| This page compares the different third person endings for
all of the conjugations and briefly describes the differences between the
various conjugations.
There are three verb conjugations numbered conveniently 1-4. The
classification by conjugation is based upon the stem vowel of the
verb. Here is a summary:
 | 1st Conjugation has a stem vowel in -ā- (long -a-) |
| 2nd Conjugation has a stem vowel in -ź- (long -e-) |
| 3rd Conjugation has a stem vowel in -e- (short -e- which usually
becomes a -i-) |
| 4th Conjugation has a stem vowel in -ī- (long -i-) |
| There is also what is called the 3rd -io which has -ie- as its stem
vowel (a combined short -i- and short -e-). This combination
usually results in the preservation of the -ie- in most of its
endings. |
To determine the conjugation of a verb (and therefore what stem vowels
are going to be employed in the creation of the personal endings), it is
important to know the dictionary entry of the verb. The stem vowel
appears in the infinitive form as well as the 3rd person singular form of
the present tense. Here is a summary:
| |
Infinitive Form |
3rd Person Present Form |
| amo, (1st Conjug.) |
amāre |
amat, amant |
| debeo, (2nd Conjug.) |
debźre |
debet, debent |
| duco, (3rd Conjug.) |
ducere |
ducit, ducunt |
| capio, (3rd -io Conjug.) |
capere |
capit, capiunt |
| audio, (4th Conjug.) |
audīre |
audit, audiunt |
Notes:
| The second conjugation has -eo in the first person singular present
(the first principal part of the dictionary entry). |
| In the third conjugation (regular and -io), the -e- shortens to an -i-
in the third person singular. |
| The third -io conjugation has only the -e- in the infinitive, but
there is an -io in the first person singular present (the first
principal part of the dictionary entry). |
| The fourth conjugation has an -io in the first person singular
present but its infinitive is -ire. |
| The third person plural of the third conjugation has its -i- (short
-i-) turned into a -u- before the final -nt. The -u- also
appears in the 3rd -io and the 4th conjugations. |
|
Other
Verb Elements
Conjugations
Infinitives
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Morphology
Index
Noun Morphology
Adjective Morphology
Pronouns
Verb Elements
Verb Conjugations
Verb Tenses
Irregular Verbs
Infinitive Forms
Imperative Mood
Subjunctive Conjugations
Subjunctive Tenses
Variant Forms
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Related
Topics
Verb Syntax
|
