Declension - Revision history

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus at 18:45, 12 September 2012

2012-09-12T18:45:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:45, 12 September 2012
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	This is a summary of the declension of Latin nouns.		This is a summary of the declension of Latin nouns.
		+
		+
		+	== Why we have to decline ==
		+
		+	Latin indicates grammatical information by "inflection": by changing the ending of the words. If we change a noun’s ending to express its grammatical role, we say we “decline” it.
		+
		+	When English says "The lion eats the mother", and "The mother eats the lion", the question of who eats whom is decided by word order. In Latin, word order is free and doesn't help to decide who eats whom, instead Latin uses features like in the word "whom", where the ending "-m" shows that it's the object case ([[accusative]]), "who", without "-m", is subject case ([[nominative]]).
		+
		+	In addition to the subject (nominative) and object (accusative) case, English has a third case, in "whose": the possessive case, called [[genitive]] in Latin grammar. Latin went just a little bit further, and added two other cases: the [[dative]], which is the case of the recipient ("to whom") and [[ablative]], which is the adverbial case, and expresses adverbials like "by whom", "with whom" or "from whom". Please note that modern English many times neglects the difference between "who" and "whom", and people may say things like "who eats who". But in Latin this is impossible and the distinction is always kept. Latin is also more uniform than English, because while English can differentiate between "who" and "whom", or "he" and "him", it can not make difference between "The '''mother''' (eats something)" and "(Something eats) the '''mother'''": both as a subject and as an object "mother" remains the same. Well, Latin would add a different ending to the object case: the accusative ending.
		+
		+	Now, let's summarize the Latin cases and their meanings, using the example of "mother" and "who eats whom":
		+
		+	*[[nominative]] - '''the mother''' (eats the lion) SUBJECT
		+	*[[accusative]] - (the lion eats) '''the mother''' OBJECT
		+	*[[genitive]] - '''the mother's''' (lion) / (the lion) '''of the mother''' POSSESSIVE
		+	*[[dative]] - '''to the mother''' RECIPIENT - INDIRECT OBJECT
		+	*[[ablative]] - '''by/with/from the mother''' - ADVERBIAL OF MEANS/MANNER/PLACE/TIME
		+
		+

	== Which declension a noun belongs to ==		== Which declension a noun belongs to ==

−	Latin ~~is a heavily inflected language, which means that Latin indicates grammatical information by changing the ending of the words. Nouns~~ are grouped into five declensions (noun inflection groups)~~. If we change a noun’s ending to express its grammatical role, we say we “decline” it~~. To determine which declension group a noun belongs to, you have to look into a [[Latin dictionary]].	+	Latin nouns are grouped into five declensions (noun inflection groups). To determine which declension group a noun belongs to, you have to look into a [[Latin dictionary]].

	In the case of nouns, for example, “friend”, you will find:		In the case of nouns, for example, “friend”, you will find:
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	This is the most important point. This ending “–i” determines that “amicus” belongs to the “[[second declension]]”, whose identifier is the genitive “–i”. As we have mentioned, there are 5 declensions, and each one of these has a unique, declension-specific genitive ending. It’s important because the genitive ending determines the other inflections as well. The five types of genitive ending and the five declensions determined by the different genitive endings are:		This is the most important point. This ending “–i” determines that “amicus” belongs to the “[[second declension]]”, whose identifier is the genitive “–i”. As we have mentioned, there are 5 declensions, and each one of these has a unique, declension-specific genitive ending. It’s important because the genitive ending determines the other inflections as well. The five types of genitive ending and the five declensions determined by the different genitive endings are:

−	'''-ae''' = [[1st declension]], e.g.: Roma, -ae, f (Rome)	+	::'''-ae''' = [[1st declension]], e.g.: Roma, -ae, f (Rome)

−	'''-i''' = [[2nd declension]], e.g.: amicus, -i, m (friend)	+	::'''-i''' = [[2nd declension]], e.g.: amicus, -i, m (friend)

−	'''-is''' = [[3rd declension]], e.g.: rex, regis, m (king)	+	::'''-is''' = [[3rd declension]], e.g.: rex, regis, m (king)

−	'''-ús''' = [[4th declension]], e.g.: senatus, -ús, m (senate)	+	::'''-ús''' = [[4th declension]], e.g.: senatus, -ús, m (senate)

−	'''-ei''' = [[5th declension]], e.g. fides, -ei, f (loyalty)	+	::'''-ei''' = [[5th declension]], e.g. fides, -ei, f (loyalty)

	(3)''' m.;''' The “m.” means that it is a masculine noun. In Latin, all nouns have three genders, they are masculine, (abbreviated as “m”), feminine (abbreviated as “f”), and neuter (abbreviated as “n”). English has a similar phenomenon when we use “he”, “she” or “it”. The new thing in this is that Latin uses these genders for things or abstract concepts, too, like in the exemples above, “loyalty” (fides, -ei, f) is feminine in Latin, the “senate” (senatus, -ús, m) is masculine, “Rome” (Roma, -ae, f) is, again, feminine.		(3)''' m.;''' The “m.” means that it is a masculine noun. In Latin, all nouns have three genders, they are masculine, (abbreviated as “m”), feminine (abbreviated as “f”), and neuter (abbreviated as “n”). English has a similar phenomenon when we use “he”, “she” or “it”. The new thing in this is that Latin uses these genders for things or abstract concepts, too, like in the exemples above, “loyalty” (fides, -ei, f) is feminine in Latin, the “senate” (senatus, -ús, m) is masculine, “Rome” (Roma, -ae, f) is, again, feminine.

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus at 23:00, 5 March 2012

2012-03-05T23:00:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:00, 5 March 2012
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	(3)''' m.;''' The “m.” means that it is a masculine noun. In Latin, all nouns have three genders, they are masculine, (abbreviated as “m”), feminine (abbreviated as “f”), and neuter (abbreviated as “n”). English has a similar phenomenon when we use “he”, “she” or “it”. The new thing in this is that Latin uses these genders for things or abstract concepts, too, like in the exemples above, “loyalty” (fides, -ei, f) is feminine in Latin, the “senate” (senatus, -ús, m) is masculine, “Rome” (Roma, -ae, f) is, again, feminine.		(3)''' m.;''' The “m.” means that it is a masculine noun. In Latin, all nouns have three genders, they are masculine, (abbreviated as “m”), feminine (abbreviated as “f”), and neuter (abbreviated as “n”). English has a similar phenomenon when we use “he”, “she” or “it”. The new thing in this is that Latin uses these genders for things or abstract concepts, too, like in the exemples above, “loyalty” (fides, -ei, f) is feminine in Latin, the “senate” (senatus, -ús, m) is masculine, “Rome” (Roma, -ae, f) is, again, feminine.
		+
		+	==How to decline a Latin noun==
		+
		+	The declension (inflection ) of nouns is done by cutting off the declension specific genitive ending (-ae, -i, -is, -ús, -ei) and replacing them with the various case endings that you'll find below.

	=== Neuter rule ===		=== Neuter rule ===

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus: Declensions moved to Declension

2011-03-09T14:19:20Z

Declensions moved to Declension

← Older revision

Revision as of 14:19, 9 March 2011

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus: more info

2011-03-07T17:57:54Z

more info

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:57, 7 March 2011
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	This is a summary of the declension of Latin nouns.		This is a summary of the declension of Latin nouns.
		+
		+	== Which declension a noun belongs to ==
		+
		+	Latin is a heavily inflected language, which means that Latin indicates grammatical information by changing the ending of the words. Nouns are grouped into five declensions (noun inflection groups). If we change a noun’s ending to express its grammatical role, we say we “decline” it. To determine which declension group a noun belongs to, you have to look into a [[Latin dictionary]].
		+
		+	In the case of nouns, for example, “friend”, you will find:
		+
		+	'''''amicus, -i, m.'''''
		+
		+	This is 3 pieces of information:
		+
		+	:(1) amicus;
		+	:(2) -i;
		+	:(3) m.
		+
		+	(1) '''amicus;''' This means that the word “friend” in [[nominative]] (subject) case is “amicus”.
		+
		+	(2) '''-i;''' The abbreviated form “-i” means that the word “friend” in [[genitive]] (possessive) case is “amici” (something of friend, or friend’s something), thus the original ending “-us” changes to “-i”.
		+	This is the most important point. This ending “–i” determines that “amicus” belongs to the “[[second declension]]”, whose identifier is the genitive “–i”. As we have mentioned, there are 5 declensions, and each one of these has a unique, declension-specific genitive ending. It’s important because the genitive ending determines the other inflections as well. The five types of genitive ending and the five declensions determined by the different genitive endings are:
		+
		+	'''-ae''' = [[1st declension]], e.g.: Roma, -ae, f (Rome)
		+
		+	'''-i''' = [[2nd declension]], e.g.: amicus, -i, m (friend)
		+
		+	'''-is''' = [[3rd declension]], e.g.: rex, regis, m (king)
		+
		+	'''-ús''' = [[4th declension]], e.g.: senatus, -ús, m (senate)
		+
		+	'''-ei''' = [[5th declension]], e.g. fides, -ei, f (loyalty)
		+
		+	(3)''' m.;''' The “m.” means that it is a masculine noun. In Latin, all nouns have three genders, they are masculine, (abbreviated as “m”), feminine (abbreviated as “f”), and neuter (abbreviated as “n”). English has a similar phenomenon when we use “he”, “she” or “it”. The new thing in this is that Latin uses these genders for things or abstract concepts, too, like in the exemples above, “loyalty” (fides, -ei, f) is feminine in Latin, the “senate” (senatus, -ús, m) is masculine, “Rome” (Roma, -ae, f) is, again, feminine.
		+
		+	=== Neuter rule ===
		+
		+	Neuter nouns have no [[accusative]] form separate from their [[nominative]]. It means that all neuter nouns have accusatives identical to their nominatives, and, additionally, all neuter nouns have a plural nominative-accusative form that ends in '''-a''', regardless to their declension group.
		+
	<div style="float:left; >__TOC__</div>		<div style="float:left; >__TOC__</div>

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus at 21:22, 2 March 2011

2011-03-02T21:22:47Z

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	! colspan="4" \|O-Stem		! colspan="4" \|O-Stem
	\|-		\|-
−	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''terra, -ae, f''	+	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''terra, -ae, f''<br>land
−	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''tribúnus, -í, m''	+	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''tribúnus, -í, m''<br>tribune
−	! colspan="2" \| n<br>''auspicium, -í, n''	+	! colspan="2" \| n<br>''auspicium, -í, n''<br>auspice
	\|-		\|-
	! colspan="2" \| '''Singular'''		! colspan="2" \| '''Singular'''
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	! colspan="4" \|U-Stem		! colspan="4" \|U-Stem
	\|-		\|-
−	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''léx, légis, f''	+	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''léx, légis, f''<br>law
−	! colspan="2" \| n<br>''iús, iúris, n''	+	! colspan="2" \| n<br>''iús, iúris, n''<br>right
−	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''cívis, -is, mf''	+	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''cívis, -is, mf''<br>citizen
−	! colspan="2" \| n<br>''mare, -is, n''	+	! colspan="2" \| n<br>''mare, -is, n''<br>sea
−	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''senátus, -ús, m''	+	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''senátus, -ús, m''<br>senate
−	! colspan="2" \| n<br>''cornú, -ús, n''	+	! colspan="2" \| n<br>''cornú, -ús, n''<br>horn
	\|-		\|-
	! colspan="2" \| '''Singular'''		! colspan="2" \| '''Singular'''
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	\|-		\|-
	! [[Ablative]]		! [[Ablative]]
−	\| lég'''e'''\|\| '''–e'''\|\| iúr'''e'''\|\| '''–e'''\|\|cív'''e'''\|\| '''–e'''\|\|mar'''e''' \|\|'''–í'''\|\|senát'''ú''' \|\|'''–ú''' \|\|corn'''ú''' \|\|'''–ú'''	+	\| lég'''e'''\|\| '''–e'''\|\| iúr'''e'''\|\| '''–e'''\|\|cív'''e'''\|\| '''–e'''\|\|mar'''í''' \|\|'''–í'''\|\|senát'''ú''' \|\|'''–ú''' \|\|corn'''ú''' \|\|'''–ú'''
	\|-		\|-
	! colspan="1" \|		! colspan="1" \|
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	! colspan="4" \|E-Stem		! colspan="4" \|E-Stem
	\|-		\|-
−	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''diés, éí, m''	+	! colspan="2" \| mf<br>''diés, éí, m''<br>day
	\|-		\|-
	! colspan="2" \| '''Singular'''		! colspan="2" \| '''Singular'''

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus at 01:35, 23 December 2008

2008-12-23T01:35:12Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:35, 23 December 2008
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	==The mixed declension ("-rum/-bus")==		==The mixed declension ("-rum/-bus")==

−	The fifth declension shares the characteristics of the other two ~~group~~:	+	The fifth declension shares the characteristics of the other two groups:

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus at 00:19, 23 December 2008

2008-12-23T00:19:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:19, 23 December 2008
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−	{{LanguageBar\|Declensions}}~~<div style="float:right; margin-left:1em">__TOC__</div>~~	+	{{LanguageBar\|Declensions}}{{Latin grammar articles}}
	Latin is an inflected language, and as such its nouns, pronouns, and adjectives must be declined in order to serve a grammatical function. A set of declined forms of the same word pattern is called a declension. There are five declensions, which are numbered and grouped by ending and grammatical gender.		Latin is an inflected language, and as such its nouns, pronouns, and adjectives must be declined in order to serve a grammatical function. A set of declined forms of the same word pattern is called a declension. There are five declensions, which are numbered and grouped by ending and grammatical gender.

	This is a summary of the declension of Latin nouns.		This is a summary of the declension of Latin nouns.
		+	<div style="float:left; >__TOC__</div>
		+

	==The "-rum/-ís" declension-group==		==The "-rum/-ís" declension-group==

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus at 23:01, 22 December 2008

2008-12-22T23:01:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:01, 22 December 2008
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−	==The mixed declension~~-group~~ ("-rum/-bus")==	+	==The mixed declension ("-rum/-bus")==

	The fifth declension shares the characteristics of the other two group:		The fifth declension shares the characteristics of the other two group:

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus at 23:00, 22 December 2008

2008-12-22T23:00:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:00, 22 December 2008
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−	{{LanguageBar\|Declensions}}	+	{{LanguageBar\|Declensions}}<div style="float:right; margin-left:1em">__TOC__</div>
	Latin is an inflected language, and as such its nouns, pronouns, and adjectives must be declined in order to serve a grammatical function. A set of declined forms of the same word pattern is called a declension. There are five declensions, which are numbered and grouped by ending and grammatical gender.		Latin is an inflected language, and as such its nouns, pronouns, and adjectives must be declined in order to serve a grammatical function. A set of declined forms of the same word pattern is called a declension. There are five declensions, which are numbered and grouped by ending and grammatical gender.

		+	This is a summary of the declension of Latin nouns.
		+
		+	==The "-rum/-ís" declension-group==
		+
		+	The first and second declensions have common characteristics:

	{\|border="1" cellpadding="2" style="background:#ffffff"		{\|border="1" cellpadding="2" style="background:#ffffff"
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	\|-		\|-
	\|}		\|}
		+
		+
		+	==The "-um/-bus" declension-group==
		+
		+	The third and fourth declensions have common characteristics:


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	\|}		\|}

		+
		+	==The mixed declension-group ("-rum/-bus")==
		+
		+	The fifth declension shares the characteristics of the other two group:

Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus at 22:36, 22 December 2008

2008-12-22T22:36:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:36, 22 December 2008
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	{{LanguageBar\|Declensions}}		{{LanguageBar\|Declensions}}
		+	Latin is an inflected language, and as such its nouns, pronouns, and adjectives must be declined in order to serve a grammatical function. A set of declined forms of the same word pattern is called a declension. There are five declensions, which are numbered and grouped by ending and grammatical gender.
		+

	{\|border="1" cellpadding="2" style="background:#ffffff"		{\|border="1" cellpadding="2" style="background:#ffffff"