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 four 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). Sometimes the verbs of the third declension with a root on -ǐ, are regarded as a separate pattern of conjugation, and are called the fifth conjugation, so that it is said there are five main patterns of conjugation.

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. Texts that commonly list the perfect passive participle use the future active participle for intransitive verbs. Some verbs lack this principal part altogether.

For simple verb paradigms, see the following pages: [1], [2], [3], [4]

Contents 1 Overview of the Latin Verb 1.1 Latin verb properties 1.2 The four conjugations 1.2.1 The first conjugation 1.2.2 The second conjugation 1.2.3 The third conjugation 1.2.4 The fourth conjugation 1.3 Personal endings 1.4 Imperfective aspect tenses 1.4.1 Present tense 1.4.1.1 Indicative present 1.4.1.2 Subjunctive present 1.4.1.3 Imperative present 1.4.2 Imperfect tense 1.4.2.1 Indicative imperfect 1.4.2.2 Subjunctive imperfect 1.4.3 Future tense 1.4.3.1 Indicative future 1.4.3.2 Imperative future 1.5 Perfective aspect tenses 1.5.1 Perfect tense 1.5.1.1 Indicative perfect 1.5.1.2 Subjunctive perfect 1.5.2 Pluperfect tense 1.5.2.1 Indicative pluperfect 1.5.2.2 Subjunctive pluperfect 1.5.3 Future perfect tense 1.5.3.1 Indicative future perfect 1.6 Non-finite forms 1.6.1 The participles 1.6.2 The infinitives 1.6.3 The supine 1.6.4 The gerund 1.6.5 The gerundive 1.7 Periphrastic conjugations 1.7.1 Active 1.7.2 Passive 1.8 Peculiarities within conjugation and non-finite forms 1.8.1 Irregular verbs 1.8.2 Deponent and semi-deponent verbs 1.8.3 Third conjugation –iō verbs 1.8.4 Defective verbs 1.8.4.1 āiō — I affirm, state 1.8.4.2 inquam — I say 1.8.4.3 fārī — to speak 1.8.5 Impersonal verbs 1.8.6 Irregular future active participles 1.8.7 Syncopated verb forms 1.9 Summary of forms 1.9.1 The four conjugations in the indicative mood 1.10 References 1.11 See also 1.12 External links

Overview of the Latin Verb

Latin verb properties

Latin verbs have the following properties.

1. Two aspects—perfective, imperfective

2. Two voices—active, passive

3. Three finite moods—indicative, subjunctive, imperative

4. Four non-finite forms—infinitive, gerund, participle, supine

5. Six tenses—

Present	Perfect
Imperfect	Pluperfect
Future	Future Perfect

6. Two numbers—singular, plural

7. Three persons—first, second, third

The four conjugations

There exist four important systems of verb inflection. These are the four conjugations.

The first conjugation

The first conjugation is characterized by the vowel ā and can be recognized by the -āre ending of the present active infinitive. The principal parts usually adhere to the following patterns.

• perfect with –vī

portō, portāre, portāvī, portātum — to carry, bring

amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum — to love, be fond of

—— All regular first conjugation verbs follow this pattern. ——

• perfect with –uī

secō, secāre, secuī, sectum — to cut, divide

fricō, fricāre, fricuī, frictum — to rub

vetō, vetāre, vetuī, vetitum — to forbid, prohibit

• perfect with –ī and stem vowel lengthening

lavō, lavāre, lāvī, lautum — to wash, bathe

iuvō, iuvāre, iūvī, iūtum — to help, assist

• reduplicated perfect

stō, stāre, stetī, statum — to stand

dō, dare, dedī, datum – to give, bestow ^irregular

The second conjugation

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

• perfect with –uī

terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum — to frighten, deter

doceō, docēre, docuī, doctum — to teach, instruct

teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentum — to hold, keep

—— All regular second conjugation verbs follow this pattern. ——

• perfect with –vī

dēleō, dēlēre, dēlēvī, dēlētum — to destroy, efface

cieō, ciēre, cīvī, citum — to arouse, stir

• perfect with –sī and –xī

augeō, augēre, auxī, auctum — to increase, enlarge

iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussum — to order, bid

• reduplicated perfect with –ī

mordeō, mordēre, momordī, morsum — to bite, nip

spondeō, spondēre, spopondī, spōnsum — to vow, promise

• perfect with –ī and vowel lengthening

videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum — to see, notice

foveō, fovēre, fōvī, fōtum — to caress, cherish

• perfect with –ī only

strīdeō, strīdere, strīdī — to hiss, creak

ferveō, fervēre, fervī¹ — to boil, seethe

¹may be fervuī.

The third conjugation

The third conjugation is characterized by a short thematic vowel, which alternates between e, i, and u in different environments. Verbs of this conjugation end in an –ere in the present active infinitive. There is no one regular rule for constructing the perfect stem of third-conjugation verbs, but the following patterns are used.

• perfect with –sī and –xī

carpō, carpere, carpsī, carptum — to pluck, select

trahō, trahere, trāxī, trāctum — to drag, draw

gerō, gerere, gessī, gestum — to wear, bear

flectō, flectere, flexī, flexum — to bend, twist

• reduplicated perfect with –ī

currō, currere, cucurrī, cursum — to run, race

caedō, caedere, cecīdī, caesum — to kill, slay

tangō, tangere, tetigī, tāctum — to touch, hit

pellō, pellere, pepulī, pulsum — to beat, drive away

• perfect with -vī

petō, petere, petīvī, petītum — to seek, attack

linō, linere, līvī, lītum — to smear, befoul

serō, serere, sēvī, satum — to sow, plant

terō, terere, trīvī, trītum — to rub, wear out

sternō, sternere, strāvī, strātum — to spread, stretch out

• perfect with –ī and vowel lengthening

agō, agere, ēgī, āctum — to do, drive

legō, legere, lēgī, lēctum — to collect, read

emō, emere, ēmī, ēmptum — to buy, purchase

vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum — to conquer, master

fundō, fundere, fūdī, fūsum — to pour, utter

• perfect with –ī only

īcō, īcere, īcī, īctum — to strike, smite

vertō, vertere, vertī, versum — to turn, alter

vīsō, visere, vīsī, vīsum — to visit

• perfect with –uī

metō, metere, messuī, messum — to reap, harvest

vomō, vomere, vomuī, vomitum — to vomit

colō, colere, coluī, cultum — to cultivate, till

texō, texere, texuī, textum — to weave, plait

gignō, gignere, genuī, genitum — to beget, cause

• present stem with a –u

minuō, minuere, minuī, minūtum — to lessen, diminish

ruō, ruere, ruī, rutum — to collapse, hurl down

struō, struere, strūxī, strūctum — to build, erect

• verbs with –scō

nōscō, nōscere, nōvī, nōtum — to investigate, learn

adolēscō, adolēscere, adolēvī — to grow up, mature

flōrēscō, flōrēscere, flōruī — to begin flourish, blossom

haerēscō, haerēscere, haesī, haesum — to adhere, stick

pāscō, pāscere, pāvī, pāstum — to feed, nourish

Intermediate between the third and fourth conjugation are the third-conjugation –iō verbs, discussed below.

The fourth conjugation

The fourth conjugation is characterized by the vowel ī and can be recognized by the -īre ending of the present active infinitive. The fourth conjugation verbs\' principal parts generally adhere to the following patterns.

• perfect with –vī

audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītus, a, um — to hear, listen (to)

muniō, munīre, munīvī, munītus, a, um — to fortify, build

—— All regular fourth conjugation verbs follow this pattern.

• perfect with –uī

aperiō, aperīre, aperuī, apertum – to open, uncover

• perfect with –sī and –xī

saepiō, saepīre, saepsī, saeptum – to surround, enclose

sanciō, sancīre, sānxī, sānctum – to confirm, ratify

sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum – to feel, perceive

• perfect with –ī and vowel lengthening

veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum – to come, arrive

Personal endings

Personal endings are used in all tenses. The present, imperfect, future, pluperfect and future perfect tenses use the same personal endings in the active voice. However, the pluperfect and future perfect do not have personal endings in the passive voice. The perfect tense uses its own personal endings in the active voice.

		Active		Passive
		Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Familiar	First Person	ō, m	mus	or, r	mur
	Second Person	s	tis	ris (re)	minī
	Third Person	t	nt	tur	ntur
		Active
		Singular	Plural
Perfect	First Person	ī	imus
	Second Person	istī	istis
	Third Person	it	ērunt (ēre)

Imperfective aspect tenses

The tenses of the imperfective aspect, which are the present, imperfect and future tenses, express an action that hasn\'t been completed. The verbs for explanation are:

1^st Conjugation: portō, portāre, portāvī, portātum — to carry, bring

2^nd Conjugation: terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum — to frighten, deter

3^rd Conjugation: petō, petere, petīvī, petītum — to seek, attack

4^th Conjugation: audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum – to hear, listen (to)

For the all conjugations, the –re is removed from the second principal part. For example, from portāre, portā is formed. This is the present stem, and it is used for all of the tenses in the imperfective aspect. Occasionally, the terminating vowel of the stem is lengthened and/or shortened, and sometimes completely changed. This is especially so in the third conjugation and most conjugations in the subjunctive mood.

Present tense

The present tense (Latin tempus praesēns) is used to show an uncompleted action which happens in the current time. The present tense does not have a tense sign. Instead, the personal endings are added to the bare present stem. However, in this tense the thematical vowel, most notably the ě in the third conjugation, changes the most frequently.

Indicative present

The indicative present expresses general truths, facts, demands and desires. Most commonly, a verb like portō can be translated as "I carry," "I do carry," or "I am carrying."

• In all but the third conjugation, the thematical vowel of the stem is only used. In the third conjugation, the e is only used in the second person singular in the passive for a less difficult pronunciation. Otherwise, it becomes either an i or u.
• The first person singular of the indicative active present is the first principal part. All end in –ō.

	Indicative Active Present
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portō	portāmus	terreō	terrēmus	petō	petimus	audiō	audīmus
Second Person	portās	portātis	terrēs	terrētis	petis	petitis	audīs	audītis
Third Person	portat	portant	terret	terrent	petit	petunt	audit	audiunt

Add the passive endings to form the passive voice. The passive portor can be translated as "I am carried," or "I am being carried."

	Indicative Passive Present
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portor	portāmur	terreor	terrēmur	petor	petimur	audior	audīmur
Second Person	portāris	portāminī	terrēris	terrēminī	peteris	petiminī	audīris	audīminī
Third Person	portātur	portantur	terrētur	terrentur	petitur	petuntur	audītur	audiuntur

Notice that the second person singular for petere is peteris instead of the supposed petiris.

Subjunctive present

The subjunctive present may be used to assert many things. In general, in independent sentences, it is translated hortatorily (only in the third person plural), jussively and optatively. Portem can be translated as "Let me carry." or "May I carry." Portēmus can be "Let us carry."

Some alterations have occurred in the vowels from the indicative and subjunctive.

• The first conjugation now uses an e and an ē.
• The second conjugation uses ea and eā.
• In the third conjugation all thematicals have become either a or ā.
• The fourth conjugation now has either ia or iā.

"We eat caviar" is a helpful mnemonic for remembering this. 1st conjugation verbs have an "e" in their stem (we), 2nd conjugation verbs have an "-ea" (eat), third conjugation verbs have an "a" (caviar), and fourths have an "ia" (caviar). Other acceptable mnemonics include she reads a diary, he beats a liar, everybody eats apple iambics, or let\'s steal a fiat.

	Subjunctive Active Present
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portem	portēmus	terream	terreāmus	petam	petāmus	audiam	audiāmus
Second Person	portēs	portētis	terreās	terreātis	petās	petātis	audiās	audiātis
Third Person	portet	portent	terreat	terreant	petat	petant	audiat	audiant

Like the indicative, active personal endings may be replaced by passive personal endings. Porter can be translated as "Let me be carried" or "May I be carried." Hortatorily, Portēmur can be "Let us be carried."

	Subjunctive Passive Present
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	porter	portēmur	terrear	terreāmur	petar	petāmur	audiar	audiāmur
Second Person	portēris	portēminī	terreāris	terreāminī	petāris	petāminī	audiāris	audiāminī
Third Person	portētur	portentur	terreātur	terreantur	petātur	petantur	audiātur	audiantur

Imperative present

The imperative in the present conveys commands, pleas and recommendations. Portā can be translated as "Carry you." or simply, "Carry." The imperative present only occurs in the second person.

• The second person singular in the active voice only uses the bare stem, and doesn\'t add an imperative ending.

	Imperative Active Present
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Second Person	portā	portāte	terrē	terrēte	pete	petite	audī	audīte

The imperative present of the passive voice is rarely used. Portāminī can be translated as "Be carried you." or "Be carried."

• The singular uses the present active infinitive, and the plural uses the present passive indicative form of the second person plural.

	Imperative Passive Present
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Second Person	portāre	portāminī	terrēre	terrēminī	petere	petiminī	audīre	audīminī

Imperfect tense

The imperfect tense (Latin tempus imperfectum) indicates a perpetual, but incomplete action in the past. It is recognized by the tense signs bǎ and bā in the indicative, and re and rē in the subjunctive.

Indicative imperfect

In the indicative mood, the imperfect simply express an action in the past that was not completed. Portābam can be translated to mean "I was carrying," "I kept carrying," or "I used to carry."

• In the indicative, the imperfect employs its tense signs ba and bā before personal endings are added.

	Indicative Active Imperfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portābam	portābāmus	terrēbam	terrēbāmus	petēbam	petēbāmus	audiēbam	audiēbāmus
Second Person	portābās	portābātis	terrēbās	terrēbātis	petēbās	petēbātis	audiēbās	audiēbātis
Third Person	portābat	portābant	terrēbat	terrēbant	petēbat	petēbant	audiēbat	audiēbant

As with the present tense, active personal endings are taken off, and passive personal endings are put in their place. Portābar can be translated as "I was being carried," "I kept being carried," or "I used to be carried."

	Indicative Passive Imperfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portābar	portābāmur	terrēbar	terrēbāmur	petēbar	petēbāmur	audiēbar	audiēbāmur
Second Person	portābāris	portābāminī	terrēbāris	terrēbaminī	petēbāris	petēbāminī	audiēbāris	audiēbāminī
Third Person	portābātur	portābantur	terrēbātur	terrēbantur	petēbātur	petēbantur	audiēbātur	audiēbantur

Subjunctive imperfect

In the subjunctive, the imperfect tense is quite important, especially in subordinate clauses. Independently, it is largely translated conditionally. Portārem can mean "I should carry," or "I would carry."

• Unlike the indicative, the subjunctive doesn\'t modify the thematic vowel. The third conjugation\'s thematical remains short as an e, and the fourth conjugation doesn\'t use an iē before the imperfect signs. It keeps its ī.
• In the subjunctive, the imperfect employs its tense signs re and rē before personal endings.
• The verbs esse (to be) has two subjunctive imperfects: one using the present infinitive (essem, esses, esset, essemus, essetis, essent) and one using the future infinitive (forem, fores, foret, foremus, foretis, forent).

	Subjunctive Active Imperfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portārem	portārēmus	terrērem	terrērēmus	peterem	peterēmus	audīrem	audīrēmus
Second Person	portārēs	portārētis	terrērēs	terrērētis	peterēs	peterētis	audīrēs	audīrētis
Third Person	portāret	portārent	terrēret	terrērent	peteret	peterent	audīret	audīrent

As with the indicative subjunctive, active endings are removed, and passive endings are added. Portārer may be translated as "I should be carried," or "I would be carried."

	Subjunctive Passive Imperfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portārer	portārēmur	terrērer	terrērēmur	peterer	peterēmur	audīrer	audīrēmur
Second Person	portārēris	portārēminī	terrērēris	terrērēminī	peterēris	peterēminī	audīrēris	audīrēminī
Third Person	portārētur	portārentur	terrērētur	terrērentur	peterētur	peterentur	audīrētur	audīrentur

Future tense

The future tense (Latin tempus futūrum simplex) expresses an uncompleted action in the future. It is recognized by its tense signs bō, bi, bu, e and ē in the indicative and the vowel ō in the imperative mood.

Indicative future

The future tense always refers to an incomplete action. Also, the future tense is more strict in usage temporally in Latin than it is in English. Standing alone, portābō can mean "I shall carry," or "I will carry." Remember that "shall" and "will" are only used in the first person. All other persons only use "will" in the indicative.

• The first and second conjugations use bō, bi and bu as signs for the future indicative.
• The third and fourth conjugations replace their thematicals with a, ě and ē. The fourth conjugation inserts an ǐ before the a, e and ē.

	Indicative Active Future
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portābō	portābimus	terrēbō	terrēbimus	petam	petēmus	audiam	audiēmus
Second Person	portābis	portābitis	terrēbis	terrēbitis	petēs	petētis	audiēs	audiētis
Third Person	portābit	portābunt	terrēbit	terrēbunt	petet	petent	audiet	audient

As with all imperfective system tenses, active personal endings are removed, and passive personal endings are put on. Portābor translates as "I shall be carried."

	Indicative Passive Future
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portābor	portābimur	terrēbor	terrēbimur	petar	petēmur	audiar	audiēmur
Second Person	portāberis	portābiminī	terrēberis	terrēbiminī	petēris	petēminī	audiēris	audiēminī
Third Person	portābitur	portābuntur	terrēbitur	terrēbuntur	petētur	petentur	audiētur	audientur

Notice that the second person singular for portāre and terrēre are portāberis and terrēbiris instead of the supposed portābiris and terrēberis. The former inflections are used to ease pronunciation.

Imperative future

The so-called future imperative was an archaic and formal form of the imperative; by the classical period it was chiefly used in legal documents and the like. A few irregular or defective verbs (esse \'be\', meminisse \'remember\') used this form as their only imperative.

Portātō can be translated as "You shall carry".

• As mentioned previously, the vowel ō is used as a sign of the future imperative.

	Imperative Active Future
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Second Person	portātō	portātōte	terrētō	terrētōte	petitō	petitōte	audītō	audītōte
Third Person	portātō	portantō	terrētō	terrentō	petitō	petuntō	audītō	audiuntō

The letter R is used to designate the passive voice in the future imperative. The second person plural is absent here. Portātor translates as "You shall be carried."

	Imperative Passive Future
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Second Person	portātor	——	terrētor	——	petitor	——	audītor	——
Third Person	portātor	portantor	terrētor	terrentor	petitor	petuntor	audītor	audiuntor

Perfective aspect tenses

The tenses of the perfective aspect, which are the perfect, pluperfect and future perfect tenses, are used to express actions that have been completed. The verbs used for explanation are.

1^st Conjugation: portō, portāre, portāvī, portātum — to carry, bring

2^nd Conjugation: terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum — to frighten, deter

3^rd Conjugation: petō, petere, petīvī, petītum — to seek, attack

4^th Conjugation: audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum – to hear, listen (to)

For all conjugations, the –ī is removed from the third principal part. For example, from portāvī, portāv is formed. This is the perfect stem, and it is used for all of the tenses in the perfective aspect. The perfective aspect verbs also use the perfect passive participle in the passive voice. See below to see how it is formed. Along with these participles, the verb esse, which means "to be", is used.

Unlike the imperfective aspect, inflection does not deviate from conjugation to conjugation.

Perfect tense

The perfect tense (Latin tempus perfectum) refers to an action completed in the past. Tense signs are only used in this tense with the indicative. The tense signs of the subjunctive are eri and erī.

Indicative perfect

The indicative perfect expresses a finished action in the past. If the action wasn\'t finished, but still lies in the past, one would use the imperfect tense. Portāvī is translated as "I carried," "I did carry," or "I have carried."

• As aforementioned, the indicative present in the active voice has its special personal endings.

	Indicative Active Perfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portāvī	portāvimus	terruī	terruimus	petīvī	petīvimus	audīvī	audīvimus
Second Person	portāvistī	portāvistis	terruistī	terruistis	petīvistī	petīvistis	audīvistī	audīvistis
Third Person	portāvit	portāvērunt	terruit	terruērunt	petīvit	petīvērunt	audīvit	audīvērunt

In the passive voice, the perfect passive participle is used with the auxiliary verb esse. It uses the indicative present form of esse. Portātus sum translates as "I was carried," or "I have been carried."

	Indicative Passive Perfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portātus sum	portātī sumus	territus sum	territī sumus	petītus sum	petītī sumus	audītus sum	audītī sumus
Second Person	portātus es	portātī estis	territus es	territī estis	petītus es	petītī estis	audītus es	audītī estis
Third Person	portātus est	portātī sunt	territus est	territī sunt	petītus est	petītī sunt	audītus est	audītī sunt

Subjunctive perfect

Like the subjunctive imperfect, the subjunctive perfect is largely used in subordinate clauses. Independently, it is usually translated as the potential subjunctive. By itself, portāverim translates as "I may have carried."

• The tense signs eri and erī are used before the personal endings are added.

	Subjunctive Active Perfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portāverim	portāverīmus	terruerim	terruerīmus	petīverim	petīverīmus	audīverim	audīverīmus
Second Person	portāverīs	portāverītis	terruerīs	terruerītis	petīverīs	petīverītis	audīverīs	audīverītis
Third Person	portāverit	portāverint	terruerit	terruerint	petīverit	petīverint	audīverit	audīverint

The passive voice uses the perfect passive participle with the subjunctive present forms of esse. Portātus sim means "I may have been carried."

	Subjunctive Passive Perfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portātus sim	portātī sīmus	territus sim	territī sīmus	petītus sim	petītī sīmus	audītus sim	audītī sīmus
Second Person	portātus sīs	portātī sītis	territus sīs	territī sītis	petītus sīs	petītī sītis	audītus sīs	audītī sītis
Third Person	portātus sit	portātī sint	territus sit	territī sint	petītus sit	petītī sint	audītus sit	audītī sint

Pluperfect tense

The pluperfect tense (Latin tempus plūs quam perfectum) expresses an action which was completed before another completed action. It is recognized by the tense signs era and erā in the indicative and isse and issē in the subjunctive.

Indicative pluperfect

As with English, in Latin, the indicative pluperfect is used to assert an action which was completed before another (perfect tense). Portāveram translates as "I had carried."

• The tense sign erā is employed before adding the personal endings, with the long ā following the usual rules for shortening before final -m, -t, and -nt.

	Indicative Active Pluperfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portāveram	portāverāmus	terrueram	terruerāmus	petīveram	petīverāmus	audīveram	audīverāmus
Second Person	portāverās	portāverātis	terruerās	terrurerātis	petīverās	petīverātis	audīverās	audīverātis
Third Person	portāverat	portāverant	terruerat	terruerant	petīverat	petīverant	audīverat	audīverant

In the passive voice, the present passive participle is utilized with esse in the indicative imperfect. Portātus eram is translated as "I had been carried."

	Indicative Passive Pluperfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portātus eram	portātī erāmus	territus eram	territī erāmus	petītus eram	petītī erāmus	audītus eram	audītī erāmus
Second Person	portātus erās	portātī erātis	territus erās	territī erātis	petītus erās	petītī erātis	audītus erās	audītī erātis
Third Person	portātus erat	portātī erant	territus erat	territī erant	petītus erat	petītī erant	audītus erat	audītī erant

Subjunctive pluperfect

The subjunctive pluperfect is to the subjunctive perfect as the subjunctive imperfect is to the subjunctive present. Simply put, it is used with the subjunctive perfect in subordinate clauses. Like the subjunctive imperfect, it is translated conditionally independently. Portāvissem is translated as "I should have carried," or "I would have carried."

• The tense signs isse and issē are used before the personal endings.

	Subjunctive Active Pluperfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portāvissem	portāvissēmus	terruissem	terruissēmus	petīvissem	petīvissēmus	audīvissem	audīvissēmus
Second Person	portāvissēs	portāvissētis	terruissēs	terruissētis	petīvissēs	petīvissētis	audīvissēs	audīvissētis
Third Person	portāvisset	portāvissent	terruisset	terruissent	petīvisset	petīvissent	audīvisset	audīvissent

As always, the passive voice voice uses the perfect passive participle. The subjunctive imperfect of esse is used here. Portātus essem may mean "I should have been carried," or "I could have been carried," in the conditional sense.

	Subjunctive Passive Pluperfect
	portāre		terrēre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portātus essem	portātī essēmus	territus essem	territī essēmus
Second Person	portātus essēs	portātī essētis	territus essēs	territī essētis
Third Person	portātus esset	portātī essent	territus esset	territī essent
	petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	petītus essem	petītī essēmus	audītus essem	audītī essēmus
Second Person	petītus essēs	petītī essētis	audītus essēs	audītī essētis
Third Person	petītus esset	petītī essent	audītus esset	audītī essent

Future perfect tense

The least used of all the tenses, the future perfect tense (Latin tempus futūrum exāctum) conveys an action that will have been completed before another action. It is signified by the tense signs erō and eri. The future perfect tense is the only tense that occurs in a single mood.

Indicative future perfect

As said, the future perfect is used to mention an action that will have been completed in futurity before another action. It is often used with the future tense. In simple translation, portāverō means "I will have carried," or "I shall have carried."

• The tense signs erō and eri are used before the personal endings.

	Indicative Active Future Perfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portāverō	portāverimus	terruerō	terruerimus	petīverō	petīverimus	audīverō	audīverimus
Second Person	portāveris	portāveritis	terrueris	terrueritis	petīveris	petīveritis	audīveris	audīveritis
Third Person	portāverit	portāverint	terruerit	terruerint	petīverit	petīverint	audīverit	audīverint

As with all perfective aspect tenses, the perfect passive participle is used in the passive voice. However, the future perfect uses the indicative future of esse as the auxiliary verb. Portātus erō is "I will have been carried," or "I shall have been carried."

	Indicative Passive Future Perfect
	portāre		terrēre		petere		audīre
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	portātus erō	portātī erimus	territus erō	territī erimus	petītus erō	petītī erimus	audītus erō	audītī erimus
Second Person	portātus eris	portātī eritis	territus eris	territī eritis	petītus eris	petītī eritis	audītus eris	audītī eritis
Third Person	portātus erit	portātī erunt	territus erit	territī erunt	petītus erit	petītī erunt	audītus erit	audītī erunt

Non-finite forms

The non-finite forms of verbs are participles, infinitives, supines, gerunds and gerundives. The verbs used are:

1^st Conjugation: portō, portāre, portāvī, portātum — to carry, bring

2^nd Conjugation: terreō, terrēre. terruī, territum — to frighten, deter

3^rd Conjugation: petō, petere, petīvī, petītum — to seek, attack

4^th Conjugation: audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum – to hear, listen (to)

The participles

See also: Participle

There are three participles: present active, perfect passive and future active.

• The present active participle is declined like a third declension adjective with one ending.
  • In the first and second conjugations, the present active infinitive is formed by taking the present stem and adding an –ns. The genitive singular form adds an –ntis, and the thematicals ā and ē are shortened.
  • In the third conjugation, the e of the present stem is lengthened. In the genitive, the ē is short again.
  • In the fourth conjugation, the ī is shortened, and an ē is placed. Of course, this ē is short in the genitive.
  • Puer portāns translates into "carrying boy."
• The perfect passive participle is declined like a first and second declension adjective.
  • In all conjugations, the perfect participle is formed by taking the –um from the supine, and adding a –us (masculine nominative singular).
  • Puer portātus translates into "carried boy."
• The future active participle is declined like a first and second declension adjective.
  • In all counjugations the –um is removed from the supine, and an –ūrus (masculine nominative singular) is added.
  • Puer portātūrus translates into "boy about to carry," or "boy who is about to carry."

	Participles
	portāre	terrēre	petere	audīre
Present Active	portāns, –antis	terrēns, –entis	petēns, –entis	audiēns, –entis
Perfect Passive	portātus, –a, –um	territus, –a, –um	petītus, –a, –um	audītus, –a, –um
Future Active	portātūrus, –a, –um	territūrus, –a, –um	petītūrus, –a, –um	audītūrus, –a, –um

The infinitives

See also: Infinitive

There are six infinitives. They are in the present active, present passive, perfect active, perfect passive, future active and future passive.

• The present active infinitive is the second principal part (in regular verbs).
  • Portāre means "to carry."
• The present passive infinitive is formed by adding a –rī to the present stem. This is only so for the first, second and fourth conjugations. In the third conjugation, the thematical vowel, e, is taken from the present stem, and an –ī.
  • Portārī translates into "to be carried."
• The perfect active infinitive is formed by adding an –isse onto the perfect stem.
  • Portāvisse translates into "to have carried."
• The perfect passive infinitive uses the perfect passive participle along with the auxiliary verb esse. The perfect passive infinitive must agree with what it is describing in number and gender.
  • Portātus esse means "to have been carried."
• The future active infinitive uses the future active participle with the auxiliary verb esse.
  • Portātūrus esse means "to be going to carry." The future active infinitive must agree with what it is describing in number and gender.
  • Esse has two future infinitives: futurus esse and fore.
• The future passive infinitive uses the supine with the auxiliary verb īrī.
  • Portātum īrī is translated as "to be going to be carried." This is normally used in indirect speech. For example: Omnēs senātōres dīxērunt templum conditum īrī. "All the senators said that a temple will be built."

Here, masculine endings are used.

	Infinitives
	portāre	terrēre	petere	audīre
Present Active	portāre	terrēre	petere	audīre
Present Passive	portārī	terrērī	petī	audīrī
Perfect Active	portāvisse	terruisse	petīvisse	audīvisse
Perfect Passive	portātus esse	territus esse	petītus esse	audītus esse
Future Active	portātūrus esse	territūrus esse	petītūrus esse	audītūrus esse
Future Passive	portātum īrī	territum īrī	petītum īrī	audītum īrī

The supine

See also: Supine

The supine is the fourth principal part. It resembles a masculine noun of the fourth declension. Supines only occur in the accusative and ablative cases.

• The accusative form ends in a –um, and is used with a verb of motion show the purpose. Thus, it is only used with verbs like cedere, venīre, etc. The accusative form of a supine can also take an object if needed.
  • Pater vēnit portātum līberōs suōs. — The father came to carry his children.
• The ablative, which ends in a –ū, is used with the Ablative of Specification.
  • Arma haec facillima portātū erant. — These arms were the easiest to carry.

	Supine
	portāre	terrēre	petere	audīre
Accusative	portātum	territum	petītum	audītum
Ablative	portātū	territū	petītū	audītū

The gerund

See also: Gerund

The gerund is formed similarly to the present active participle. However, the –ns becomes an –ndus, and the preceding ā or ē is shortened. Gerunds are neuter nouns of the second declension, but the nominative case is not present. The gerund is a noun, meaning "the act of doing (the verb)".

• Portandī can mean "of carrying." Portandō (dative) can mean "to carrying." Portandum can simply mean "carrying." Portandō (ablative) can mean "by carrying," "in respect to carrying," etc.

	Gerund
	portāre	terrēre	petere	audīre
Genitive	portandī	terrendī	petendī	audiendī
Dative	portandō	terrendō	petendō	audiendō
Accusative	portandum	terrendum	petendum	audiendum
Ablative	portandō	terrendō	petendō	audiendō
Locative	portandō	terrendō	petendō	audiendō

The preposition ad can be used with a gerund in the accusative singular case to indicate purpose. For example, ad oppugnandum is translated as "to attack". However, when an object is introduced, Romans usually converted the gerund to a gerundive, agreeing with the accusative object. For example, "to attack the enemy" would become ad hostes oppugnandos, which, while technically grammatically wrong, was the normal way of using this construction. The gerundive is said to be "attracted" into the case of the noun, and occurred because Romans (mistakenly) thought that the gerund(ive) and the object should be in the same case.

The gerundive

See also: Gerundive

The gerundive is the passive equivalent of the gerund, and much more common in Latin. It is a first and second declension adjective, and means "[the act of] (the verb) being done". Often, the gerundive is used with an implicit esse, to show obligation.

• Puer portandus means "(the) boy should be carried," or "(the) boy who should be carried." Amanda means "She who must be loved".

Gerundive
portāre	terrēre	petere	audīre
portandus, –a, –um	terrendus, –a, –um	petendus, –a, –um	audiendus, –a, –um

Periphrastic conjugations

There are two periphrastic conjugations. One is active, and the other is passive.

Active

The first periphrastic conjugation uses the future participle. It is combined with the forms of esse. It is translated as "I am going to carry," "I was going to carry", etc.

	Conjugation	Translation
Pres. Ind.	portātūrus sum	I am going to carry
Imp. Ind.	portātūrus eram	I was going to carry
Fut. Ind.	portātūrus erō	I will be going to carry
Perf. Ind.	portātūrus fuī	I have been going to carry
Plup. Ind.	portātūrus fueram	I had been going to carry
Fut. Perf. Ind.	portātūrus fuerō	I will have been going to carry
Pres. Subj.	portātūrus sim	I may be going to carry
Imp. Subj.	portātūrus essem	I should be going to carry
Perf. Subj.	portātūrus fuerim	I may have been going to carry
Plup. Subj.	portātūrus fuissem	I should have been going to carry

Passive

The second periphrastic conjugation uses the gerundive. It is combined with the forms of esse. It is translated as "I am to be carried," "I was to be carried", etc.

	Conjugation	Translation
Pres. Ind.	portandus sum	I am to be carried
Imp. Ind.	portandus eram	I was to be carried
Fut. Ind.	portandus erō	I will deserve to be carried
Perf. Ind.	portandus fuī	I was to be carried
Plup. Ind.	portandus fueram	I had deserved to be carried
Fut. Perf. Ind.	portandus fuerō	I will have deserved to be carried
Pres. Subj.	portandus sim	I may deserve to be carried
Imp. Subj.	portandus essem	I should deserve to be carried
Perf. Subj.	portandus fuerim	I may have deserved to be carried
Plup. Subj.	portandus fuissem	I should have deserved to be carried
Pres. Inf.	portandus esse	To deserve to be carried
Perf. Inf.	portandus fuisse	To have deserved to be carried

Peculiarities within conjugation and non-finite forms

Irregular verbs

There are a few irregular verbs in Latin that aren\'t grouped into a particular conjugation (such as esse and posse), or deviate slightly from a conjugation (such as ferre, īre, and dare). It consists of the following list and their compounds (such as conferre). Many irregular verbs lack a fourth principal part.

sum, esse, fuī, futūrus — to be, exist

possum, posse, potuī — to be able, can

eō, īre, īvī (or īī), ītum — to go

volō, velle, voluī — to wish, want

nōlō, nōlle, nōluī — to be unwilling, refuse

mālō, mālle, māluī — to prefer

ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum (Old Latin tlātum) — to bear, endure

fiō, fīerī, factus sum — to become, happen

edō, ēsse (edere), ēdī, ēsum – to eat, waste

dō, dare, dedī, datum — to give, bestow

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. Some example coming from all conjugations are:

1^st Conjugation: mīror, mīrārī, mīrātus sum — to admire, wonder

2^nd Conjugation: polliceor, pollicērī, pollicitus sum — to promise, offer

3^rd Conjugation: loquor, loquī, locūtus sum — to speak, say

4^th Conjugation: orior, orīrī, ortus sum – to rise, spring up

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. They cannot be used in the passive themselves, and their analogues with "active" form do not in fact exist: one cannot directly translate "The word is said" with any form of loquī, and there are no forms like loquō, loquis, loquit, etc.

Semi-deponent verbs form their impefective aspect tenses 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. An example:

audeō, audēre, ausus sum — to dare, venture

Note: In the Romance languages, which lack deponent or passive verb forms, the Classical Latin deponent verbs either disappeared (being replaced with non-deponent verbs of a similar meaning) or changed to a non-deponent form. For example, in Spanish and Italian, mīrārī changed to mirar(e) by changing all the verb forms to the previously nonexistent "active form", and audeō changed to osar(e) by taking the participle ausus and making an -ar(e) verb out of it (note that au went to o).

Third conjugation –iō verbs

There is a rather prolific subset of important verbs within the third conjugation. They have an –iō present in the first principal part (–ior for deponents), and resemble the fourth conjugation in some forms. Otherwise, they are still conjugated as normal, third conjugation verbs. Thus, these verbs are called third conjugation –iō verbs or third conjugation i-stems. Some examples are:

capiō, capere, cēpī, captum — to take, seize

rapiō, rapere, rapuī, raptum — to plunder, take up

faciō, facere, fēcī, factum — to do, make

cupiō, cupere, cupīvī, cupītum — to desire, long for

morior, morī, mortuus sum (dep.) — to die, decay

patior, patī, passus sum (dep.) — to suffer, undergo

They resemble the fourth conjugation in the following instances.

Indicative present (first person singular, third person plural) — capiō, capiunt, etc.

Indicative imperfect — capiēbam, capiēbāmus, etc.

Indicative future — capiam, capiēmus, etc.

Subjunctive present — capiam, capiāmus, etc.

Imperative future (third person plural) — cupiuntō, etc.

Present Active Participle — capiēns, –entis

Gerund — capiendī, capiendum, etc.

Gerundive — capiendus, –a, –um

Defective verbs

Defective verbs are verbs that are only conjugated in only some instances.

• Some verbs are only conjugated in the perfective aspect\'s tenses, yet have the imperfective aspect\'s tenses\' meanings. As such, the perfect becomes the present, the pluperfect becomes the imperfect, and the future perfect becomes the future. So, the defective verb ōdī means "I hate." These defective verbs\' principal parts are given in vocabulary with the indicative perfect in the first person and the perfect active infinitive. Some examples are:

ōdī, ōdisse — to hate

meminī, meminisse — to remember

coepī, coepisse — to have begun

• A few verbs, which meanings usually have to do with speech, only appear in certain occurrences.

Queō, quīre, quīvī (to be able) and nequeō, nequīre, nequīvī (to be unable) are conjugated like īre, and only occur in the present tense.

Cedo (plur. cette), which means "Hand it over!" or "Out with it!" is only in the imperative mood, and only is used in the second person.

The following are conjugated irregularly.

āiō — I affirm, state

	Conjugation of āiō
	Indicative Present		Indicative Imperfect		Subjunctive Present
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	āiō	——	āiēbam	āiēbāmus	——	——
Second Person	aīs	——	āiēbās	āiēbātis	āias	——
Third Person	aīt	āiunt	āiēbat	āiēbant	āiat	——

Present Active Participle: — āiēns, –entis

inquam — I say

	Conjugation of inquam
	Indicative Present		Indicative Future		Indicative Perfect
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	inquam	——	——	——	——	——
Second Person	inquis	——	inquiēs	——	——	——
Third Person	inquit	inquiunt	inquiet	——	inquit	——

fārī — to speak

	Conjugation of fārī
	Indicative Present		Indicative Future		Indicative Perfect		Indicative Pluperfect		Imperative Present
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
First Person	for	——	fābor	——	fātus sum	——	fātus eram	——	——	——
Second Person	——	——	——	——	——	——	——	——	fāre	——
Third Person	fātur	fantur	fābitur	——	——	——	——	——	——	——

Present Active Participle — fāns, fantis

Present Active Infinitive — fārī

Supine — (acc.) fātum, (abl.) fātū

Gerund — (gen.) fandī, (dat. and abl.) fandō, no accusative

Gerundive — fandus, –a, –um

The Romance languages lost many of these verbs, but others (such as ōdī and the imperative cedo) survived but became regular fully-conjugated verbs (in Italian, odiare, cedere). While the Spanish verb hablar may be thought to be partially descended from fārī, it is in fact from fabulari, "to speak, chat."

Impersonal verbs

Impersonal verbs are those lacking a person. In English impersonal verbs are usually used with the neuter pronoun "it" (as in "It seems," or "It storms"). Latin uses the third person singular. These verbs lack a fourth principal part. A few examples are:

pluit, pluere, pluvit — to rain (it rains)

ningit, ningere, ninxit — to snow (it snows)

oportet, oportēre, oportuit — to be proper (it is proper, one should/ought to)

The third person forms of esse may also be impersonal.

Nox aestīva calida fuit. — It was a hot, summer night.

Est eī quī terram colunt. — It is they who till the land.

Irregular future active participles

As stated, the future active participle is normally formed by removing the –um from the supine, and adding a –ūrus. However, some deviations occur.

present active infinitive	supine	future active participle
iuvāre	iūtum	iuvātūrus
lavāre	lautum	lavātūrus
parere	partum	paritūrus
ruere	rutum	ruitūrus
secāre	sectum	secātūrus
fruī	fructum1	fruitūrus
morī	mortuum	moritūrus
orīrī	ortum	oritūrus

¹—may be fruitum; this is actually the form from which the future active participle comes from.

Syncopated verb forms

Like most Romance languages, syncopated forms and contractions are present in Latin. They may occur in the following instances.

• The ending –ris in the passive voice may be –re as in:

portābāris → portābāre

• The ending –ērunt in the perfect tense may be –ēre as in:

portāvērunt → portāvēre

• Perfect stems that end in a –v maybe contracted when inflected.

portāvisse → portāsse

portāvistī → portāstī

portāverant → portārant

portāvisset → portāsset

• The compounds of noscere (to learn) and movēre (to move, dislodge) are also able to be contracted.

novistī → nostī

novistis → nostis

commoveram → commoram

commoverās → commorās

Summary of forms

The four conjugations in the indicative mood

	The Four Conjugations, Indicative Mood
	1st		2nd		3rd		3rd (i-stem)		4th
	laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum		terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum		agō, agere, ēgī, actum		capiō, capere, cēpī, captum		audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum
	Active	Passive	Active	Passive	Active	Passive	Active	Passive	Active	Passive
Present
1st Singular	laudō	laudor	terrēo	terreor	agō	agor	capiō	capior	audiō	audior
2nd Person	laudās	laudāris	terrēs	terrēris	agis	ageris	capis	caperis	audīs	audīris (audīre)
3rd Person	laudat	laudātur	terret	terrētur	agit	agitur	capit	capitur	audit	audītur
1st Plural	laudāmus	laudāmur	terrēmus	terrēmur	agimus	agimur	capimus	capimur	audīmus	audīmur
2nd Person	laudātis	laudāminī	terrētis	terrēminī	agitis	agiminī	capitis	capiminī	audītis	audīminī
3rd Person	laudant	laudantur	terrent	terrentur	agunt	aguntur	capiunt	capiuntur	audiunt	audiuntur
Imperfect

References

• New Latin Grammar, an eBook, originally written by Charles Edwin Bennett at the Project Gutenberg

See also

• Grammatical conjugation
• Latin declension
• List of English words from Latin verb forms
• Romance copula
• William Whitaker\'s Words
• Latin mnemonics

External links

For a list of words relating to Latin verbs, see the Latin verbs category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary

• Verbix automatically conjugates verbs in Latin.
• Latin Verb Synopsis Drill tests a user on his ability to conjugate verbs correctly.
• Learn Verbs in Spanish, German or English Conjugation drills.

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