Latin Module 5

A. The Fifth Declension

1. The Third Declension refers to the second set of nouns, whose genitive singular
ends in ei. The usual fifth declension noun ends with the nominative -es and
genitive -ei. Examples would be as follows:
res, rei thing, matter
spes, spei hope
fides, fidei faith

2. The gender of Fifth Declension nouns. Like the first declension, fifth
declension nouns are typically feminine, except for dies, diei. (see Rule 5.A.4)

3. Declining the Fifth Declension: Fifth Declension nouns are declined as follows.
Let’s use the word spēs, speī (hope) as an example.

Nom. spēs sp ēs

Gen. sp eī sp ērum

Dat. sp eī sp ēbus

Acc. sp em sp ēs

Abl. sp ē sp ēbus

4. 1. Special rule for the noun diēs, dieī: As mentioned, the gender of fifth
declension nouns is commonly feminine. However, one notable exception is dies,
diei (day). This word has varying rules for gender. When it’s singular and
unspecific, it is usually masculine when it is compounded with other nouns.
However, when dies, diei refers to one particular day or a set date, it is feminine.
When it is plural it is always masculine.

4.2. dies, diei can be combined with other words to form adverbs of time. For
example:
hodie, today
pridie, the day before
perendie, the day after tomorrow (“sa makalawa” or “bukas makalawa”)

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B. The Second Conjugation: moneo, monere, monui, monitus
1. Determining the Conjugation: In order to determine if the given verb in the
vocabulary is in the Second conjugation, it must follow both conditions:
a. The infinitive form (second form) must end in -ere.
b. The 1st person present form’s ending, -o, must be preceded by an e. Thus
they end in -eo.
To put simply, Second Conjugation verbs look something like -eo, ere:
moneo, monere… 2nd Conjugation (eo, ere)
ardeo, ardere… 2nd Conjugation (eo, ere)
laudo, laudare… NOT 2nd Conjugation (o, are)
moveo, movere… 2nd Conjugation (eo, ere)
mitto, mittere… NOT 2nd Conjugation (o, ere)

2. We will now conjugate the second declension in four Active Indicative tenses:
Present, Imperfect, Future, and Perfect. We will use moneo, monere, monui
(warn) as examples.

a. Present Tense (we use the First person present tense as our verb stem, moneo)

1st person moneo I warn

2nd person mones You warn singular

3rd person monet He warns / She warns / It warns

1st person monemus We warn

2nd person monetis You (pl) warn plural

3rd person monent They warn

b. Imperfect Tense (we use the First person present tense as verb stem, moneo)

1st person monebam I was warning

2nd person monebas You were warning singular

3rd person monebat He was warning / She was warning

1st person monebamus We were warning

2nd person monebatis You were warning plural

3rd person monebant They were warning

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c. Future Tense (we use the First person present tense as our verb stem, moneo)

1st person monebo I will warn

2nd person monebis You will warn singular

3rd person monebit He will warn / She will warn

1st person monebimus We will warn

2nd person monebitis You will warn plural

3rd person monebunt They will warn

d. Perfect Tense** (Past tense): The Latin perfect tense is the equivalent of
the English past tense and is thus translated as the latter. In the past
tense, we conjugate using the root word of the third form, which is monui.

1st person monui I warned

2nd person monuisti You warned singular

3rd person monuit He warned / She warned

1st person monuimus We warned

2nd person monuistis You warned plural

3rd person monuerunt They warned

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 Here is a more concise chart of all the tenses.

1. Present Tense
(we use the First person present tense as our verb stem, moneo)

singular plural
1st mon eō mon emus
2nd mon es mon etis
3rd mon et mon ent

2. Imperfect Tense
(we use the First person present tense as our verb stem, moneo)

singular plural
1st mon ebam mon ebamus
2nd mon ebas mon ebatis
3rd mon ebat mon ebant

3. Future Tense
(we use the First person present tense as our verb stem, moneo)

singular plural
1st mon ebo mon ebimus
2nd mon ebis mon ebitis
3rd mon ebit mon ebunt

4. Perfect Tense
(we use the First person perfect tense as our verb stem, monui)

singular plural
1st monu i monu imus
2nd monu isti monu istis
3rd monu it monu erunt

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C. Introduction to Latin Adjectives
Now that we have all familiarized ourselves with all the Latin Noun declensions,
we can now proceed with Latin Adjectives. Quite similar to nouns, Latin adjectives have
their own set of declensions. But do not worry! These declensions are merely a
repetition of the noun declensions, and for as long as you are already familiar and adept
in declining Latin nouns, Latin adjectives will be easy.

1. The adjective should ALWAYS follow the form of the noun it describes. Meaning
to say, it must follow the gender, case and number of the noun.

2. Almost all the time, the adjective is placed immediately after the noun it
describes. When in doubt, you put the adjective after the noun it describes.

3. Dictionary entry of Adjectives: The dictionary/vocabulary provides you the

following forms:

a. The declension of the adjective: The dictionary will show you the
possible declensions of the adjective.

i. magnus,a,um (great) - tells us that the adjective can either be 1st

declension, 2nd declension masculine, or 2nd declension neuter.

ii. omnis, e (all) - indicates that it is in the 3rd declension.(But we will

save the discussion of 3rd declension adjectives for later).

b. The gender of the adjective: Since adjectives must also follow the
gender of the noun, we can find the possible genders in the dictionary
entry of adjectives.

For instance, magnus,a,um, depending on the gender of the noun it is

describing, can be declined according to three genders: masculine,
feminine and neuter. For the masculine, we will use magnus, for the
feminine, we will use magna (as indicated in -a), and for the neuter, we
will use magnum (as indicated in -um).

Thus for magnus,a,um, magnus is declined similarly to 2nd declension

masculine (servus, servi); magna is declined similarly to 1st declension
(terra, terrae), and magnum is declined as 2nd declension neuter (bellum,
belli).

3rd declension adjectives also follow this. In omnis,e the masculine and
feminine adjectives are declined as omnis, and the neuter adjectives are
declined as omne. (more on that in Moudle 6)

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 4. You can only decline the adjective according to the type of declension that the
adjective has. For instance, magnus, a,um can only be declined according to the
1st and 2nd Declension, and NOT the third.

This means that if the adjective is in the 1st/2nd declension, while the noun it’s
describing is in the 3rd declension, the adjective will simply follow the
gender/number/case of the noun.

Let us apply the rules in magnus,a,um (great) and bonus, a, um (good)

The great land – Terra magna*
The great son- Filius magnus*
The great war- Bellum magnum*
Of the great land- Terrae magnae*
To the great king- dat. Regi magno**
To the good kings – Regibus (plural dative) bonis** (also plural dative)

*Oftentimes, It is very easy to apply the adjective if both the noun and the
adjective use the same declension type. In this case, both terra and magna both
apply the First Declension. We see the same thing with filius; since filius is in the
second declension, magnus,a,um takes the second declension form. And in
following filius’ gender, number and case, magnus-a-um simply just copies filius’
ending, and thus we have filius magnus. Thus in the other highlighted words,
we see that magnus,a,um simply copies the endings of terra, filius, bellum and
terrae.

** This however does not apply if the declension of the noun and adjective do not
match. For instance, in Regi magno, Regi is in the 3rd declension, whereas
magno can only be 1st or 2nd (since as stated in the dictionary/vocabulary,
magnus,a,um can only be either 1st or 2nd declension). Magnus,a,um still
follows the gender, number and case of the noun Regi.

Regi is masculine, singular and dative, so magnus,a,um must also be

masculine, singular and dative. Thus the masculine of magnus,a,um is based on
the 2nd declension noun, and we will look for its singular and dative form; which
is magno.

To be more familiar with adjectives, let us look at the 1st/2nd Declension

adjectives in the next page.

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D. First and Second Declension Adjectives: magnus,a,um
Let us look at the chart for declining magnus,a,um.

-us (if masc.) -a (if fem.) -um (if neut.)

like servus, servi like terra, terrae like bellum, belli

Nom. magn us magn a magn um

Gen. magn i magn ae magn i
Dat. magn o magn ae magn o singular
Acc. magn um magn am magn um
Abl. magn o magn a magn o
Nom. magn i magn ae magn a
Gen. magn orum magn arum magn orum
Dat. magn is magn is magn is plural
Acc. magn os magn as magn a
Abl. magn is magn is magn is

1. if the noun that the adjective is describing is feminine, then the adjective is
declined like terra,terrae
2. if the noun that the adjective is describing is masculine, then the adjective is
declined like servus,servi
3. if the noun that the adjective is describing is neuter, then the adjective is
declined like bellum, belli
4. First/Second Declension adjectives can only be declined as First or Second
declension, NOT as Third Declension. IF the noun that is being described is in
the Third Declension, it doesn’t follow that the adjective should be.
Let’s now try to describe the given nouns: (1) regina, (2) vir, (3) bellum, (4) rex and (5)
nomen. We will use the adjective magnus,a,um

regina magna Because regina (queen) is feminine, we will use the feminine
The great queen magna.

vir magnus Because vir (man) is masculine, we will use the masculine
The great man magnus.
Great man

bellum magnum Because bellum (war) is neuter, we will use the neuter

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 The great war magnum.

rex magnus Because rex (king) is masculine, we will use the masculine
The great king magnus. Take note that magnus is still 2nd declension because
Great king the adjective magnus,a,um can only be declined as either 1st or
2nd declension. Likewise, even if rex is in the 3rd declension,
magnus isn’t. Hence, rex magnus.

nomen magnum Because nomen (name) is neuter, we will use the neuter
The great name magnum. Take note that magnum is still 2nd declension
Great name (neuter) because the adjective magnus,a,um can only be
declined as either 1st or 2nd declension. Likewise, even if
nomen is in the 3rd declension, magnum isn’t.
Hence, nomen magnum.

Let’s now try to describe the given nouns: (1) terra, (2) vir, (3) bellum, (4) rex and (5)
nomen. But this time, with varying cases. We will use the adjective magnus,a,um
Notice how the adjective follows the gender, number and case of the noun.

Translation Explanation

The king gives great lands to the Terras is feminine, plural and is the direct object,
people. therefore accusative.

Rex terras magnas populo dat. Because terras is feminine, we will use the
feminine magna (which is declined as 1st
declension, terra,terrae). Following the declension
of magna, the accusative plural would be magnas.

It must be also noted that since both noun and

adjective are 1st declension, they will tend to have
the same ending, thus both terras magnas end in
-as.

The great land gives peace to the Terra is feminine, singular and is the subject,
people. therefore nominative.

Terra magna pacem populo dat. Because terra is feminine, we will use the feminine,
magna (which is declined as 1st declension,
terra,terrae). Following the declension of magna,
the nominative singular would be magna.

It must be also noted that since both noun and

adjective are 1st declension, they will tend to have
the same ending, thus both terra magna end in -a.

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The king sends the great men Viros is masculine, plural and is the direct object,
toward war. therefore accusative.

Rex viros magnos ad bellum Because viros is masculine, we will use the
masculine declension, magnus (which is declined
mittit.
like the 2nd declension masculine, servus, servi).
Following the declension of magnus, the
accusative plural would be magnos.

It must be also noted that since both noun and

adjective are 2nd declension, they will tend to have
the same ending, thus both viros magnos end in
-os.

The king sends war to the great Viris is masculine, plural and is the indirect object,
men. therefore dative.

Rex bellum viris magnis mittit. Because viris is masculine, we will use the
masculine declension, magnus (which is declined
like the 2nd declension masculine, servus, servi).
Following the declension of magnus, the dative
plural would be magnis.

It must be also noted that since both noun and

adjective are 2nd declension, they will tend to have
the same ending, thus both viris magnis end in
-is.

The king sends the men away from Bello is neuter, singular and is the object of the
the great war. preposition a/ab, making it ablative.

Rex virum a bello magno mittit. Because bello is neuter, we will use the neuter
declension, magnum (which is declined like the
2nd declension neuter, bellum,belli). Following the
declension of magnum, the dative singular would
be magno.

It must also be noted that since both noun and

adjective are 2nd declension (neut.), they will tend
to have the same ending, thus both bello magno
end in -o.

The soldier of great wars stands. Bellorum is neuter, plural and is the possessor
(indicated by of), making it genitive.
Miles bellorum magnorum stat.

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 Because bellorum is neuter, we will use the neuter
declension, magnum (which is declined like the
2nd declension neuter, bellum,belli). Following the
declension of magnum, the genitive plural would be
magno.

It must also be noted that since both noun and

adjective are 2nd declension (neut.), they will tend
to have the same ending, thus both bellorum
magnorum end in -orum.

The hand of the great king gives Regis is masculine, singular and is the possessor
duty. (indicated by of), making it genitive.

Manus regis magni officium dat. Because regis is masculine, we will use the
masculine declension, magnus (which is declined
like the 2nd declension masculine, servus,servi).
Following the declension of magnum, the genitive
singular would be magni.

It must also be noted that the noun, regis, is 3rd

declension, whereas the adjective, magni is 2nd
declension (and cannot be 3rd declension).

Hence we cannot have regis magni, because the

adjective is NOT 3rd declension. We instead adapt
to the rules of the adjective, and look for its genitive
singular ending, BUT in 2nd declension instead of
3rd. Thus we have regis magni.

On behalf of the great king, the Rege is masculine, singular and is the object of the
soldiers shouted. preposition pro, making it ablative.

Pro rege magno, milites Because rege is masculine, we will use the
masculine declension, magnus (which is declined
clamaverunt.
like the 2nd declension masculine, servus,servi).
Following the declension of magnus, the ablative
singular would be magno.

It must also be noted that the noun, rege, is 3rd

declension, whereas the adjective, magno is 2nd
declension (and cannot be 3rd declension).

Hence we cannot have rege magne, because the

adjective is NOT 3rd declension. We instead adapt
to the rules of the adjective, and look for its ablative
singular ending, BUT in 2nd declension instead of
3rd. Thus we have rege magno.

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The lord gave a great name to the Nomen is neuter, singular and is the direct object,
farmer. making it accusative.

Dominus nomen magnum Because nomen is neuter, we will use the neuter
declension, magnum (which is declined like the
agricolae dat.
2nd declension neuter, bellum,belli). Following the
declension of magnum, the accusative singular
would be magnum.

It must also be noted that the noun, nomen, is 3rd

declension, whereas the adjective, magnum is 2nd
declension (and cannot be 3rd declension). We
simply apply the accusative singular endings to
both nomen,nominis and the adjective magnum,
giving us nomen magnum.

The king of great name sends Nominis is neuter, singular and possesses rex,
soldiers. therefore making it genitive.

Rex nominis magni milites mittit. Because nominis is neuter, we will use the neuter
declension, magnum (which is declined like the
2nd declension neuter, bellum,belli). Following the
declension of magnum, the genitive singular would
be magni.

It must also be noted that the noun, nominis, is 3rd

declension, whereas the adjective, magni is 2nd
declension (and cannot be 3rd declension). We
simply apply the genitive singular endings to both
nomen,nominis and the adjective magnum, giving
us nominis magni.

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Vocabulary
SECOND CONJUGATION VERBS

ārdeō, ardēre, ārsī - to burn, be on fire. (arson)

augeō, augēre, auxī, auctus - to increase (auction)
fleō, flēre, flēvī, flētus - to weep
doceō, docēre, docuī, doctus - to teach (doctorate)
iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussus - to order
maneō, manēre, mansī, mansus - to wait for
misceō, miscēre, miscuī, mixtus - to mix (miscellaneous)
moveō, movēre, mōvī, mōtus - to move (motion)
pendeō, pendēre, pependī, pēnsus - to hang
persuādeō persuadēre, persuāsī, persuāsus - to persuade
respondeō, respondēre, respondī, responsus - to reply to (respond), answer
rīdeō, ridēre, rīsī, rīsus - to laugh (ridicule)
sedeō, sedēre, sēdī, sessus - to sit (sedentary)
studeo, studere, studui - to study, learn
teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentus - to hold
torqueō, torquēre, torsī, tortus - to twist
videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus - to see (vision, videocamera)

FIFTH DECLENSION NOUNS ADJECTIVES (1st/2nd Declension)

aciēs, acieī (f)- keenness, edge, line of battle antiquus, a,um- old, ancient
faciēs, faciēī (f) - shape, form, figure, face bonus, a,um - good
effigiēs, effigiēī (f) - an image, likeness, effigy fessus, a,um- tired
glaciēs, glaciēī (f) - ice (hence we have the word magnus, a,um- great, large, important
glacier) malus,a,um- bad, evil
fides, fideī (f) - pledge, trust, faith miser,a,um- unhappy, sad, miserable
spēs, speī (f) - hope multus,a,um- many, much
eluviēs, eluviēī (f) - flowing, discharge, flood novus,a,um- new
seriēs, seriēī (f) - row, chain, series parvus, a,um- small, little
speciēs, speciēī (f) - sight, view; shape, form stultus, a, um- foolish
rabies, rabiei (f) - rage, madness verus, a, um- true, real

ADDITIONAL NOUNS laudes (matutinas), laudum matutinarum-

adoratio, adorationis- adoration morning prayer, lauds
altare, altaris (n.)- altar legatus, legati - legate, general
balneo- bathroom (Latin speakers use the verb liber orationis, liberi orationis- prayer book
balneo which means “I bathe” to refer to the magistre! (vocative, addressing the teacher)- sir!
bathroom). oratio, orationis- speech, sermon
capella, cappellae- chapel ordinatio, ordinationis- ordination
cardinalis, cardinalis – cardinal ordo, ordinis- order
domus, domūs- house Pater (nomen) - Father (name)
dormitorium, dormitorii- dormitory refectorium, refectorii- refectory, dining hall
ecclesia, ecclesiae- church sacerdos, sacerdotis- priest
episcopus, episcopi- bishop schola, scholae- school, lesson, lecture
formator, formatoris- formator seminarius, seminarii- seminarian
frater, fratris- brother serminarium, seminarii- seminary
hostia, hostiae- host, offering, sacrifice studium praetorium, studii praetorii- study hall
hymnus, hymni- hymn tabernaculum, tabernaculi- tabernacle
infirmaria, infirmariae- infirmary vespera, vesperae- evening prayer
vinum, vini- wine

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Practice Exercises
A. 5th Declension and 2nd Conjugation (with others)
1. The bishops and the priests taught philosophy.
2. The brothers were persuading the people.
3. The slaves will move the ice toward the city.
4. She wept the death of the father.
5. We sat in the chapel.
6. The general sees the view of the land.
7. In adoration, we praised the Lord in the chapel.
8. I was studying philosophy in the evening.
9. The lord ordered the slaves.
10. The priest mixed the water with wine.

B. Adjectives part 1: Put the appropriate ending for the adjective,

magnus,a,um (and other adjectives)
1. Terrae 11. Of the great land
2. Vir 12. To good hope (dative)
3. Apros 13. On account of good fortune
4. Ducem 14. Toward the great city
5. Corporis 15. To the good kings
6. Luminibus 16. The great forest
17. The good mother
7. Lumina
18. Of the good sons
8. Silvarum
19. The great soldiers
9. Fidei 20. To the great leader.
10. Spem

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C. Adjectives part 2. Translate
1. The good brothers prayed in the chapel.
2. Many bishops praised the great order of priests.
3. We will see the ordination of the new brothers.
4. The formators were praying with the tired brothers in the church.
5. The formators were drinking with the seminarians in the small refectory.
6. Father John will teach philosophy in the seminary.
7. The bishop gave an important sermon in the old Church.
8. Many houses studied in the seminary.
9. The old chief gives faith to the line of battle.
10. I was unhappy in the seminary.
11. The foolish leader sent little boys toward the line of battle.
12. The slaves burned the image of the king.
13. The general gives hope to the soldiers from many provinces.
14. The formator sent the tired seminarian toward the infirmary.
15. The foolish little boys were laughing in the chapel.

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