Latin conjugations: all charts
In short
Every regular Latin verb belongs to one of four conjugations: the 1st (a-stems), 2nd (e-stems), 3rd (consonant stems) and 4th (i-stems), with the 3rd -io verbs (mixed) as a subgroup of the 3rd. In the active forms of the present system the personal endings -o/-m, -s, -t, -mus, -tis, -nt are the same in every conjugation; markers such as -ba- or -bi-/-e- show whether a verb is in the present, imperfect or future. The principal parts give you the perfect active and the passive of the perfect tenses.
Which conjugation? The infinitive helps
| Conjugation | Infinitive | 1st sg. present |
|---|---|---|
| 1st conjugation (a-stems) | laudare (to praise) | laudo |
| 2nd conjugation (e-stems) | videre (to see) | video |
| 3rd conjugation (consonant stems) | currere (to run) | curro |
| 3rd conjugation -io (mixed) | capere (to take, catch) | capio |
| 4th conjugation (i-stems) | audire (to hear) | audio |
The 3rd and the mixed 3rd -io conjugation share the same infinitive in -ere with a short e. You can tell them apart by the 1st person: curro, but capio.
Present active
| Person | laudare | videre | currere | capere | audire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. I | laudo | video | curro | capio | audio |
| 2nd sg. you | laudas | vides | curris | capis | audis |
| 3rd sg. he/she/it | laudat | videt | currit | capit | audit |
| 1st pl. we | laudamus | videmus | currimus | capimus | audimus |
| 2nd pl. you (pl.) | laudatis | videtis | curritis | capitis | auditis |
| 3rd pl. they | laudant | vident | currunt | capiunt | audiunt |
In the 3rd conjugation a connecting vowel comes before the ending: curr-i-s, curr-u-nt.
All tenses in the active: laudare
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Future | Perfect | Pluperfect | Future perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. I | laudo | laudabam | laudabo | laudavi | laudaveram | laudavero |
| 2nd sg. you | laudas | laudabas | laudabis | laudavisti | laudaveras | laudaveris |
| 3rd sg. he/she/it | laudat | laudabat | laudabit | laudavit | laudaverat | laudaverit |
| 1st pl. we | laudamus | laudabamus | laudabimus | laudavimus | laudaveramus | laudaverimus |
| 2nd pl. you (pl.) | laudatis | laudabatis | laudabitis | laudavistis | laudaveratis | laudaveritis |
| 3rd pl. they | laudant | laudabant | laudabunt | laudaverunt | laudaverant | laudaverint |
You recognise the imperfect by -ba-: videbam, audiebam, currebam, capiebam. The 1st and 2nd conjugations form the future with -b-: laudabo, videbo; the others use -a- in the 1st person singular and -e- after that: audiam, audies; curram, curres; capiam, capies.
Perfect and principal parts
The perfect, pluperfect and future perfect active are formed from the perfect stem, the perfect passive from the perfect passive participle (PPP). Both are part of the principal parts, which you should learn with every verb:
| Present | Perfect | PPP |
|---|---|---|
| laudo | laudavi | laudatum |
| video | vidi | visum |
| audio | audivi | auditum |
| curro | cucurri | cursum |
| capio | cepi | captum |
The perfect endings are the same in all conjugations: -i, -isti, -it, -imus, -istis, -erunt.
Passive
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. I | laudor | laudabar | laudabor |
| 2nd sg. you | laudaris | laudabaris | laudaberis |
| 3rd sg. he/she/it | laudatur | laudabatur | laudabitur |
| 1st pl. we | laudamur | laudabamur | laudabimur |
| 2nd pl. you (pl.) | laudamini | laudabamini | laudabimini |
| 3rd pl. they | laudantur | laudabantur | laudabuntur |
The perfect passive combines the PPP with a form of esse: laudatus est (he has been praised), laudati sunt. The PPP agrees with the subject.
esse (to be)
| Person | Present | Imperfect | Future | Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. I | sum | eram | ero | fui |
| 2nd sg. you | es | eras | eris | fuisti |
| 3rd sg. he/she/it | est | erat | erit | fuit |
| 1st pl. we | sumus | eramus | erimus | fuimus |
| 2nd pl. you (pl.) | estis | eratis | eritis | fuistis |
| 3rd pl. they | sunt | erant | erunt | fuerunt |
Try it
A real exercise from Disce ludens:
Disce ludens I · Lesson 17 · Conjugation exercises, card 3
dicere (3rd conjugation) – to say: what is “we say”?
Error points: 0
© Disce ludensWhat Disce ludens does – and what it doesn’t
What Disce ludens does
- Practises the present, passive, perfect, imperfect and principal parts in lessons of their own in Disce ludens I.
- Has you type forms, complete endings and build forms from syllables.
- Goes deeper in Disce ludens II with the subjunctive, participles and infinitives.
What it doesn’t do
- Is not available in English – the app is in German.
- Does not replace a complete grammar with all irregular verbs.
- Does not show vowel length marks (macrons).
- Leaves subjunctive forms to Disce ludens II.
Frequently asked questions
How many conjugations are there in Latin?
Four: the 1st (a-stems), 2nd (e-stems), 3rd (consonant stems) and 4th (i-stems); the 3rd -io verbs (mixed) are usually shown separately as a subgroup of the 3rd. On top of these come irregular verbs such as esse.
How do I recognise the imperfect?
By the marker -ba- before the personal ending: laudabam, videbam, audiebam.
How is the future formed?
The 1st and 2nd conjugations use -bo, -bis, -bit (laudabo), the others -am, -es, -et (audiam, audies).
Why do I have to learn the principal parts?
Because the perfect stem and the PPP cannot be predicted: video, vidi, visum; curro, cucurri, cursum. The present, imperfect and future passive, by contrast, are formed regularly from the present stem. Without the principal parts you will not recognise these forms in a text.