The Five Noun Declensions (Declinatio)
The declension of any Latin noun is determined by the ending of its Genitive Singular form, which is always provided in standard dictionaries.
| Declension | Gen. Sing. Ending | Typical Gender | Dictionary Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | -ae | Feminine (rarely Masc.) | terra, -ae f. (earth, land) |
| 2nd | -i | Masculine, Neuter | lupus, -i m. (wolf), bellum, -i n. (war) |
| 3rd | -is | Masc., Fem., Neuter | vox, vocis f. (voice), corpus, -oris n. (body) |
| 4th | -us | Masculine, Neuter | fructus, -us m. (fruit), cornu, -us n. (horn) |
| 5th | -ei | Feminine | res, rei f. (thing, matter), dies, diei m./f. (day) |
Conjugation of the Irregular Verb Esse (To Be)
The verb esse is essential for constructing passive periphrastic and compound tenses in the indicative mood.
| Person | Singular (Praesens) | Plural (Praesens) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Person | sum (I am) | sumus (we are) |
| 2nd Person | es (you are) | estis (you all are) |
| 3rd Person | est (he/she/it is) | sunt (they are) |