Conjugating VerbsPresent, Imperfect & Perfect

Tenses

Background Info• To conjugate a verb means to list the forms.• Verbs are grouped into conjugations.• Conjugations determine the linking vowels for

present tense and imperfect tense.• 1st conjugation verbs have 2nd PP ending –are• 2nd conjugation verbs have 2nd PP ending –ēre• 3rd conjugation verbs have 2nd PP ending –ere• 4th conjugation verbs have 2nd PP ending –ire

Conjugating in Present Tense• The endings are: -o -mus

-s -tis-t -nt

• The linking vowels for present tense are:1 2 3 4a e i i

• To form the present tense, remove infinitive ending from the end of the 2nd pp, then add the correct linking vowel plus the endings.

• Remember that in 1st and 3rd conjugation, -o swallows the vowel.• Remember that in 3rd and 4th conjugation, the 3rd person plural ending is

–unt and –iunt.

Conjugating in Imperfect Tense• The endings are: -bam -bamus

-bas -batis-bat -bant

• The linking vowels for imperfect tense are:1 2 3 4a e e ie

• To form the imperfect tense, remove the infinitive ending from the end of the 2nd pp, then add the correct linking vowel plus the endings.

Conjugating in Perfect Tense• The endings are: -i -imus

-isti -istis-it -erunt

• To form the perfect tense, remove –i from the end of the 3rd pp, then add the endings.

• This applies for all conjugations, including irregular verbs.

• There are no linking vowels for perfect tense.

Conjugate porto, portare, portavi – carryin present, imperfect and perfect tenses.

• Since the 2nd pp ends in –are, this verb is 1st conjugation.• 1st conjugation verbs use –a for the linking vowel for both

present and imperfect.• Present Tense Imperfect Tense

porto portamus portabam portabamusportas portatis portabas portabatisportat portant portabat portabant

• Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is portavi, minus -i, plus endings portavi portavimusportavisti portavistisportavit portaverunt

Conjugate rideo, ridēre, risi – laughin present, imperfect and perfect tenses.

• Since the 2nd pp ends in –ēre, this verb is 2nd conjugation.• 2nd conjugation verbs use –e for the linking vowel for both

present and imperfect.• Present Tense Imperfect Tense

rideo ridemus ridebam ridebamusrides ridetis ridebas ridebatisridet rident ridebat ridebant

• Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is risi, minus -i, plus endings risi risimusrisisti risistisrisit riserunt

Conjugate vendo, vendere, vendidi– sellin present, imperfect and perfect tenses.

• Since the 2nd pp ends in –ere, this verb is 3rd conjugation.• 3rd conjugation verbs use –i for present tense and –e for the

imperfect tense.• Present Tense Imperfect Tense

vendo vendimus vendebam vendebamusvendis venditis vendebas vendebatisvendit vendunt vendebat vendebant

• Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is vendidi, minus -i, plus endings vendidi vendidimusvendidisti vendidistisvendidit vendiderunt

Conjugate dormio, dormire, dormivi – sleepin present, imperfect and perfect tenses.

• Since the 2nd pp ends in –ire, this verb is 4th conjugation.• 4th conjugation verbs use –i for present tense and –ie for the

imperfect tense.• Present Tense Imperfect Tense

dormio dormimus dormiebam dormiebamusdormis dormitis dormiebas dormiebatisdormit dormiunt dormiebat dormiebant

• Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is dormivi, minus -i, plus endings dormivi dormivimusdormivisti dormivistisdormivit dormiverunt

Conjugate sum, esse, fui – to bein present, imperfect and perfect tenses.

• Since this verb is irregular, it doesn’t belong to any conjugation.• The forms must be memorized for present and imperfect.• Present Tense Imperfect Tense

sum sumus eram eramuses estis eras eratisest sunt erat erant

• Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is fui, minus -i, plus endings fui fuimusfuisti fuistisfuit fuerunt

• Compounds will be conjugated similarly.

Conjugate eo, ire, ii – goin present, imperfect and perfect tenses.

• Since this verb is irregular, it doesn’t belong to any conjugation.• The forms must be memorized for present and imperfect.• Present Tense Imperfect Tense

eo imus ibam ibamusis itis ibas ibatisit eunt ibat ibant

• Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is ii, minus -i, plus endings ii iimusiisti iistisiit ierunt

• Compounds will be conjugated similarly.