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