3.1 First conjugation

First conjugation verbs form the backbone of Latin grammar. These -āre verbs make up about half of all Latin verbs, making them essential for basic communication and text comprehension. Their consistent -a- stem provides a model for understanding other conjugations.

Learning first conjugation verbs involves mastering present tense endings, imperative forms, and infinitives. Common examples include amo (love), laudo (praise), and porto (carry). Understanding these verbs' formation and usage is crucial for navigating Latin texts and everyday expressions.

Overview of first conjugation

• First conjugation forms the foundation of Latin verb systems, characterized by the -āre ending in the infinitive
• Encompasses a large number of Latin verbs, making it crucial for basic communication and text comprehension
• Serves as a model for understanding other conjugations and their variations in Latin grammar

Characteristics of first conjugation

Stem ending in -a

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• Verbs have a stem that ends in a long -ā (amā-)
• Maintains the -a- throughout most conjugated forms, providing consistency in recognition
• Distinguishes first conjugation verbs from other conjugation groups (laudāre, portāre, vocāre)

Present tense endings

• Personal endings attach directly to the -a- stem in most forms
• Active endings: -o, -as, -at, -amus, -atis, -ant
• Passive endings: -or, -aris, -atur, -amur, -amini, -antur
• First person singular active uniquely drops the -a- (amo instead of amao)

Formation of present tense

Present active indicative

• Formed by adding personal endings to the verb stem
• First person singular drops the -a- (amo)
• Other persons retain the -a- (amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant)
• Used to express actions occurring in the present time or habitual actions

Present passive indicative

• Utilizes passive endings added to the -a- stem
• Retains the -a- in all persons (amor, amaris, amatur, amamur, amamini, amantur)
• Expresses actions being done to the subject in the present time
• Often translated with "is/are being" + past participle in English

Imperative mood

Active imperative forms

• Singular: stem + -a (ama!)
• Plural: stem + -ate (amate!)
• Used for giving commands or making requests
• Lacks a first person form due to its nature as a command

Passive imperative forms

• Singular: stem + -are (amare!)
• Plural: stem + -amini (amamini!)
• Less common than active imperatives
• Expresses commands for actions to be done to someone or something

Infinitive forms

Present active infinitive

• Formed by adding -re to the stem (amare)
• Serves as the dictionary form of the verb
• Used in indirect statements and as a verbal noun
• Often translated as "to" + verb in English (to love)

Present passive infinitive

• Created by adding -ri to the stem (amari)
• Expresses the idea of being acted upon in a general sense
• Used in passive periphrastic constructions
• Translated as "to be" + past participle in English (to be loved)

Common first conjugation verbs

Frequently used examples

• Amo (love), laudo (praise), porto (carry), voco (call)
• Paro (prepare), do (give), sto (stand), pugno (fight)
• Cogito (think), spero (hope), erro (wander), laboro (work)

Irregular first conjugation verbs

• Do, dare (give) - short -a- in stem, irregular perfect forms
• Sto, stare (stand) - irregular perfect forms (steti)
• Iuvo, iuvare (help) - irregular perfect (iuvi) and supine (iutum)

Conjugation patterns

Full paradigm of amo

• Present active: amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant
• Present passive: amor, amaris, amatur, amamur, amamini, amantur
• Imperative active: ama, amate
• Imperative passive: amare, amamini
• Infinitives: amare (active), amari (passive)

Comparison with other conjugations

• First conjugation maintains -a- theme vowel, unlike others
• More regular than other conjugations, with fewer stem changes
• Serves as a template for understanding variations in other conjugations
• Contrasts with -ēre (2nd), -ere (3rd), and -īre (4th) conjugation infinitives

Usage in Latin texts

Examples from classical literature

• "Gallia est omnis divisa in partes tres" (Caesar, De Bello Gallico) - uses first conjugation verb "divisa est"
• "Odi et amo" (Catullus 85) - employs first conjugation verb "amo"
• "Alea iacta est" (Julius Caesar) - features first conjugation passive "iacta est"

Frequency in everyday Latin

• Comprises about 50% of all Latin verbs, making it the most common conjugation
• Prevalent in inscriptions, graffiti, and everyday communications
• Often used for common actions and states (walk, talk, work, live)

Pronunciation and stress

Vowel length in first conjugation

• Long -ā- in the stem remains long in most forms
• Shortens in some positions, such as before -nt (amant)
• Affects the rhythm and meter in Latin poetry and prose

Accent rules for conjugated forms

• Stress falls on the penultimate syllable if it is long (amāmus)
• Accent shifts to the antepenultimate if the penultimate is short (áma)
• Imperative singular forms are always stressed on the first syllable (áma)

Translation strategies

Identifying first conjugation verbs

• Look for -are infinitive endings in dictionary entries
• Recognize the -a- theme vowel in conjugated forms
• Pay attention to personal endings to determine person and number

Rendering tenses in English

• Present tense can be translated as simple present or present progressive
• Consider context for habitual actions vs. actions in progress
• Use helping verbs for passive forms (is/are being + past participle)

Practice exercises

Conjugation drills

• Write out full paradigms of common verbs (laudo, paro, pugno)
• Fill in the blanks with correct verb forms in sentences
• Transform active sentences to passive and vice versa

Translation practice

• Translate short Latin phrases containing first conjugation verbs
• Render English sentences into Latin using appropriate verb forms
• Analyze and translate excerpts from classical texts featuring first conjugation verbs