3.4 Fourth conjugation

Fourth conjugation verbs in Latin have unique characteristics that set them apart from other verb groups. These verbs have stems ending in -i and follow specific patterns in conjugation, making them easier to recognize and use in various tenses and moods.

Understanding fourth conjugation verbs is crucial for mastering Latin grammar. By learning their distinct forms and common examples, students can improve their ability to read, write, and translate Latin texts accurately and confidently.

Characteristics of fourth conjugation

• Fourth conjugation verbs form a distinct group in Latin verb classification, characterized by specific patterns and endings
• Understanding fourth conjugation verbs enhances overall comprehension of Latin verb systems and improves translation skills

Stem ending in -i

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• Fourth conjugation verbs have stems ending in -i
• Distinguishes them from other conjugations (first, second, and third)
• Stem remains consistent throughout most tenses and moods
• Facilitates easier recognition and conjugation of these verbs

Principal parts

• Fourth conjugation verbs typically have four principal parts
• First principal part ends in -io (audio, I hear)
• Second principal part ends in -ire (audire, to hear)
• Third principal part usually ends in -ivi (audivi, I heard)
• Fourth principal part ends in -itum (auditum, having been heard)

Conjugation pattern

• Follows a distinct pattern across various tenses and moods
• Present tense uses -i- before personal endings
• Imperfect and future tenses have unique formations
• Perfect system tenses generally follow regular patterns
• Subjunctive mood forms adhere to specific fourth conjugation rules

Present tense forms

• Present tense in fourth conjugation verbs expresses actions happening now or habitually
• Utilizes the verb stem plus specific endings to indicate person and number

Active voice

• First person singular ends in -io (audio, I hear)
• Second person singular ends in -is (audis, you hear)
• Third person singular ends in -it (audit, he/she/it hears)
• First person plural ends in -imus (audimus, we hear)
• Second person plural ends in -itis (auditis, you all hear)
• Third person plural ends in -iunt (audiunt, they hear)

Passive voice

• First person singular ends in -ior (audior, I am heard)
• Second person singular ends in -iris or -ire (audiris/audire, you are heard)
• Third person singular ends in -itur (auditur, he/she/it is heard)
• First person plural ends in -imur (audimur, we are heard)
• Second person plural ends in -imini (audimini, you all are heard)
• Third person plural ends in -iuntur (audiuntur, they are heard)

Imperfect tense forms

• Imperfect tense in fourth conjugation verbs expresses ongoing or repeated actions in the past
• Follows a specific formation pattern distinct from other conjugations

Formation rules

• Add -ieba- to the verb stem before personal endings
• Active voice endings: -m, -s, -t, -mus, -tis, -nt
• Passive voice endings: -r, -ris/-re, -tur, -mur, -mini, -ntur
• Maintains the -i- characteristic of fourth conjugation throughout

Examples in context

• Audiebam carmina (I was listening to songs)
• Pueri veniebant ad scholam (The boys were coming to school)
• Urbs muniebatur a militibus (The city was being fortified by soldiers)
• Custodes portas aperiebant (The guards were opening the gates)

Future tense forms

• Future tense in fourth conjugation verbs expresses actions that will occur in the future
• Utilizes unique endings that differ from other conjugations

Unique future endings

• Add -ia- to the verb stem before personal endings for singular forms
• Add -ie- to the verb stem before personal endings for plural forms
• Active voice endings: -m, -s, -t, -mus, -tis, -nt
• Passive voice endings: -r, -ris/-re, -tur, -mur, -mini, -ntur

Comparison with other conjugations

• Fourth conjugation future forms differ from first and second conjugations, which use -bo, -bis, etc.
• Shares similarities with third conjugation, but maintains the -i- characteristic
• Easier to recognize due to consistent -i- before future tense markers
• Helps distinguish fourth conjugation verbs from i-stem third conjugation verbs

Perfect tense forms

• Perfect tense in fourth conjugation verbs expresses completed actions in the past
• Generally follows regular patterns, but some verbs have irregular forms

Regular vs irregular verbs

• Regular verbs form perfect tense by adding -iv- to the stem (audivi, I heard)
• Some verbs drop the -v- in perfect forms (audii, I heard)
• Irregular verbs may have unique perfect stems (venio → veni, I came)
• Personal endings remain consistent: -i, -isti, -it, -imus, -istis, -erunt/-ere

Translation considerations

• Perfect tense can be translated as simple past in English (I heard)
• May also be translated as present perfect (I have heard)
• Context determines the most appropriate translation
• Consider aspect (completed action) when interpreting perfect forms

Common fourth conjugation verbs

• Fourth conjugation includes many frequently used Latin verbs
• Mastering these verbs enhances overall Latin proficiency and translation skills

High-frequency examples

• Audio (to hear)
• Venio (to come)
• Scio (to know)
• Dormio (to sleep)
• Invenio (to find, discover)
• Sentio (to feel, perceive)

Deponent verbs

• Some fourth conjugation verbs are deponent, having passive forms but active meanings
• Partior (to divide, share)
• Mentior (to lie)
• Experior (to try, experience)
• Orior (to rise, be born)
• Retain fourth conjugation characteristics in conjugation

Imperative mood

• Imperative mood in fourth conjugation verbs expresses commands or requests
• Follows specific formation rules for second person singular and plural

Formation and usage

• Second person singular: use the present stem (audi, hear!)
• Second person plural: add -te to the present stem (audite, hear! [plural])
• Used for direct commands or exhortations
• Often found in dialogues, speeches, or instructional texts

Negative commands

• Formed using noli/nolite + present infinitive
• Noli audire (Do not hear! [singular])
• Nolite audire (Do not hear! [plural])
• Provides a more polite or formal way of expressing negative commands
• Contrasts with the use of ne + perfect subjunctive for prohibitions

Infinitives

• Infinitives in fourth conjugation verbs serve as verbal nouns
• Have distinct forms for different tenses and voices

Present active and passive

• Present active infinitive ends in -ire (audire, to hear)
• Present passive infinitive ends in -iri (audiri, to be heard)
• Used in indirect statements and as subjects or objects of certain verbs
• Can express purpose when used with certain prepositions

Perfect and future forms

• Perfect active infinitive: add -isse to perfect stem (audivisse, to have heard)
• Perfect passive infinitive: fourth principal part + esse (auditum esse, to have been heard)
• Future active infinitive: supine + iri (auditum iri, to be about to hear)
• Future passive infinitive: present active infinitive + -rus/-ra/-rum esse (auditurum esse, to be about to hear)

Participles

• Participles in fourth conjugation verbs function as verbal adjectives
• Agree with nouns in gender, number, and case

Present active participle

• Formed by adding -iens (nominative) or -ientis (genitive) to the present stem
• Audiens, audientis (hearing)
• Declines like a third declension adjective
• Expresses action contemporaneous with the main verb

Perfect passive participle

• Uses the fourth principal part of the verb
• Auditus, audita, auditum (having been heard)
• Declines like a first/second declension adjective
• Expresses completed action or resulting state

Subjunctive mood

• Subjunctive mood in fourth conjugation verbs expresses potential, hypothetical, or subordinate actions
• Has distinct forms for different tenses

Present subjunctive

• Formed by changing the -i- of the stem to -ia- and adding personal endings
• Audiam, audias, audiat, audiamus, audiatis, audiant
• Used in purpose clauses, indirect commands, and certain subordinate clauses
• Expresses contemporary or future possibility or wish

Imperfect subjunctive

• Formed by adding -re- to the present infinitive and personal endings
• Audirem, audires, audiret, audiremus, audiretis, audirent
• Used in contrary-to-fact conditions, indirect discourse, and certain subordinate clauses
• Expresses past possibility or unfulfilled wishes

Compound verbs

• Compound verbs in fourth conjugation are formed by adding prefixes to simple verbs
• Alter the meaning or add nuance to the original verb

Prefixes with fourth conjugation

• Ad- (to, toward): advenio (to arrive)
• Con- (with, together): convenio (to come together, agree)
• Ex- (out of, from): exaudio (to hear clearly)
• In- (in, into): invenio (to come upon, find)
• Per- (through, thoroughly): pervenio (to arrive, reach)

Meaning changes

• Prefixes can intensify the verb's action (pervenio, to arrive completely)
• May change the verb's meaning significantly (invenio, to find vs. venio, to come)
• Can affect the verb's transitivity or object requirements
• Understanding prefixes enhances vocabulary acquisition and translation accuracy

Fourth conjugation vs i-stem verbs

• Fourth conjugation verbs share similarities with i-stem third conjugation verbs
• Important to distinguish between the two for proper conjugation and translation

Similarities and differences

• Both have stems ending in -i-
• Fourth conjugation verbs maintain -i- throughout most conjugations
• I-stem verbs lose -i- in some forms (especially perfect system)
• Fourth conjugation infinitives end in -ire, i-stem in -ere
• Present tense third person plural differs: -iunt (4th) vs. -unt (i-stem)

Common confusions

• Verbs like capio (to take) are i-stem, not fourth conjugation
• Some verbs may appear to be fourth conjugation but follow i-stem patterns
• Careful attention to dictionary entries and principal parts helps avoid misclassification
• Practice with both types improves ability to distinguish and conjugate correctly

Translation strategies

• Effective translation of fourth conjugation verbs requires careful analysis and context consideration
• Developing systematic approaches enhances accuracy and fluency in Latin translation

Identifying fourth conjugation verbs

• Look for -io endings in first principal part dictionary entries
• Check for -ire in the infinitive form (second principal part)
• Recognize characteristic -i- maintained throughout most conjugations
• Be aware of common fourth conjugation verbs and their meanings

Context clues for tense

• Examine surrounding text for time indicators (adverbs, ablative absolutes)
• Consider the sequence of tenses in complex sentences
• Analyze the narrative flow to determine appropriate tense in English
• Pay attention to aspect (ongoing vs. completed actions) when choosing tense equivalents