Basic Sentence Structure for Latin

The Tutoring and Learning Center 300 Library 747-5366 http://academics.utep.edu/tlc

Latin Handout #5

 In English, most sentences are made up of three components:

subject + verb + direct object

Example:

Veronica loves Marcus.

 In Latin, most sentences include these three components as well; however, they are in different order.

subject + object + verb

Example:

Veronica Marcum amat.

 The subject of a sentence must be in the nominative case.

Nominative: Veronica Genitive: Veronicae Dative: Veronicae Accusative: Veronicam Ablative: Veronicā Vocative: Veronica

 The direct object is in the accusative case.

Nominative: Marcus Genitive: Marci Dative: Marcō Accusative: Marcum Ablative: Marcō Vocative: Marcus

Note: Each case has different functions. For our purposes, we will be discussing the nominative and accusative case only.

Let’s switch the sentence around.

Marcus loves Veronica. Some materials borrowed from Balme , Maurice and James Morwoord . Oxford Latin Course Part I. New York: Oxford, 2000. Hint: Marcus = nominative Veronica = accusative.

Answer: Marcus Veronicam amat.

 The verb must agree in number and person (1st, 2nd, 3rd) with the subject. Also, verbs fall under one of 4 conjugations.

1st conjugation 2nd conjugation 3rd conjugation (stems in –a) (stems in –e) (stems in consonants) I par-ō I mone-ō I reg-ō You (sing) parā-s You monē-s You (sing) reg-is He/she para-t He/she mone-t He/she reg-it We parā-mus We monē-mus We reg-imus You (pl.) parā-tis You (pl.) monē-tis You (pl) reg-itis They para-nt They mone-nt They reg-unt

3rd conjugation 4th conjugation (stems in –io) (stems in –i) I capi-ō I audi-ō You (sing) cap-is You (sing) audi-s He/she cap-it He/she audi-t We cap-imus We audi-mus You (pl.) cap-itis You (pl.) audi-tis They capi-unt They audi-unt

Some materials borrowed from Balme , Maurice and James Morwoord . Oxford Latin Course Part I. New York: Oxford, 2000.