Beginners' Latin | Tutorial | Introduction to verbs

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Lesson 1: Introduction to verbs

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Word
Glossary list
Grammar table

What is a verb?
A verb is a word that describes an action. Verbs are often called doing words. Examples of verbs: to work, to call,
to pray, to be, to think.

First conjugation verbs

Verbs are divided into groups called conjugations. You can recognise first conjugation verbs as they end are.
These are examples of first conjugation verbs
confirmare

to confirm

dare

to give

edificare

to build

laborare

to work

legare

to leave, bequeath

orare

to pray

vocare

to call

To conjugate, or list the parts, of first conjugation verbs

1. Remove the are
2. Add these endings
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-o

-as

you

-at

he/she/it

-amus

we

-atis

you

-ant

they

Look at our example of dare

Latin

Means in English

do

I give

das

you give

dat

he/she/it gives

damus

we give

datis

you give

dant

they give

Did you notice that most of the endings include a? This is called the key letter .
The exception is the form for I which ends in o.
Can you see how these examples were made?

12/16/2014 11:42 PM

Beginners' Latin | Tutorial | Introduction to verbs

2 of 3

http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/latin/beginners/lesson01/default.htm

Latin

Means in English

laboro

I work

legas

you bequeath

edificat

he/she/it builds

oramus

we pray

vocatis

you call

legant

they bequeath

Differences between English and Latin verbs

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1. Look at the verb to give. In English, the ending of the verb changes once: it acquires an s in he gives. In
Latin, the ending of the verb changes every time. The ending of the verb is crucial as it tells you the
Tense (when the action happens - the present tense )
person (who is doing the action - I, you, he, she, it, we or they)
number (how many people are doing the verb if one, then its singular; if two or more, its plural)
Read through dare again and notice how the endings change.
2. In English, the words I, you, she, he, it, we or they show who is doing the verb. In Latin, these words
are usually unnecessary. damus means we give. A separate word for we is not needed.
3. In Latin, there are two ways of saying you. For example, both das and datis mean you give. The form used
depends on the number of people:
You (singular) when there is one person, for example das
You (plural) when there are two or more people, for example datis
There were two forms of you in English: thou givest and you give. Thou is not used widely in modern English.
Latin document points
This tutorial concentrates on I, he/she/it, we and they.
These are more likely to appear in records than the two forms of you.

4. In our example of dare, the action is happening now the present tense.
In English, there are three ways of describing actions in the present:

In Latin, just one word can be used to convey all three meanings. Latin is more concise than English. It uses fewer
words to express the same meaning.
Dont worry if this seems like a lot to take in. You will get used to Latin and it will become easier. You can get
encouragement and advice on the help the learning process page.
Checklist:
Are you confident with all the stages? If not, read through the lesson again, if you are, tick and move to the
next section of the tutorial.
Why the ending of a verb is important?
How to conjugate dare?
Why there are two ways of saying you in Latin?

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Beginners' Latin | Tutorial | Introduction to verbs

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http://apps.nationalarchives.gov.uk/latin/beginners/lesson01/default.htm

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12/16/2014 11:42 PM