Neuter NounsChapter 8

Review There are three genders of nouns in

Latin. You have already seen two of them, masculine and feminine, and in this chapter, we will take a look at the third gender, the neuter.

Keep in mind that you must memorize the gender from the vocabulary. Inanimate objects are not always neuter in Latin.

Two Rules for Neuter Nouns

These rules are for ALL neuter nouns, no matter what declension they are in.

• Nominative and Accusative will look alike.

• Nominative and Accusative plural will end in –a.

Other Endings All other endings are the same as

the masculine endings you have already learned.

Second Declension Neuter  Look at the following chart of endings

for a 2nd Declension, neuter word:

Notice how many neuter endings look just like the masculine ones.

Case Singular Plural

Nom. -um -a

Gen. -i -orum

Dat. -o -is

Acc. -um -a

Abl. -o -is

Example Here’s an example of a second

declension, neuter word declined.• First find the base of the noun- donum,

doni, n.• Then add the endings:

Case Singular Plural

Nom. donum dona

Gen. doni donorum

Dat. dono donis

Acc. donum dona

Abl. dono donis

Other 2nd Declension, Neuter Words

Here are some other 2nd Declension, neuter words from your reading: • arma, armorum, n. weapons *• bellum, belli, n. war• castra, castrorum, n. camp*• consilium, consili, n. plan, advice• forum, fori, n. forum• templum, templi, n. temple

Plural Neuters *NOTICE that CASTRA and ARMA

are always plural. Since the –a is the nominative, neuter, plural ending for 2nd declension, that is the nominative form that you see in the dictionary entry.

Third Declension Neuter Look at the following chart of endings for a 3rd

Declension, neuter word:

Notice that the nominative, singular is unpredictable in the 3rd Declension. The accusative will always look like the nominative when the word is neuter.

Case Singular Plural

Nom. --- -a

Gen. -is -um

Dat. -i -ibus

Acc. --- -a

Abl. -e -ibus

Example Here’s an example of a third

declension, neuter word declined.• First find the base of the noun- corpus,

corporis, n.• Then add the endings:

Case Singular Plural

Nom. corpus corpora

Gen. corporis corporum

Dat. corpori corporibus

Acc. corpus corpora

Abl. corpore corporibus

Other 3rd Declension, Neuter Words

Some of the 3rd declension neuter nouns in your readings are:• carmen, carminis., n. song, poem• corpus, corporis, n. body• iter, itineris, n. journey• mare, maris, n. sea• opus, operis, n. work, labor, a literary work

Recap Always remember the two rules for

neuter nouns. They will work no matter what the declension.

• Nominative and Accusative will look alike.

• Nominative and Accusative plural will end in –a.