Unit 4: Verbs
Latin verbs encode person (1st/2nd/3rd), number (singular/plural), tense, voice (active/passive), and mood — all within the verb ending itself. For this exam, focus on: 3rd person indicative (singular and plural) and 2nd person imperative (singular and plural). The verb usually comes LAST in a Latin sentence.
The 3rd person is used when talking ABOUT someone (he/she/it/they), not directly to them.
Active endings: singular -t, plural -nt
Conjugation examples:
1st conj. (amare): amat (he/she loves), amant (they love)
2nd conj. (videre): videt (he/she sees), vident (they see)
3rd conj. (dicere): dicit (he/she says), dicunt (they say)
4th conj. (audire): audit (he/she hears), audiunt (they hear)
irregular (esse): est (he/she/it is), sunt (they are)
The imperative mood is used for giving commands directly to someone (you singular or you plural).
Singular imperative (command to one person): usually the verb stem alone.
ama! (love!), vide! (see!), veni! (come!), audi! (hear!), porta! (carry!)
Plural imperative (command to multiple people): stem + -te.
amate! (love! [all of you]), videte! (see!), venite! (come!), audite! (hear!)
Negative commands use noli (sg) / nolite (pl) + infinitive:
Noli clamare! = Don't shout! (to one person)
Nolite discedere! = Don't leave! (to a group)
Voice tells you whether the subject performs or receives the action.
Active voice: the subject performs the action.
Dominus servum vocat. = The master calls the slave. (dominus acts)
Passive voice: the subject receives the action.
Servus a domino vocatur. = The slave is called by the master. (servus is acted upon)
Passive endings for 3rd person (present tense):
Singular: -tur (vocatur = is called; amatur = is loved; videtur = is seen)
Plural: -ntur (vocantur = are called; amantur = are loved; videntur = are seen)
The agent (who performs the action in a passive sentence) is expressed with a/ab + ablative:
a domino = by the master | ab ancilla = by the maidservant
Master these verbs with their 3rd person active and passive forms.