Latin Basics

Question 1

What is a verb?

Answer 1

A verb is a word that describes an action. Verbs are often called ‘doing’ words. Examples of verbs: to work, to call, to pray, to have, to be, to think.

Question 2

What is Noun?

Answer 2

A noun is a person, place or thing.

Question 3

Adjective

Answer 3

word used to describe a noun.

Question 4

Conjugations

Answer 4

Verbs are divided into groups called conjugations.
Latin verbs are divided into four groups, or conjugations. In each conjugation, the verbs share the same endings.

Question 5

Declension

Answer 5

Latin nouns are divided into five groups called declensions. In each declension, the nouns share the same endings. A declension is usually defined by its ending in the nominative singular. For example, nouns in the first declension end ‘-a’ in the nominative singular. If a declension has a variety of forms in the nominative singular, it will be defined by its endings in the genitive singular. For example, nouns in the third declension end ‘-is’ in the genitive singular.

Question 6

first conjugation verbs as they end ‘-are’.

Answer 6

confirmare = to confirm
dare = to give
edificare = to build
laborare = to work
legare = to leave, bequeath
orare =to pray
vocare = to call
amare = to love
saltare = to jump
volare = to fly
portare = to carry
levare = to raise
cantare = to sing
jubilare = to rejoice
pugnare = to fight
clamare = to shout
gustare = to eat
fugare = to flee
clinare = to bend
lavare = to wash, lav-/luv-
desiderare = to desire
ballare = to dance

Question 7

Pronouns

Answer 7

-o == I
-as == you
-at == he/she/it
-amus == we
-atis == you
-ant == they

Question 8

Example

Answer 8

Latin Means in English
do I give
das you give
dat he/she/it gives
damus we give
datis you give
dant they give

Question 9

Cases of Noun

Answer 9

Nominative - Subject of the verb
Vocative - To call or address someone or something
accusative - Object of the verb
Genitive - “Of: someting else and to show posession
Dative - to or for something
Ablative - nouns that are by , with or from something

Nominative + Verb + accusat

The pope confirms the church by a charter

Question 10

First Declension

Answer 10

Nouns that end in ‘-a’ belong to the first declension.
They are mostly** feminine.**

All of these nouns end in ‘-a’.

Question 11

Second Declension

Answer 11

The largest group is masculine and ends in ‘-us’, ‘-er’ or ‘-ir’
Some are neuter and end in ‘-um’

Question 12

Handy hints

Answer 12

1. Nominative and vocative endings are always the same except for second declension nouns ending in ‘-us’.
2. Nominative and accusative cases of neuter nouns are always the same. The plural always ends in ‘-a’.
   3.Accusative singular for masculine and feminine nouns always ends in ‘-m’; accusative plural for masculine and feminine nouns always ends in ‘-s’.
3. Genitive plural of all declensions ends in ‘-um’.
4. Dative and ablative plurals are always the same. In the first and second declensions, the ending is usually ‘-is’.

Question 13

Third declension

Answer 13

nouns by their genitive singular ending ‘-is’.

Question 14

Fourth Declension

Answer 14

These are

• usually masculine and end ‘-us’ in the nominative singular
• sometimes feminine and end ‘-us’ in the nominative singular
• occasionally neuter and end ‘-u’ in the nominative singular
• always ended with ‘-us’ in the genitive singular
• characterised by ‘u’ in their endings

Question 15

Fifth declension

Answer 15

This is the smallest declension. Fifth declension nouns

• usually end ‘-es’ in the nominative singular
• end ‘-ei’ in the genitive singular
• are feminine except for dies and words based on dies
• have endings characterised by the letter ‘e’
• You are likely to come across two feminine fifth declension nouns:
• fides faith
• res a thing