Latin with Foster

Lesson 14: Making Verb Times

Learning how to form verbs of Times 4, 5, and 6

Why learn times 4-6 first?: *** All verbs in the latin language have the same forms for these times, without exceptions!; ** There are no different conjugations; * All three are formed from the same root (the 3rd principal part).

As we learned in Lesson 13, the third of the 4 principal verb parts is Time 4, and it will be used to construct times 4, 5, and 6.
As an example, we will use the verb "give", listed as do dare dedi dedidatus,a,um.

Instructions: spend no more than 2-3 minutes memorizing how to form each of the verb times. Then do Homework 9.

Time 4

Take the 3rd principal part of the verb, and use the endings learned in Lesson 2, with the following conditions.
You the ** form for you and ye (2nd person)
The form for they (3rd person plural) will be different, instead of "-int" it will be "-erunt"
In some rare cases, 3rd person plural will also take -ere, e.g. dixere.

you

he/she/it

them/them

dedi

dedisti **

dedit

dedimus

dedistis **

dederunt

Time 5

Take the 3rd principal part of the verb, and change the ending from 'i' to 'eram'
Now use the endings learned in Lesson 2 and all of the endings are regular.

I
you
he/she/it
we
ye
them/them

dederam
dederas
dederat
dederamus
dederatis
dederant

Time 6

Take the 3rd principal part of the verb, and change the ending from 'i' to 'ero'
Now use the endings learned in Lesson 2, only you must change that final 'o into an 'i' (the endings are all regular).

you

he/she/it

them/them

dedero

dederis

dederit

dederimus

dederitis

dederint

N.B.

Most of T.5 and T.6 vary by only one letter.
The "they" form (3rd person plural) is identical for all 3 forms except for one letter: dederunt - T.4, dederant - T.5, dederint - T.6.
When pronouncing that "they" form of T.4, the accent goes on the "erunt" ending, therefore: "contavérunt". In T.5 & T.6 it does not go on the ending, thus: contáverant, contáverint.

N.B.

How can one find a verb in the dictionary when given only a part of it in a sentence? This is a problem in every language - one has to learn vocabulary because the dictionary doesn't list all the principal parts. E.g. you cannot look up "thought" in the dictionary, it is under "think". Some examples:

iussero -> iubeo iubere iussi iussus,a,um - to command, order

iunxit -> iungo iungere iunxi iunctus,a,um - to join, unite

obstrinxero -> obstringo obstringere obstrinxi obstrictus,a,um - to bind

tulerunt -> fero ferre tuli latus,a,um - to carry
This last verb, although it looks highly irregular, is commonly used. E.g. Mary Magdalene: tulerunt Dominum meum - they have taken my Lord (T.4a)

"Latin will kill you... if you're not smart." - Fr. Foster

First Experience Latin - Fr. Reginald Foster

Answers to First Experience

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