, or plural) him!

currō casam = I run home.

currā casam = Run home!

currāte casam = Run (respectful, or plural) home!

Regō prudente = I rule wisely.

Regi prudente = Rule wisely!

Regite prudente = Rule (respectful order) wisely!

Lessons in this series:

• Chapter 1/Lesson 1-Nominative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 2-Adjectives
• Chapter 1/Lesson 3-Present Verbs
• Chapter 1/Lesson 4-Adverbs and Prepositions
• Chapter 1/Lesson 5-Accusative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 6-Pronouns
  

Chapter 1/Lesson 2-Adjectives

Adjectives

Overview of Adjectives

An adjective is simply any word that describes a noun, such as an object or subject in a sentence. Of course, whole phrases may be used to describe nouns, but adjectives are individual words. In English, for example:

The red dog attacked the crazy fox.

An adjective can also be used in a sentence opposite a form of "to be."

The boy is good.

In Latin, the same is true.

Adjectives in Latin

Like nouns, adjectives in Latin are declined. The vast majority take either the first and second declension (antiquus -a -um) or the third declension (ferox, ferocis). All such adjectives must agree with the nouns they describe in gender, number, and case.

Most third declension adjectives do not have separate masculine and feminine forms. (Neuter adjectives follow the third declension neuter pattern.)

First and second declension adjectives have three distinct genders. Feminine adjectives require the first declension, masculine the second (masculine pattern), and neuter the second (neuter pattern).

These words will look like the adjective antiquus (old, ancient):

antiquus (masculine), antiqua (feminine), antiquum (neuter).

Third declension adjectives typically look more like ferox, ferocis (wild, bold).

Adjectives often come after the word they describe. (But since word order is not central to the meaning of a Latin sentence, the adjective may appear anywhere within the sentence. In poetry, for example, several words often separate an adjective from the noun it modifies.)

For example:

Explanation- The good boy loves the wild dog.
Latin:	puer	bonus	amat(1)	canem(2) (acc)	ferocem(3) (acc).
English:	[The] boy	good	[he] loves	[the] dog	wild.

• ⁽¹⁾ amare, [to] love. amat, [he] loves.
• ⁽²⁾ canis, dog (masc.)
• ⁽³⁾ ferox, ferocis, wild. ferocem (acc.)

Bonus, a first and second declension adjective, is masculine, nominative, and singular to agree with puer, the word it is describing.

Ferocem, a third declension adjective, is masculine, accusative, and singular to agree with canem. Canem is accusative because it is the object of amat.

Here is an example of plural adjectives:

Explanation- The good boys love the wild dogs.
Latin:	Pueri (plur)	boni (plur)	amant (plur)	canes (plur, acc)	feroces (plur, acc).
English:	[The] boys	good	[they] love	[the] dogs	wild.

The words bonus and ferocem become boni and feroces to agree with the plurals pueri and canes.

However, if a girl (puella) happened to love that boy:

Explanation- The good girl loves the good boy.
Latin:	Puella	bona	amat	puerum (acc)	bonum (acc).
English:	[The] girl	good	[she] loves	[the] boy	good.

Bonus must become bona in order to modify puella, which is feminine.

Finally, if the girl isn't good, but rather wild:

Explanation- The wild girl loves the good boy.
Latin:	Puella	ferox	amat	puerum (acc)	bonum (acc).
English:	[The] girl	wild	[she] loves	[the] boy	good.

Even though puella is first declension, ferox remains third declension. In the same way, a good lion would be bonus leo.

Adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case, but not necessarily in declension.

Exercise

EXERCISE • Lesson 2-Adjectives • Translate

1. est bonus. • sum ferox. • estis boni. • sunt bonae.

SOLUTION • Latin/Lesson 2-Adjectives • Translate

1. He is good. • I am wild. • You (pl.) are good. • They are good.

Lessons in this series:

• Chapter 1/Lesson 1-Nominative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 2-Adjectives
• Chapter 1/Lesson 3-Present Verbs
• Chapter 1/Lesson 4-Adverbs and Prepositions
• Chapter 1/Lesson 5-Accusative
• Chapter 1/Lesson 6-Pronouns