This is the Message Centre for David R. Litwin

Latin

Post 1

Tempest (Keeper of the Nocturnal Storm) Midnight

Still want me to teach you the basics?


Latin

Post 2

David R. Litwin

Sure.


Latin

Post 3

Tempest (Keeper of the Nocturnal Storm) Midnight

How well do you know the noun lists? And do you know the 'to be' verb yet? Also, do you know (in english) was a predicate nominative, direct object, preposition, etc are?


Latin

Post 4

David R. Litwin

The noun list I am fairly fammilliar withl I would not say I can, at a glance, say of which delcention a noun belongs to but, I could probably figure it out.

The only part of To Be that I know of, thus far, is est.

I thinkI know what a preposition is. The rest, I could make a guess at.


Latin

Post 5

Tempest (Keeper of the Nocturnal Storm) Midnight

Alright, the 'to be' verb is the first one you should learn once you get into verbs, just b/c the endings are so typical of all the other verbs.

On nouns, you can usually tell by what letter comes before the very end (ie, -am, 'a'is the letter before the end, so it's 1st.) It helps to remember that the first conj. is the 'a' one, 2nd-u/o, 3rd-e, etc)

A Predicate Nominative is best learned through example.

The boy is a dog.

Now if you were to break this down, you get: The (def. article) boy (noun/subject) is (verb) a (def.art) dog (noun/predicate nominative).

So in the sentence, "My sister is now a mother", 'mother' is the predicate nominative.

Direct Object refers to the accusative case. In English it is what the noun directly effects with the verb.

I passed the ball. 'Ball' would be the direct object.

Indirect Object refers the dative case, which is also known as the to/for case.

I passed the ball to Angie. Angie is the indirect object.

Kimberly bought me a kitten. Me is the indirect object.


Latin

Post 6

David R. Litwin

Alright. Seems logical enough to me.


Latin

Post 7

Tempest (Keeper of the Nocturnal Storm) Midnight

Alright... How about this... I'll just serve an 'answerer' of questions. I mean, if you need me to explain something or anything of that sort, I shall do so gladly. However, it is difficult for me to divine the areas that require attention, especially when I cannot think of them all. So, if you have any question of any sort, I'll answer it. Deal?


Latin

Post 8

David R. Litwin

No problem. We could start at the tenses of verbs. I read some and they apear to be numerous and quite complex.


Latin

Post 9

Tempest (Keeper of the Nocturnal Storm) Midnight

Alright, for verb tenses you need to learn them one at a time. The obvious place to begin is the present tense.

For a Present Tense verb you use the verb stem.

amo, amare, amavi, amatus =to love

This is a first conjugation verb. (-are)

The verb stem is taken from the second priciple part or infinitive form of the verb. (amare)

To get the stem, you cut off the -re and add an ending.

The Verb Endings:
Singular Plural
1st -o, -m -mus
2nd -s -tis
3rd -t -nt

For Example:
(The 1st/Singular is the one exception to the stem rule. It's the first p.p.)

Amo Amamus
Amas Amatis
Amat Amant



Latin

Post 10

David R. Litwin

You cite at least 2 different endings per person. Is this genitive/nominative or masculin/feminin?


Latin

Post 11

Tempest (Keeper of the Nocturnal Storm) Midnight

No, my apologies, my endings chart didn't come out right.

Okay, For the Singular.

1st- -m/-o (For the present tense this will w/e the 1st principle part is. ie. amo)

2nd- -s

3rd- -t

And the Plural is:

1st- -mus

2nd- -tis

3rd- -nt

If you apply this to the verb 'amo' you will get the following:
(The 1st 3 are singular, the last three are plural)

Amo
Amas
Amat
Amamus
Amatis
Amant

OR

I love
You (sing) love
He/She/It loves
We love
You (plural) love
They love

An easy and useful way to remember the verb endings chart is to memorize the 'to be' verbs. (Dots are for organization only)

Sum.....Sumus
Es......Estis
Est.....Sunt

I am...........We are
You are........You are
S/he/it are....They are


Once you understand the verb endings you can form simple sentences.
Such as:

Puella amat.
or
Puella et Puer ranam portant.
or
Te amo.
or
Equum amas.
or
Magister es.

Vocabulary Used:

Puella, Puellae F. Girl
Puer, Pueri M. Boy
Magister, Magistri M/F. Teacher
Equus, Equum M. Horse
Rana, Ranae F. Frog
Amo, Amare, Amavi, Amatus to love
Porto, Portare, Portavi, Portatus to carry


Latin

Post 12

David R. Litwin

Do/did you teach Latin? You are extremally thourough.

Alright. That makes sense. It is quite simillar to French.

However, I have heard of tenses within tenses; used for changing the mood or how some thing is said. Does this make any sense, and, if it does, is this indeed factuality?


Latin

Post 13

Tempest (Keeper of the Nocturnal Storm) Midnight

Um... Maybe... I remember something like that vaugely... Do you remember if it has anything to do with subjective tense? Or vocative?

And no, I haven't nor will I ever. I'm just a rather eager student who hates to be wrong or misunderstood, hence my thoroughness. Thank you for the compliment though.


Latin

Post 14

David R. Litwin

It could be. If I wasn;t so lazy, I'd look through my Latin book.

Your welcome.


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