Latin conjugation

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Conjugation is the creation of derived forms of a verb from one basic form. It may be affected by person, number, gender, tense, mood, voice or other language-specific factors. When, for example, we use a verb to function as the action done by a subject, most languages require conjugating the verb to reflect that meaning. (For more information on conjugation in general, see the article on grammatical conjugation.)

In Latin, there are five main patterns of conjugation composed of groups of verbs that are conjugated following similar patterns. As in other languages, Latin verbs have a passive voice and an active voice. Furthermore, there exist deponent and semi-deponent Latin verbs (verbs with a passive form but active meaning), as well as defective verbs (verbs with a perfect form but present meaning).

In a dictionary, Latin verbs are always listed with four principal parts which allow the reader to deduce the other conjugated forms of the verbs. These are:

  • the first person singular of the present indicative active
  • the present infinitive
  • the first person singular of the perfect indicative active
  • the supine (or, in some texts, the perfect passive participle, which is nearly always identical)

Latin tenses and moods

Latin has the following tenses and moods:

  • Active voice
    • Indicative: present, imperfect, future, perfect, pluperfect (past perfect), future perfect
    • Subjunctive: present, imperfect, perfect, pluperfect
    • Infinitive: present, perfect, future
    • Imperative: present, future
    • Participle: present, future
    • Gerund
    • Supine
  • Passive voice
    • Indicative: present, imperfect, future, perfect, pluperfect, future perfect
    • Subjunctive: present, imperfect, perfect, pluperfect
    • Infinitive: present, perfect, future
    • Imperative: present
    • Participle: perfect
    • Gerundive

Deponent and semi-deponent verbs

Deponent verbs are verbs that are passive in form (that is, conjugated as though in the passive voice) but active in meaning. These verbs have only three principal parts, since the perfect tenses of ordinary passives are formed periphrastically with the perfect participle, which is formed on the same stem as the supine.

Deponent verbs use active conjugations for tenses that do not exist in the passive: the gerund, the supine, the present and future participles and the future infinitive.

Semideponent verbs form their imperfect tenses (present, imperfect, and future) in the manner of ordinary active verbs; but their perfect tenses are built periphrastically like deponents and ordinary passives; thus semideponent verbs have a perfect active participle instead of a perfect passive participle.

Principal parts for the active voice

The first conjugation is characterized by the vowel ā (long a) and can be recognized by the -āre ending of the present infinitive.

  • The principal parts of a first-conjugation verb follows the pattern: amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum (to love)

The second conjugation is characterized by the vowel ē (long e) and can be recognized by the -eō ending of the first person present indicative and the -ēre ending of the present infinitive.

  • The principal parts of a second-conjugation verb follows the pattern: dēleō, dēlēre, dēlēvī, dēlētum (to destroy), sometimes with a ui in the perfect stem, and itum in the supine, like moneō, monēre, monuī, monitum (to warn).

The third conjugation consists of two sub-forms. The first is characterized by a consonant stem, and the second is characterized by the vowel ǔ (short u). In both cases the present infinitive ends in -ere.

  • The third conjugation –iō' is part of the third conjugation. Though its first principle parts always end in an –iō or –ior.
  • The principal parts of a normal third-conjugation verb follows the pattern: legō, legere, lēgī, lēctum (to read), the perfect stem characterized by a change of vowel sound (in this case, from 'e' to 'ē'), or the ending si: rego, regere, rexi, rectum (to rule)(g + s = x).
  • The principal parts of a special third-conjugation verb follows the pattern: statuō, statǔere, statī, statūtum (to set up)

The fourth conjugation is characterized by the vowel ī (long i) and can be recognized by the -īre ending of the present infinitive.

  • The principal parts of a fourth-conjugation verb follows the pattern: audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum (to hear)

There are also some verbs that are irregular and do not fall into one of the four categories. Some examples include:

  • sum, esse, fuī, -- (to be) and its compound forms
  • eō, īre, iī (ivī), itum (to go) and its compound forms
  • volō, velle, voluī, -- (to want)
  • nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, -- (to not want)
  • mālō, mālle, māluī, -- (to prefer)
  • ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum (to carry or wear)

Some verbs that fall under one of the four categories may follow its method of conjugation but not necessarily have the same progression of principal parts. This is especially true in the third conjugation, where there is no general pattern for the third and fourth principal parts of the verb. For example, the verb occīdō, occīdere, occīdī, occīsum (to kill) is third conjugation but has principal parts that are different from that of legō. These include deponent verbs (which are passive in form, but active in meaning: conor, conari, conatus sum, to try), and semi-deponent verbs, which are active, but have a passive perfect stem (confido, confidere, confisus sum, to trust).

Conjugation radicals

The present infinitive radical is derived by dropping the -āre, -ēre, or -īre from the present infinitive.

The perfect indicative radical is derived by dropping the from the first-person singular perfect indicative:

  • amāvī: amāv-
  • dēlēvī: dēlēv-
  • lēgī: lēg-

The supine radical is derived by dropping the -um from the supine:

  • amātum: amat-

First conjugation (ā)

The first conjugation is fairly common. All non-deponent verbs of the conjugation have an infinitive with stem āre. Deponent verbs have ārī. Dare, an irregular verb, does not have a long a in the usual forms. Verbs of this conjugation usually follow the –ō, –āre, –āvī, –ātum pattern. This conjugation is signified by the letter a in the indicative, and an e in the subjunctive.

amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum — "to love"
Non-finite (masc. sing., fem. sing., masc. pl., fem pl., neut. sing., neut. pl.)
Infinitives amāre (present active), amārī (present passive)
amātūrus, –a, –um esse (future active); amātūrus, –a, –um īrī (future passive)
amāvisse (present active), amātus, –a, –um esse (perfect passive)
Gerund (nom.) amandus, (gen.) amandī, (dat.) amandō, (acc.) amandum, (abl.) amandō
Gerundive amandus, –a, –um
Participles amātus, –a, –um (perfect passive)
amāns, –antis (present active)
amātūrus, –a, –um (future active)
Agents amātor, –ōris (male); amātrix, –īcis (female)
Indicative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present amō amās amat amāmus amātis amant
Imperfect amābam amābās amābat amābāmus amābātis amābant
Future amābō amābis amābit amābimus amābitis amābunt
Pefect amāvī amāvistī amāvit amāvimus amāvistis amāvērunt
Pluperfect amāveram amāverās amāverat amāverāmus amāverātis amāverant
Future Perfect amāverō amāveris amāverit amāverimus amāveritis amāverint
Indicative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present amor amāris amātur amāmur amāminī amantur
Imperfect amābar amābāris amābātur amābāmur amābāminī amābantur
Future amābor amābiris amābitur amābimur amābiminī amābuntur
Pefect *amātus sum *amātus es *amātus est *amātī sumus *amātī estis *amātī sunt
Pluperfect *amātus eram *amātus erās *amātus erat *amātī erāmus *amātī erātis *amātī erant
Future Perfect *amātus erō *amātus eris *amātus erit *amātī erimus *amātī eritis *amātī erunt
Subjunctive
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present amem amēs amet amēmus amētis ament
Imperfect amārem amārēs amāret amārēmus amārētis amārent
Perfect amāverim amāverīs amāverit amāverīmus amāverītis amāverint
Pluperfect amāvissem amāvissēs amāvisset amāvissēmus amāvissētis amāvissent
Subjunctive
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present amer amēris amētur amēmur amēminī amentur
Imperfect amārer amārēris amārētur amārēmur amārēminī amārentur
Perfect *amātus sim *amātus sīs *amātus sit *amātī sīmus *amātī sītis *amātī sint
Pluperfect *amātus essem *amātus essēs *amātus esset *amātī essēmus *amātī essētis *amātī essent
Imperative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— amā —— —— amāte ——
Future —— amātō amātō —— amātōte amātōte
Imperative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— amāre —— —— amāminī ——
Future —— amātor amātor —— —— amantor
  • —The forms amātus and amātī are reserved for masculine subjects only. Amāta (sing.) and amātae (pl.) are used for feminine subjects. Amātum (sing.) and amāta (pl.) are used for neuter subjects.

Second conjugation (ē)

The second conjugation is less prolific. Regular verbs have an –ēre in the second principle part, and deponent verbs have an –ērī. They usually follow the –eō, –ēre, –ui, –itus pattern. The first principle part always ends in an or eor. Second conjugation verbs are signified by an ē in the indicative, and an in the subjunctive.

misceō, miscēre, miscuī, mixtum — "to unite"
Non-finite (masc. sing., fem. sing., masc. pl., fem pl., neut. sing., neut. pl.)
Infinitives miscēre (present active), miscērī (present passive)
mixtūrus, –a, –um esse (future active); mixtūrus, –a, –um īrī (future passive)
miscuisse (present active), mixtus, –a, –um esse (perfect passive)
Gerund (nom.) miscendus, (gen.) miscendī, (dat.) miscendō, (acc.) miscendum, (abl.) miscendō
Gerundive miscendus, –a, –um
Participles mixtus, –a, –um (perfect passive)
miscēns, –entis (present active)
mixtūrus, –a, –um (future active)
Agents mixtor, –ōris (male); mixtrix, –īcis (female)
Indicative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present misceō miscēs miscet miscēmus miscētis miscent
Imperfect miscēbam miscēbās miscēbat miscēbāmus miscēbātis miscēbant
Future miscēbō miscēbis miscēbit miscēbimus miscēbitis miscēbunt
Pefect miscuī miscuistī miscuit miscuimus miscuistis miscuērunt
Pluperfect miscueram miscuerās miscuerat miscuerāmus miscuerātis miscuerant
Future Perfect miscuerō miscueris miscuerit miscuerimus miscueritis miscuerint
Indicative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present misceor miscēris miscētur miscēmur miscēminī miscentur
Imperfect miscēbar miscēbāris miscēbātur miscēbāmur miscēbāminī miscēbantur
Future miscēbor miscēbiris miscēbitur miscēbimur miscēbiminī miscēbuntur
Pefect *mixtus sum *mixtus es *mixtus est *mixtī sumus *mixtī estis *mixtī sunt
Pluperfect *mixtus eram *mixtus erās *mixtus erat *mixtī erāmus *mixtī erātis *mixtī erant
Future Perfect *mixtus erō *mixtus eris *mixtus erit *mixtī erimus *mixtī eritis *mixtī erunt
Subjunctive
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present misceam misceās misceat misceāmus misceātis misceant
Imperfect miscērem miscērēs miscēret miscērēmus miscērētis miscērent
Perfect miscuerim miscuerīs miscuerit miscuerīmus miscuerītis miscuerint
Pluperfect miscuissem miscuissēs miscuisset miscuissēmus miscuissētis miscuissent
Subjunctive
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present miscear misceāris misceātur misceāmur misceāminī misceantur
Imperfect miscērer miscērēris miscērētur miscērēmur miscērēminī miscērentur
Perfect *mixtus sim *mixtus sīs *mixtus sit *mixtī sīmus *mixtī sītis *mixtī sint
Pluperfect *mixtus essem *mixtus essēs *mixtus esset *mixtī essēmus *mixtī essētis *mixtī essent
Imperative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— miscē —— —— miscēte ——
Future —— miscētō miscētō —— miscētōte miscētōte
Imperative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— miscēre —— —— miscēminī ——
Future —— miscētor miscētor —— —— miscentor
  • –The forms mixtus and mixtī are reserved for masculine subjects only. mixta (sing.) and mixtae (pl.) are used for feminine subjects. mixtum (sing.) and mixta (pl.) are used for neuter subjects.

Third conjugation (ě)

The third conjugation is fairly common. The verb pradigm shown below is of the regular third conjugation type. However, there is a third conjugation in –iō. For both, there is an –ere for regular verbs in the second principle part, and an –ī for deponent verbs. The third conjugation is by far, the least regular.

regō, regere, rēxī, rectum — "to rule"
Non-finite (masc. sing., fem. sing., masc. pl., fem pl., neut. sing., neut. pl.)
Infinitives regere (present active), regī (present passive)
rectūrus, –a, –um esse (future active); rectūrus, –a, –um īrī (future passive)
rēxisse (present active), rectus, –a, –um esse (perfect passive)
Gerund (nom.) regendus, (gen.) regendī, (dat.) regendō, (acc.) regendum, (abl.) regendō
Gerundive regendus, –a, –um
Participles rectus, –a, –um (perfect passive)
regēns, –entis (present active)
rectūrus, –a, –um (future active)
Agents rector, –ōris (male); rectrix, –īcis (female)
Indicative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present regō regis regit regimus regitis regunt
Imperfect regēbam regēbās regēbat regēbāmus regēbātis regēbant
Future regam regēs reget regēmus regētis regent
Pefect rēgī rēgistī rēgit rēgimus rēgistis rēgērunt
Pluperfect rēgeram rēgerās rēgerat rēgerāmus rēgerātis rēgerant
Future Perfect rēgerō rēgeris rēgerit rēgerimus rēgeritis rēgerint
Indicative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present regor regiris regitur regimur regiminī reguntur
Imperfect regēbar regēbāris regēbātur regēbāmur regēbāminī regēbantur
Future regar regēris regētur regēmur regēminī regēntur
Pefect *rectus sum *rectus es *rectus est *rectī sumus *rectī estis *rectī sunt
Pluperfect *rectus eram *rectus erās *rectus erat *rectī erāmus *rectī erātis *rectī erant
Future Perfect *rectus erō *rectus eris *rectus erit *rectī erimus *rectī eritis *rectī erunt
Subjunctive
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present regam regās regat regāmus regātis regant
Imperfect regerem regerēs regeret regerēmus regerētis regerent
Perfect rēgerim rēgerīs rēgerit rēgerīmus rēgerītis rēgerint
Pluperfect rēgissem rēgissēs rēgisset rēgissēmus rēgissētis rēgissent
Subjunctive
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present regar regāris regātur regāmur regāminī regantur
Imperfect regerer regerēris regerētur regerēmur regerēminī regerentur
Perfect *rectus sim *rectus sīs *rectus sit *rectī sīmus *rectī sītis *rectī sint
Pluperfect *rectus essem *rectus essēs *rectus esset *rectī essēmus *rectī essētis *rectī essent
Imperative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— rege —— —— regite ——
Future —— regitō regitō —— regitōte regitōte
Imperative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— regere —— —— regiminī ——
Future —— regitor regitor —— —— reguntor
  • –The forms rectus and rectī are reserved for masculine subjects only. recta (sing.) and rectae (pl.) are used for feminine subjects. rectum (sing.) and recta (pl.) are used for neuter subjects.

Third conjugation –iō (ě)

The third conjugation –iō is somewhat moderately sized part of the third conjugation. The third conjugation –iō verbs end in an –iō in the first principle part. Deponent third conjugation –iō verbs end in an –ior in the first principle part. Though this conjugation is part of the third conjugation, it largely resembles the fourth.

cupiō, cupere, cupīvī, cupītum — "to desire"
Non-finite (masc. sing., fem. sing., masc. pl., fem pl., neut. sing., neut. pl.)
Infinitives cupere (present active), cupī (present passive)
cupītūrus, –a, –um esse (future active); cupītūrus, –a, –um īrī (future passive)
cupīvisse (present active), cupītus, –a, –um esse (perfect passive)
Gerund (nom.) cupiendus, (gen.) cupiendī, (dat.) cupiendō, (acc.) cupiendum, (abl.) cupiendō
Gerundive cupiendus, –a, –um
Participles cupītus, –a, –um (perfect passive)
cupiēns, –entis (present active)
cupītūrus, –a, –um (future active)
Agents cupītor, –ōris (male); cupītrix, –īcis (female)
Indicative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present cupiō cupis cupit cupimus cupitis cupiunt
Imperfect cupiēbam cupiēbās cupiēbat cupiēbāmus cupiēbātis cupiēbant
Future cupiam cupiēs cupiet cupiēmus cupiētis cupient
Pefect cupīvī cupīvistī cupīvit cupīvimus cupīvistis cupīvērunt
Pluperfect cupīveram cupīverās cupīverat cupīverāmus cupīverātis cupīverant
Future Perfect cupīverō cupīveris cupīverit cupīverimus cupīveritis cupīverint
Indicative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present cupior cupiris cupitur cupimur cupiminī cupiuntur
Imperfect cupiēbar cupiēbāris cupiēbātur cupiēbāmur cupiēbāminī cupiēbantur
Future cupiar cupiēris cupiētur cupiēmur cupiēminī cupientur
Pefect *cupītus sum *cupītus es *cupītus est *cupītī sumus *cupītī estis *cupītī sunt
Pluperfect *cupītus eram *cupītus erās *cupītus erat *cupītī erāmus *cupītī erātis *cupītī erant
Future Perfect *cupītus erō *cupītus eris *cupītus erit *cupītī erimus *cupītī eritis *cupītī erunt
Subjunctive
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present cupiam cupiās cupiat cupiāmus cupiātis cupiant
Imperfect cuperem cuperēs cuperet cuperēmus cuperētis cuperent
Perfect cupīverim cupīverīs cupīverit cupīverīmus cupīverītis cupīverint
Pluperfect cupīvissem cupīvissēs cupīvisset cupīvissēmus cupīvissētis cupīvissent
Subjunctive
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present cupiar cupiāris cupiātur cupiāmur cupiāminī cupiantur
Imperfect cuperer cuperēris cuperētur cuperēmur cuperēminī cuperentur
Perfect *cupītus sim *cupītus sīs *cupītus sit *cupītī sīmus *cupītī sītis *cupītī sint
Pluperfect *cupītus essem *cupītus essēs *cupītus esset *cupītī essēmus *cupītī essētis *cupītī essent
Imperative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— cupe —— —— cupite ——
Future —— cupitō cupitō —— cupitōte cupitōte
Imperative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— cupere —— —— cupiminī ——
Future —— cupitor cupitor —— —— cupiuntor
  • –The forms cupītus and cupītī are reserved for masculine subjects only. cupīta (sing.) and cupītae (pl.) are used for feminine subjects. cupītum (sing.) and cupīta (pl.) are used for neuter subjects.

Fourth conjugation (ī)

The fourth conjugation is a fairly uncommon. Non-deponents usually end in an –iō in the first principle part. Deponent verbs terminate in an –ior. All fourth present active infinitives end in either –īre or –īrī (deponent). Most verbs of this type have principal parts ending –iō, –īre, –īvī (sometimes replaced with –iī), ītum. This conjugation is signified by an –ī in the indicative, and an –iā in the subjunctive.

sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum — "to feel"
Non-finite (masc. sing., fem. sing., masc. pl., fem pl., neut. sing., neut. pl.)
Infinitives sentīre (present active), sentīrī (present passive)
sēnsūrus, –a, –um esse (future active); sēnsūrus, –a, –um īrī (future passive)
sēnsisse (present active), sēnsus, –a, –um esse (perfect passive)
Gerund (nom.) sentiendus, (gen.) sentiendī, (dat.) sentiendō, (acc.) sentiendum, (abl.) sentiendō
Gerundive sentiendus, –a, –um
Participles sēnsus, –a, –um (perfect passive)
sentiēns, –entis (present active)
sēnsūrus, –a, –um (future active)
Agents sēnsor, –ōris (male); sēnsrix, –īcis (female)
Indicative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present sentiō sentīs sentit sentīmus sentītis sentiunt
Imperfect sentiēbam sentiēbās sentiēbat sentiēbāmus sentiēbātis sentiēbant
Future sentiam sentiēs sentiet sentiēmus sentiētis sentient
Pefect sēnsī sēnsistī sēnsit sēnsimus sēnsistis sēnsērunt
Pluperfect sēnseram sēnserās sēnserat sēnserāmus sēnserātis sēnserant
Future Perfect sēnserō sēnseris sēnserit sēnserimus sēnseritis sēnserint
Indicative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present sentior sentīris sentītur sentīmur sentīminī sentiuntur
Imperfect sentiēbar sentiēbāris sentiēbātur sentiēbāmur sentiēbāminī sentiēbantur
Future sentiar sentiēris sentiētur sentiēmur sentiēminī sentientur
Pefect *sēnsus sum *sēnsus es *sēnsus est *sēnsī sumus *sēnsī estis *sēnsī sunt
Pluperfect *sēnsus eram *sēnsus erās *sēnsus erat *sēnsī erāmus *sēnsī erātis *sēnsī erant
Future Perfect *sēnsus erō *sēnsus eris *sēnsus erit *sēnsī erimus *sēnsī eritis *sēnsī erunt
Subjunctive
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present sentiam sentiās sentiat sentiāmus sentiātis sentiant
Imperfect sentīrem sentīrēs sentīret sentīrēmus sentīrētis sentīrent
Perfect sēnserim sēnserīs sēnserit sēnserīmus sēnserītis sēnserint
Pluperfect sēnsissem sēnsissēs sēnsisset sēnsissēmus sēnsissētis sēnsissent
Subjunctive
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present sentiar sentiāris sentiātur sentiāmur sentiāminī sentiantur
Imperfect sentīrer sentīrēris sentīrētur sentīrēmur sentīrēminī sentīrentur
Perfect *sēnsus sim *sēnsus sīs *sēnsus sit *sēnsī sīmus *sēnsī sītis *sēnsī sint
Pluperfect *sēnsus essem *sēnsus essēs *sēnsus esset *sēnsī essēmus *sēnsī essētis *sēnsī essent
Imperative
Active
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— sentī —— —— sentīte ——
Future —— sentītō sentītō —— sentītōte sentītōte
Imperative
Passive
  ego is, ea, id nōs vōs eī, eae, ea
Present —— sentīre —— —— sentīminī ——
Future —— sentītor sentītor —— —— sentiuntor
  • –The forms sēnsus and sēnsī are reserved for masculine subjects only. sēnsa (sing.) and sēnsae (pl.) are used for feminine subjects. sēnsum (sing.) and sēnsa (pl.) are used for neuter subjects.

Irregular verbs

See Latin Irregular Verbs.

Syncopated Forms

'Syncopation' (as opposed to 'syncope') occurs when vowels (most often with consonant v or i) are condensed, usually in poetry.

This most commonly occurs with verbs in the perfect tense, when the -vi- (also -ve) is dropped before endings beginning with s and r.

Examples:

  • amāvistī becomes amāstī
  • amāvistis becomes amāstis
  • dēlēvērunt becomes dēlērunt
  • dēlēvisse becomes dēlēsse
  • audīvissēs becomes audīssēs

This also occurs in nōscō, and compounds of moveō (Charles E. Bennett, New Latin Grammar)

  • nōvistī becomes nōstī
  • commōverat becomes commōrat

Patterns and Similarities

Notice that in all forms the endings are (at least remotely) similar, 'o' or 'm' endings indicate the first person - I/we . '-s' indicates second person: you ; 't' endings indicate third person - he/she/it/they

So:

Singular
  1. -ō/m = I: sum or amo
  2. -s = You: amas
  3. -t = He: est or amat
Plural (note the simularities with the singular)
  1. -mus
  2. -tis
  3. -nt

A few elements of conjugation, often similar to Latin conjugation, survive in English and can serve as helpful mnemonics. 'am' (I am) retains the nasal 'mmm' sound inherited from its ancestors (note: me). is is remarkably similar to the Latin est (cf. German ist). Such similarities are a result of English and Latin's common descent from an Indo-European ancestor.

Derivations for all verbs

  • Non-finite forms
    • Perfect infinitive: Perfect radical + -isse
    • Future infinitive: Future participle + esse
  • Active indicative
    • Perfect: Perfect radical +: -ī, -istī, -it, -imus, -istis, -ērunt
    • Pluperfect: Perfect radical +: -eram, -erās, -erat, -erāmus, -erātis, -erant
    • Future perfect: Perfect radical +: -erō, -erīs, -erit, -erīmus, -erītis, -erint
  • Active subjunctive
    • Inflection: -m, -s, -t, -mus, -tis, -nt
    • Imperfect: Present infinitive + subjunctive inflection
    • Perfect: Perfect radical + -eri- + subjunctive inflection
    • Pluperfect: Perfect radical + -isse- + subjunctive inflection
  • Passive voice
    • Passive particle: Supine radical +: -us, -ī

See also