A Free Online Latin Language Audio Course.
Latin Grammar
Over the course of putting my Latinum course together, I noted a few
things about textbooks that teach grammar - the material is not usually
structured for optimal memorisation. Material is presented in
grammatical categories that have been chosen for good philological
reasons, not for ease of learning.
For example, playing around with the ordering of the declensions makes
for a system that can be learned very quickly indeed: I have made
additional learning tables, which you can find here: Cases
compared to the nominative singular.
The following tables are of the case endings for the five Latin
declensions. Only the main forms are given. Check your grammar textbook
for the vowel lengths, and the neuter forms.
SINGULARS
CASE
|
I
|
II
|
III
|
IIII
|
V
|
NOMINATIVE
|
A
|
US
|
CLONES
TRAX
|
US
|
ES
|
VOCATIVE
|
A
|
E
|
CLONES
TRAX
|
US
|
ES
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
AM
|
UM
|
EM
|
UM
|
EM
|
ABLATIVE
|
A
|
O
|
E
|
U
|
E
|
DATIVE
|
AE
|
O
|
I
|
UI
|
EI
|
GENITIVE
|
AE
|
I
|
IS
|
US
|
EI
|
MEMORISE:
AH-AH-UM-A-AE-AE;
( AH AH UM A AE)
US-E-UM-OO-I
( MUSEUM OOEE)
CLONE'S TRAX
EM-E-I-IS ( CLONE'S
TRAX AMAZE)
US-UM- U- UI-
US
(USE 'EM YOU USE)
ES-ES-EM-E-EI-E
(S & M E HEY!)
Some notes: Just say these one after the other, and then write them
down. The words in brackets are rough equivalents that help with
memorisation.
PLURALS
CASE
|
I
|
II
|
III
|
IIII
|
V
|
NOMINATIVE
|
AE
|
I
|
ES
|
US
|
ES
|
VOCATIVE
|
AE
|
I
|
ES
|
US
|
ES
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
AS
|
OS
|
ES
|
US
|
ES
|
ABLATIVE
|
IS
|
IS
|
IBUS
|
IBUS
|
EBUS
|
DATIVE
|
IS
|
IS
|
IBUS
|
IBUS
|
EBUS
|
GENITIVE
|
ARUM
|
ORUM
|
UM
|
UUM
|
ERUM
|
MEMORISE:
AE-AE-AS-IS-ARUM
( I 'AS 'IS
ARM
I.E. "I HAVE HIS ARM")
I-I-OS-IS-ORUM
( EE
-OS-'IS-ORM I.E. "HE HAS HIS
ARM")
ES-IBUS-UM
(EASY
BOSOM)
US -IBUS
-UUM ( USE 'E BOSOM
I.E. "USE YE BOSOM")
ES - EBUS
-ERUM (EASY BOSERUM)
Note the 'rule of two' the first two declensions have the first two
cases the same.
The 'rule of three' - the next three have the first three cases the
same.
Neuters always follow the 'rule of three'
ADJECTIVES:
Learn your adjectives in the order Feminine, Masculine, Neuter, NOT
masc, fem,neuter, as in all grammar books.
Then, the adjective will follow the order of the declensions, and will
give clearer patterns for memorising. Here are the endings for
adjectives that are declined like BONUS.
CASE
|
FEMININE
(follows 1st declension form)
|
MASCULINE
(follows 2nd declension form)
|
NEUTER
(follows masculine)
|
NOMINATIVE
|
A
|
US
|
UM
|
VOCATIVE
|
A
|
E
|
UM
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
AM
|
UM
|
UM
|
ABLATIVE
|
A
|
O
|
O
|
DATIVE
|
AE
|
O
|
O
|
GENITIVE
|
AE
|
I
|
I
|
Note the neuter of the adjective is a neutered masculine. Thus, it
follows the form of the masculine, except if has the 'rule of three'
for the first three cases. Putting it next to the masculine makes it
easier to memorise.
CASE
|
FEMININE plural
(follows 1st declension form)
|
MASCULINE plural
(follows 2nd declension form)
|
NEUTER plural
(follows masculine)
|
NOMINATIVE
|
AE
|
I
|
A
|
VOCATIVE
|
AE
|
I
|
A
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
AS
|
OS
|
A
|
ABLATIVE
|
IS
|
IS
|
IS
|
DATIVE
|
IS
|
IS
|
IS
|
GENITIVE
|
ARUM
|
ORUM
|
ORUM
|
A COMPARATIVE TABLE SHOWING FORMS COMPARED TO FIRST DECLENSION FEMININE
SINGULAR. THERE IS SOME IRREGULARITY, BUT EVEN HERE THERE ARE
PATTERNS.
CASE
|
FEMININE SING
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINATIVE
|
HAEC
|
MUSA
|
BONA
|
MEA
|
ILLA
|
IPSA
|
ISTA
|
EA
|
|
|
VOCATIVE
|
O
|
MUSA
|
BONA
|
MEA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
HANC
|
MUSAM
|
BONAM
|
MEAM
|
ILLAM
|
IPSAM
|
ISTAM
|
EAM
|
|
|
ABLATIVE
|
HAC
|
MUSA
|
BONA
|
MEA
|
ILLA
|
IPSA
|
ISTA
|
EA
|
|
|
DATIVE
|
HUIC
|
MUSAE
|
BONAE
|
MEAE
|
ILLI
|
IPSI
|
ISTI
|
EI
|
|
|
GENITIVE
|
HUJUS
|
MUSAE
|
BONAE
|
MEAE
|
ILLIUS
|
IPSIUS
|
ISTIUS
|
EJUS
|
|
|
A COMPARATIVE TABLE SHOWING FORMS COMPARED TO FIRST DECLENSION FEMININE
PLURAL. NOTE THE REGULARILY OF THE FORMS. MASCULINE PLURAL FORMS ALSO
SHOW REGULARITY.
CASE
|
FEM.
PLURAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINATIVE
|
HAE
|
MUSAE
|
BONAE
|
MEAE
|
ILLAE
|
IPSAE
|
ISTAE
|
EAE
|
QUAE
|
NOSTRAE
|
VOCATIVE
|
|
MUSAE
|
BONAE
|
MEAE
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOSTRAE
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
HAS
|
MUSAS
|
BONAS
|
MEAS
|
ILLAS
|
IPSAS
|
ISTAS
|
EAS
|
QUAS
|
NOSTRAS
|
ABLATIVE
|
HIS
|
MUSIS
|
BONIS
|
MEIS
|
ILLIS
|
IPSIS
|
ISTIS
|
EIS
|
QUEIS
|
NOSTRIS
|
DATIVE
|
HIS
|
MUSIS
|
BONIS
|
MEIS
|
ILLIS
|
IPSIS
|
ISTIS
|
EIS
|
QUEIS
|
NOSTRIS
|
GENITIVE
|
HARUM
|
MUSARUM
|
BONARUM
|
MEARUM
|
ILLARUM
|
IPSARUM
|
ISTARUM
|
EARUM
|
QUARUM
|
NOSTRARUM
|
A COMPARATIVE TABLE
SHOWING FORMS
COMPARED TO SECOND DECLENSION MASCULINE SINGULAR. THERE IS SOME
IRREGULARITY, BUT EVEN HERE THERE ARE PATTERNS.
CASE
|
MASC
SING.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINATIVE
|
HIC
|
DOMINUS
|
BONUS
|
MEUS
|
ILLE
|
IPSE
|
IS
|
QUIS
|
|
VOCATIVE
|
O
|
DOMINE
|
BONE
|
MI
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
HUNC
|
DOMINUM
|
BONUM
|
MEUM
|
ILLUM
|
IPSUM
|
EUM
|
QUEM
|
|
ABLATIVE
|
HOC
|
DOMINO
|
BONO
|
MEO
|
ILLO
|
IPSO
|
EO
|
QUO
|
|
DATIVE
|
HUIC
|
DOMINO
|
BONO
|
MEO
|
ILLI
|
IPSI
|
EI
|
CUI
|
|
GENITIVE
|
HUJUS
|
DOMINI
|
BONI
|
MEI
|
ILLIUS
|
IPSIUS
|
EJUS
|
CUJUS
|
|
A COMPARATIVE TABLE SHOWING FORMS COMPARED TO SECOND DECLENSION
MASCULINE
PLURAL. NOTE THE REGULARILY OF THE FORMS. FEMININE PLURAL FORMS ALSO
SHOW REGULARITY.
CASE
|
MASC
PLURAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NOMINATIVE
|
HI
|
DOMINI
|
BONI
|
MEI
|
ILLI
|
IPSI
|
ISTI
|
II |
QUI
|
VOCATIVE
|
O
|
DOMINI
|
BONI
|
MEI
|
|
|
|
|
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
HOS
|
DOMINOS
|
BONOS
|
MEOS
|
ILLOS
|
IPSOS
|
ISTOS
|
EOS
|
QUOS
|
ABLATIVE
|
HIS
|
DOMINIS
|
BONIS
|
MEIS
|
ILLIS
|
IPSIS
|
ISTIS
|
EIS
|
QUEIS [quibus]
|
DATIVE
|
HIS
|
DOMINIS
|
BONIS
|
MEIS
|
ILLIS
|
IPSIS
|
ISTIS
|
EIS
|
QUEIS [quibus]
|
GENITIVE
|
HORUM
|
DOMINORUM
|
BONORUM
|
MEORUM
|
ILLORUM
|
IPSORUM
|
ISTORUM
|
EORUM
|
QUORUM
|
MORE
PATTERNS IN ADJECTIVES (in the singular)
OBSERVE: ADJECTIVES
THAT ARE LIKE BONUS, USE THE ACCUSATIVE ENDING FOR THE FIRST THREE
CASES OF THE NEUTER IN THE SINGULAR.
CASE
|
FEMININE
(follows 1st declension form)
|
MASCULINE
(follows 2nd declension form)
|
NEUTER
(follows masculine)
|
NOMINATIVE
|
A
|
US
|
UM
|
VOCATIVE
|
A
|
E
|
UM
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
AM
|
UM
|
UM
|
ABLATIVE
|
A
|
O
|
O
|
DATIVE
|
AE
|
O
|
O
|
GENITIVE
|
AE
|
I
|
I |
OBSERVE: ADJECTIVES THAT ARE
LIKE PULCHER FORM THEIR
SINGULARS AS FOLLOWS: NEUTER ENDING IS THE SAME AS THE MASC. ACCUSATIVE
ENDING. Note - the exception (marked in red) is in the name of
the adjective, so is easy to remember.
CASE
|
FEMININE
(roughly follows 1st declension form)
|
MASCULINE
(roughly follows 2nd declension form)
|
NEUTER
(follows masculine)
|
NOMINATIVE
|
RA
|
ER
|
UM
|
VOCATIVE
|
RA
|
ER
|
UM
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
AM
|
UM
|
UM
|
ABLATIVE
|
A
|
O
|
O
|
DATIVE
|
AE
|
O
|
O
|
GENITIVE
|
AE
|
I
|
I |
OBSERVE: ADJECTIVES THAT ARE
LIKE TURPIS FORM THEIR SINGULARS AS FOLLOWS: FEMININE AND
MASCULINE ARE THE SAME, THE NEUTER REMAINS AS A NEUTER OF THE MASCULINE
(& FEM. ). NOTE THE SIMILARITY OF THE NEUTER ENDINGS TO THE
ACCUSATIVE ENDING.
CASE
|
FEMININE
(roughly follows 3ND declension form)
|
MASCULINE
(roughly follows 3ND declension form)
|
NEUTER
(follows masculine)
|
NOMINATIVE
|
IS
|
IS |
E
|
VOCATIVE
|
IS
|
IS |
E
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
EM
|
EM |
E
|
ABLATIVE
|
I
|
I |
I
|
DATIVE
|
I
|
I |
I
|
GENITIVE
|
IS
|
IS |
IS |
OBSERVE: ADJECTIVES THAT
ARE LIKE ACER ( SIMILAR TO
TURPIS ABOVE) FORM THEIR SINGULARS AS FOLLOWS: NOTE THE SIMILARITY OF
THE NEUTER ENDING TO THE ACCUSATIVE ENDINGS. Note, the exception
(marked in red) is in the name of the adjective, making it easier
to recall.
CASE
|
FEMININE
(roughly follows 3RD declension form)
|
MASCULINE
(roughly follows 3RD declension form)
|
NEUTER
(follows masculine)
|
NOMINATIVE
|
IS
|
ER
[IS]
|
E
|
VOCATIVE
|
IS
|
ER
[IS]
|
E
|
ACCUSATIVE
|
EM
|
EM
|
E
|
ABLATIVE
|
I
|
I
|
I
|
DATIVE
|
I
|
I
|
I
|
GENITIVE
|
IS
|
IS
|
IS |
DECLENSIONS
ARRANGED BY CASE
When the declensions are arranged in this fashion, clear patterns
emerge. Learning the singular next to the plural, and comparing forms
for each declension reduces the amount of memorisation required.
First(green)
Second (blue)
Third(purple shades)
Fourth (pinkish)
Fifth (yellow)
NOMINATIVE CASE
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
haec
MUSA
|
hae
MUSAE
|
hic
DOMINUS
|
hi
DOMINI
|
hic
DEUS
|
hi
DII
|
hoc
REGNUM
|
haec
REGNA
|
hic
HONOR
|
hi
HONORES
|
hic
SERMO
|
hi
SERMONES
|
hic
MILES
|
hi
MILITES
|
haec
TURRIS
|
hae
TURRES
|
hic
LAPIS
|
hi
LAPIDES
|
hic
PATER
|
hi
PATRES
|
hoc
ANIMAL
|
haec
ANIMALIA
|
hoc
CARMEN
|
haec
CARMINA
|
hoc
ITER
|
haec
ITINERA
|
hoc
OPUS
|
haec
OPERA
|
hoc
CAPUT
|
haec
CAPITA
|
hoc
POEMA
|
haec
POEMATA
|
hoc
SEDILE
|
haec
SEDILIA
|
hic
FRUCTUS
|
hi
FRUCTUS
|
hoc
CORNU
|
haec
CORNUA
|
haec
DOMUS
|
hae
DOMUS
|
haec
RES
|
hae
RES
|
hic
/haec DIES
|
hi
DIES
|
ACCUSATIVE CASE
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
MUSAM
|
MUSAS
|
DOMINUM
|
DOMINOS
|
DEUM
|
DEOS
|
REGNUM
|
REGNA
|
HONOREM
|
HONORES
|
SERMONEM
|
SERMONES
|
MILITEM
|
MILITES
|
TURREM
|
TURRES
|
LAPIDEM
|
LAPIDES
|
PATREM
|
PATRES
|
CARMEN
|
CARMINA
|
ANIMAL
|
ANIMALIA
|
ITER
|
ITINERA
|
OPUS
|
OPERA
|
CAPUT
|
CAPITA
|
POEMA
|
POEMATA
|
SEDILE
|
SEDILIA
|
FRUCTUM
|
FRUCTUS
|
CORNU
|
CORNUA
|
DOMUM
|
DOMOS/US
|
REM
|
RES
|
DIEM
|
DIES
|
ABLATIVE CASE
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
MUSA
|
MUSIS
|
DOMINO
|
DOMINIS
|
MAGISTRO
|
MAGISTRIS
|
GENERO
|
GENERIS
|
DEO
|
DIS
|
REGNO
|
REGNIS
|
HONE
|
HONORIBUS
|
SERMONE
|
SERMONIBUS
|
NUBE
|
NUBIBUS
|
MILITE
|
MILITIBUS
|
TURRE
|
TURRIBUS
|
LAPIDE
|
LAPIDIBUS
|
PATRE
|
PATRIBUS
|
ANIMAL
|
ANIMALIBUS
|
CARMINE
|
CARMINIBUS
|
ITINERE
|
ITINERIBUS
|
OPERE
|
OPERIBUS
|
CAPITE
|
CAPITIBUS
|
POEMATE
|
POEMATIBUS
|
SEDILI
|
SEDILIBUS
|
FRUCTU
|
FRUCTIBUS
|
CORNU
|
CORNIBUS
|
DOMO
|
DOMIBUS
|
RE
|
REBUS
|
DIE
|
DIEBUS
|
DATIVE CASE
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
MUSAE
|
MUSIS
|
DOMINO
|
DOMINIS
|
MAGISTRO
|
MAGISTRIS
|
GENERO
|
GENERIS
|
DEO
|
DIS
|
REGNO
|
REGNIS
|
HONORI
|
HONORIBUS
|
SERMONI
|
SERMONIBUS
|
NUBI
|
NUBIBUS
|
MILITI
|
MILITIBUS
|
TURRI
|
TURRIBUS
|
LAPIDI
|
LAPIDIBUS
|
PATRI
|
PATRIBUS
|
ANIMALI
|
ANIMALIBUS
|
CARMINI
|
CARMINIBUS
|
ITINERI
|
ITINERIBUS
|
OPERI
|
OPERIBUS
|
CAPITI
|
CAPITIBUS
|
POEMATI
|
POEMATIBUS
|
SEDILI
|
SEDILIBUS
|
FRUCTUI
|
FRUCTIBUS
|
CORNU
|
CORNIBUS
|
DOMUI
|
DOMIBUS
|
REI
|
REBUS
|
DIEI
|
DIEBUS
|
|
|
GENITIVE CASE
SINGULAR
|
PLURAL
|
MUSAE
|
MUSARUM
|
DOMINI
|
DOMINORUM
|
MAGISTRI
|
MAGISTRORUM
|
GENERI
|
GENERORUM
|
DEI
|
DEORUM
|
REI
|
REGNORUM
|
HONORIS
|
HONORUM
|
SERMONIS
|
SERMONUM
|
NUBIS
|
NUBIUM
|
MILITIS
|
MILITUM
|
TURRIS
|
TURRIUM
|
LAPIDIS
|
LAPIDUM
|
PATRIS
|
PATRUM
|
ANIMALIS
|
ANIMALIUM
|
CARMINIS
|
CARMINUM
|
ITINERIS
|
ITINERUM
|
OPERIS
|
OPERUM
|
CAPITIS
|
CAPITUM
|
POEMATIS
|
POEMATUM
|
SEDILIS
|
SEDILIUM
|
FRUCTUS
|
FRUCTUUM
|
CORNU
|
CORNUUM
|
DOMUS
|
DOMUUM
/DOMORUM
|
REI
|
RERUM
|
DIEI
|
DIERUM
|
Did
the Romans Sing their Poetry Greek Style?
|
