This document provides an introduction to translating Latin verbs from their stem form into English conjugations. It explains that Latin verbs are composed of a stem, tense sign, and personal ending. The tense sign indicates the verb tense (present, imperfect, or future), while the personal ending specifies the person and number. Several examples of full Latin verb conjugations are given with their English translations.

1. Intro to Latin
Translating Verbs –
Latin to English
(1st
Conjugation, Present/Imperfect/Future, Act
ive Indicative)

2. Translating Verbs
Stem + Tense Sign + Personal Ending

3. Translating Verbs
Stem + Tense Sign + Personal Ending
Stem tells you the meaning of the word
Vocabamus comes from voco=call
Laudant comes from laudo=praise
Natabo comes from nato=swim

4. Translating Verbs
Stem + Tense Sign + Personal Ending
Tense Sign tells the tense
– Present: no tense sign
• Is, are
– Imperfect (past): tense sign = ba
• Was, were
– Future: tense sign = bi (bo/bi/bu)
• Will

5. Translating Verbs
Stem + Tense Sign + Personal Ending
Personal Endings tell
– Person
• 1st = I, we
• 2nd = you
• 3rd = he, she, it, they
– Number
• Singular
• Plural

6. Personal Endings Chart
Singular Plural
1st Person -o or -m -mus
2nd Person -s -tis
3rd Person -t -nt
Memory help for Singular endings: MOST (Latin is the most fun
class!); or O for one, S for second, and T for third person

7. Examples
Stem + Tense Sign + Personal Ending
Amo, amare: love
stem=ama
Present Imperfect Future
1st Person Sing Amo* Amabam Amabo**
2nd Person Sing Amas Amabas Amabis
3rd Person Sing Amat Amabat Amabit
1st Person Plural Amamus Amabamus Amabimus
2nd Person Plural Amatis Amabatis Amabitis
3rd Person Plural Amant Amabant Amabunt***
*“a” disappears before final “o”
**“i” disappears before final “o”
***“i” changes to “u” before “nt”

8. Translation
The order of Stem/Tense/Ending is basically
reversed from Latin to English.
In English we say “I am walking” or “You were
preparing” or “They will watch”. The person
and number comes first, then the be verb that
indicates tense, then the definition.
So when you are decoding a verb in Latin, the
elements will go in the opposite order in English.

9. Laudabimus

10. Lauda bi mus

11. Lauda bi mus
“praise” future 1st Pl

12. Lauda bi mus
“praise” future 1st Pl
We will be praising

13. Ambulabant

14. Ambula ba nt

15. Ambula ba nt
“walk” imperfect 3rd Pl

16. Ambula ba nt
“walk” imperfect 3rd Pl
They were walking

17. Optas

18. Opta s

19. Opta s
“choose” present 2nd Sg

20. Opta s
“choose” present 2nd Sg
You (sg) are choosing

21. Vocabitis

22. Voca bi tis

23. Voca bi tis
“call” future 2nd Pl

24. Voca bi tis
“call” future 2nd Pl
Y’all will be calling

25. Portat

26. Porta t

27. Porta t
“carry” present 3rd Sg

28. Porta t
“carry” present 3rd Sg
He/she/it is carrying

29. Spectabam

30. Specta ba m

31. Specta ba m
“watch” imperfect 1st Sg

32. Specta ba m
“watch” imperfect 1st Sg
I was watching

33. Amabo

34. Ama b(i) o

35. Ama b(i) o
“love” future 1st Sg

36. Ama b(i) o
“love” future 1st Sg
I will be loving