1st/2nd CONJUGATION FORMATION OF THE PRESENT TENSE
The rule: verb root + conjugation vowel + personal endings
1. FIND THE ROOT OF THE VERB
1. refer to the verb's principal parts
example 1st conjugation: laudo, laud ā re, laud ā vi, laud ā tum
example 2nd conjugation: moneo, monēre, monui, monitum
2. refer specifically to the verb's 2nd principal part, the infinitive (laud ā re). We recall that infinitive suggests that no limit has yet been placed on this verb - laud ā re means "to praise" only in the most general sense. Finite verb forms are also called conjugated verb forms - they are limited by person (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and number (singular and plural) (ex: laudamus specifically means "we praise," we are praising," or "we do praise" and nothing else.) Although infinitives lack person and number, they do have tense and this will become important later.
2. ADD THE CONJUGATION VOWEL TO THE ROOT
1. Again, refer specifically to the verb's 2nd principal part, the infinitive (laud ā re or monēre ), to find the vowel associated with this conjugation. In first conjugation, the vowel is ( ā ). In second conjugation, the vowel is ē. This vowel will appear in all formations of the present tense of 1st and 2nd conjugation verbs. Exception: in the 1st person singular form of 1st conjugation verbs, the ā is overwhelmed by the o and gets assimilated into it. Be assured that it is in there, even though it is invisible.
3. ADD THE PERSONAL ENDINGS FOR THE PRESENT TENSE
PERSONAL ENDINGS
| singular | plural | |
| 1st person | - o | - mus |
| 2nd person | - s | - tis |
| 3rd person | - t | - nt |
EXAMPLES OF CONJUGATED VERBS AND THEIR TRANSLATIONS
1ST CONJUGATION
| singular | plural | |
| 1st person | laud + a+ o = laudo (a drops out before o) I praise | laud + a + mus = laudamus we praise |
| 2nd person | laud + a + s = laudas you praise | laud + a + tis = laudatis you (pl) praise |
| 3rd person | laud + a + t = laudat he (she, it) praises | laud + a + nt = laudant they praise |
| singular | plural | |
| 1st person | mon + e + o = moneo I warn | mon + e + mus = monemus we warn |
| 2nd person | mon + e + s = mones you warn | mon + e + tis = monetis you (pl) warn |
| 3rd person | mon + e + t = monet he (she, it) warns | mon + e + nt = monent they warn |
copyright 2001 Janice Siegel, All Rights Reserved
send comments to: Janice Siegel (jfsiege@ilstu.edu)
date this page was edited last: 06/29/2005
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