Latin I Capita XIII/XIV Formative Quick Review

Verb Conjugations

Latin has four verb conjugations. These are identified by the vowel preceding the -re ending of the second principal part (a.k.a. the infinitive)

• 1st conjugation = -are

• 2nd conjugation = -ēre

• 3rd conjugation = -ere

• 4th conjugation = -ire

3rd/4th Conjugation Present

When dealing with present tense 3rd and 4th conjugation verbs, they undergo a "stem change" before adding their endings

• Typically, a verb will drop the -re before adding the personal verb endings (i.e. amare - -re + -mus = amamus)

• 3rd and 4th conjugation verbs drop the -ere/-ire, change their vowel to "i" (or "u" if it's a 3rd plural!) before adding the endings (i.e. ducere - -ere + vowel change + -mus = dicimus)

3rd/4th Conjugation Future

For future tense 3rd and 4th conjugation verbs, they undergo a "stem change" before adding their endings

• Typically, a verb will drop the -re and add "bi," etc. before adding the personal verb endings (i.e. amare - -re + -bi- + -mus = amabimus)

• 3rd and 4th conjugation verbs drop the -ere/-ire, change their vowel to "e" (or "a" if it's a 1st singular!) before adding the endings (i.e. ducere - -ere + "e" + -mus = dicemus)