Language/Latin/Grammar/Adjective-Declensions

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◀️ Describing Relationships — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Comparative and Superlative Adjectives ▶️

Latin → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Adjectives and Adverbs → Adjective Declensions

Introduction[edit | edit source]

In the study of Latin grammar, understanding adjective declensions is crucial for building a strong foundation in the language. Adjectives provide essential details about nouns, allowing us to describe and modify them in various ways. By exploring the concept of adjective declensions, we will learn how to inflect adjectives to match the gender, number, and case of the nouns they modify. This comprehensive lesson will cover the three different adjective declensions and their respective endings, providing numerous examples and exercises to solidify your understanding. Let's dive in and discover the beauty of adjective declensions in Latin!

Adjective Declensions[edit | edit source]

Adjective declensions in Latin refer to the different forms that adjectives take depending on the gender, number, and case of the nouns they modify. There are three main declensions for adjectives in Latin, each with its own set of endings. Let's explore each declension in detail.

First Declension Adjectives[edit | edit source]

First declension adjectives are typically feminine and end in -a in the nominative singular form. To decline a first declension adjective, we replace the -a ending with the appropriate ending to match the gender, number, and case of the noun. Here is a table showcasing the declension of the first declension adjective 'bonus' meaning 'good':

Latin	Pronunciation	English
bonus, bon-a, bon-um	boh-noos, boh-nah, boh-noom	good

As you can see, the endings of the first declension adjective 'bonus' change based on the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies. For example, in the nominative singular feminine form, the adjective ends in -a, while in the nominative singular neuter form, it ends in -um. By paying attention to the endings, we can correctly match the adjective with the noun it describes.

Let's practice declining the first declension adjective 'bonus' together:

Nominative Singular Masculine: bonus dominus (good master)
Nominative Singular Feminine: bon-a puella (good girl)
Nominative Singular Neuter: bon-um donum (good gift)
Genitive Singular Masculine: bon-i domini (of the good master)
Genitive Singular Feminine: bon-ae puellae (of the good girl)
Genitive Singular Neuter: bon-i doni (of the good gift)
Dative Singular Masculine: bon-o domino (to/for the good master)
Dative Singular Feminine: bon-ae puellae (to/for the good girl)
Dative Singular Neuter: bon-o dono (to/for the good gift)
Accusative Singular Masculine: bon-um dominum (good master)
Accusative Singular Feminine: bon-am puellam (good girl)
Accusative Singular Neuter: bon-um donum (good gift)
Ablative Singular Masculine: bon-o domino (by/with/from the good master)
Ablative Singular Feminine: bon-a puella (by/with/from the good girl)
Ablative Singular Neuter: bon-o dono (by/with/from the good gift)
Nominative Plural Masculine: bon-i domini (good masters)
Nominative Plural Feminine: bon-ae puellae (good girls)
Nominative Plural Neuter: bon-a dona (good gifts)
Genitive Plural Masculine: bon-orum dominorum (of the good masters)
Genitive Plural Feminine: bon-arum puellarum (of the good girls)
Genitive Plural Neuter: bon-orum donorum (of the good gifts)
Dative Plural Masculine: bon-is dominis (to/for the good masters)
Dative Plural Feminine: bon-is puellis (to/for the good girls)
Dative Plural Neuter: bon-is donis (to/for the good gifts)
Accusative Plural Masculine: bon-os dominos (good masters)
Accusative Plural Feminine: bon-as puellas (good girls)
Accusative Plural Neuter: bon-a dona (good gifts)
Ablative Plural Masculine: bon-is dominis (by/with/from the good masters)
Ablative Plural Feminine: bon-is puellis (by/with/from the good girls)
Ablative Plural Neuter: bon-is donis (by/with/from the good gifts)

By practicing the declension of first declension adjectives, you will become more comfortable with matching adjectives to nouns based on gender, number, and case. This skill is essential for constructing accurate and meaningful Latin sentences.

Second Declension Adjectives[edit | edit source]

Second declension adjectives can be masculine, feminine, or neuter and end in -us in the nominative singular masculine form. To decline a second declension adjective, we replace the -us ending with the appropriate ending to match the gender, number, and case of the noun. Here is a table showcasing the declension of the second declension adjective 'bonus' meaning 'good':

Latin	Pronunciation	English
bonus, bon-a, bon-um	boh-noos, boh-nah, boh-noom	good

As you can see, the endings of the second declension adjective 'bonus' change based on the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies. For example, in the nominative singular feminine form, the adjective ends in -a, while in the nominative singular neuter form, it ends in -um. By paying attention to the endings, we can correctly match the adjective with the noun it describes.

Let's practice declining the second declension adjective 'bonus' together:

Nominative Singular Masculine: bonus dominus (good master)
Nominative Singular Feminine: bon-a puella (good girl)
Nominative Singular Neuter: bon-um donum (good gift)
Genitive Singular Masculine: bon-i domini (of the good master)
Genitive Singular Feminine: bon-ae puellae (of the good girl)
Genitive Singular Neuter: bon-i doni (of the good gift)
Dative Singular Masculine: bon-o domino (to/for the good master)
Dative Singular Feminine: bon-ae puellae (to/for the good girl)
Dative Singular Neuter: bon-o dono (to/for the good gift)
Accusative Singular Masculine: bon-um dominum (good master)
Accusative Singular Feminine: bon-am puellam (good girl)
Accusative Singular Neuter: bon-um donum (good gift)
Ablative Singular Masculine: bon-o domino (by/with/from the good master)
Ablative Singular Feminine: bon-a puella (by/with/from the good girl)
Ablative Singular Neuter: bon-o dono (by/with/from the good gift)
Nominative Plural Masculine: bon-i domini (good masters)
Nominative Plural Feminine: bon-ae puellae (good girls)
Nominative Plural Neuter: bon-a dona (good gifts)
Genitive Plural Masculine: bon-orum dominorum (of the good masters)
Genitive Plural Feminine: bon-arum puellarum (of the good girls)
Genitive Plural Neuter: bon-orum donorum (of the good gifts)
Dative Plural Masculine: bon-is dominis (to/for the good masters)
Dative Plural Feminine: bon-is puellis (to/for the good girls)
Dative Plural Neuter: bon-is donis (to/for the good gifts)
Accusative Plural Masculine: bon-os dominos (good masters)
Accusative Plural Feminine: bon-as puellas (good girls)
Accusative Plural Neuter: bon-a dona (good gifts)
Ablative Plural Masculine: bon-is dominis (by/with/from the good masters)
Ablative Plural Feminine: bon-is puellis (by/with/from the good girls)
Ablative Plural Neuter: bon-is donis (by/with/from the good gifts)

By practicing the declension of second declension adjectives, you will become more comfortable with matching adjectives to nouns based on gender, number, and case. This skill is essential for constructing accurate and meaningful Latin sentences.

Third Declension Adjectives[edit | edit source]

Third declension adjectives can be masculine, feminine, or neuter and have various endings. Some third declension adjectives have the same endings as the corresponding third declension nouns, while others have unique endings. Let's explore the declension of the third declension adjective 'acer' meaning 'sharp':

Latin	Pronunciation	English
acer, acr-is, acre	ah-ker, ahk-rees, ah-kreh	sharp

As you can see, the endings of the third declension adjective 'acer' vary depending on the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies. For example, in the nominative singular masculine form, the adjective ends in -er, while in the nominative singular neuter form, it ends in -e. By paying attention to the endings, we can correctly match the adjective with the noun it describes.

Let's practice declining the third declension adjective 'acer' together:

Nominative Singular Masculine: acer gladius (sharp sword)
Nominative Singular Feminine: acr-is manus (sharp hand)
Nominative Singular Neuter: acre telum (sharp weapon)
Genitive Singular Masculine: acr-is gladii (of the sharp sword)
Genitive Singular Feminine: acr-is manus (of the sharp hand)
Genitive Singular Neuter: acr-is teli (of the sharp weapon)
Dative Singular Masculine: acr-i gladio (to/for the sharp sword)
Dative Singular Feminine: acr-i manui (to/for the sharp hand)
Dative Singular Neuter: acr-i telo (to/for the sharp weapon)
Accusative Singular Masculine: acr-em gladium (sharp sword)
Accusative Singular Feminine: acr-em manum (sharp hand)
Accusative Singular Neuter: acre telum (sharp weapon)
Ablative Singular Masculine: acr-e gladio (by/with/from the sharp sword)
Ablative Singular Feminine: acr-i manu (by/with/from the sharp hand)
Ablative Singular Neuter: acr-i telo (by/with/from the sharp weapon)
Nominative Plural Masculine: acr-es gladii (sharp swords)
Nominative Plural Feminine: acr-es manus (sharp hands)
Nominative Plural Neuter: acr-ia tela (sharp weapons)
Genitive Plural Masculine: acr-ium gladiatorum (of the sharp swords)
Genitive Plural Feminine: acr-ium manuum (of the sharp hands)
Genitive Plural Neuter: acr-ium telorum (of the sharp weapons)
Dative Plural Masculine: acr-ibus gladiis (to/for the sharp swords)
Dative Plural Feminine: acr-ibus manibus (to/for the sharp hands)
Dative Plural Neuter: acr-ibus telis (to/for the sharp weapons)
Accusative Plural Masculine: acr-es gladios (sharp swords)
Accusative Plural Feminine: acr-es manus (sharp hands)
Accusative Plural Neuter: acr-ia tela (sharp weapons)
Ablative Plural Masculine: acr-ibus gladiis (by/with/from the sharp swords)
Ablative Plural Feminine: acr-ibus manibus (by/with/from the sharp hands)
Ablative Plural Neuter: acr-ibus telis (by/with/from the sharp weapons)

By practicing the declension of third declension adjectives, you will become more comfortable with matching adjectives to nouns based on gender, number, and case. This skill is essential for constructing accurate and meaningful Latin sentences.

Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]

Adjective declensions in Latin reflect the rich cultural history of the language and its speakers. The use of declensions allowed Latin writers to convey precise meanings and nuances in their texts. Additionally, the declension patterns of adjectives provide insights into the gender, number, and case systems of Latin nouns. Understanding these patterns can enhance your appreciation of Latin literature and enable you to engage with historical texts more effectively.

One interesting cultural fact is that Latin adjectives, much like nouns, have gendered forms. This means that the adjective must agree with the gender of the noun it modifies. For example, if the noun is feminine, the adjective must also be in the feminine form. This gender agreement is an important aspect of Latin grammar and reflects the grammatical gender system present in many Indo-European languages.

Latin literature, especially poetry, often makes use of adjective declensions to create vivid imagery and convey emotions. Poets like Vergil and Ovid skillfully manipulated adjective endings to evoke specific feelings or set particular scenes. By studying adjective declensions, you can unlock the beauty and depth of Latin poetry, appreciating the artistry behind each word choice.

Historically, Latin was the language of the Roman Empire, and its influence can still be seen today. Latin is the precursor to the Romance languages, such as Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Romanian. By studying adjective declensions in Latin, you are not only gaining a deeper understanding of the language itself but also laying the foundation for learning other Romance languages in the future. Latin provides a strong linguistic and cultural connection to the past and serves as a gateway to exploring the diverse cultures of the ancient world.

Exercises[edit | edit source]

Now it's time to put your knowledge of adjective declensions into practice! Complete the following exercises by declining the given adjectives to match the specified gender, number, and case of the nouns.

Exercise 1: Decline the adjective 'altus' meaning 'high' to match the following nouns:

Nominative Singular Masculine: altus mons (high mountain)
Nominative Singular Feminine: alt-a arbor (high tree)
Nominative Singular Neuter: alt-um mare (high sea)
Genitive Singular Masculine: alt-i montis (of the high mountain)
Genitive Singular Feminine: alt-ae arboris (of the high tree)
Genitive Singular Neuter: alt-i maris (of the high sea)
Dative Singular Masculine: alt-o monti (to/for the high mountain)
Dative Singular Feminine: alt-ae arbori (to/for the high tree)
Dative Singular Neuter: alt-o mari (to/for the high sea)
Accusative Singular Masculine: alt-um montem (high mountain)
Accusative Singular Feminine: alt-am arborem (high tree)
Accusative Singular Neuter: alt-um mare (high sea)
Ablative Singular Masculine: alt-o monte (by/with/from the high mountain)
Ablative Singular Feminine: alt-a arbore (by/with/from the high tree)
Ablative Singular Neuter: alt-o mari (by/with/from the high sea)
Nominative Plural Masculine: alt-i montes (high mountains)
Nominative Plural Feminine: alt-ae arbores (high trees)
Nominative Plural Neuter: alt-a maria (high seas)
Genitive Plural Masculine: alt-orum montium (of the high mountains)
Genitive Plural Feminine: alt-arum arborum (of the high trees)
Genitive Plural Neuter: alt-orum marium (of the high seas)
Dative Plural Masculine: alt-is montibus (to/for the high mountains)
Dative Plural Feminine: alt-is arboribus (to/for the high trees)
Dative Plural Neuter: alt-is maribus (to/for the high seas)
Accusative Plural Masculine: alt-os montes (high mountains)
Accusative Plural Feminine: alt-as arbores (high trees)
Accusative Plural Neuter: alt-a maria (high seas)
Ablative Plural Masculine: alt-is montibus (by/with/from the high mountains)
Ablative Plural Feminine: alt-is arboribus (by/with/from the high trees)
Ablative Plural Neuter: alt-is maribus (by/with/from the high seas)

Exercise 2: Decline the adjective 'magnus' meaning 'great' to match the following nouns:

Nominative Singular Masculine: magnus rex (great king)
Nominative Singular Feminine: magn-a regina (great queen)
Nominative Singular Neuter: magn-um templum (great temple)
Genitive Singular Masculine: magn-i regis (of the great king)
Genitive Singular Feminine: magn-ae reginae (of the great queen)
Genitive Singular Neuter: magn-i templi (of the great temple)
Dative Singular Masculine: magn-o regi (to/for the great king)
Dative Singular Feminine: magn-ae reginae (to/for the great queen)
Dative Singular Neuter: magn-o templo (to/for the great temple)
Accusative Singular Masculine: magn-um regem (great king)
Accusative Singular Feminine: magn-am reginam (great queen)
Accusative Singular Neuter: magn-um templum (great temple)
Ablative Singular Masculine: magn-o rege (by/with/from the great king)
Ablative Singular Feminine: magn-a regina (by/with/from the great queen)
Ablative Singular Neuter: magn-o templo (by/with/from the great temple)
Nominative Plural Masculine: magn-i reges (great kings)
Nominative Plural Feminine: magn-ae reginae (great queens)
Nominative Plural Neuter: magn-a templa (great temples)
Genitive Plural Masculine: magn-orum regum (of the great kings)
Genitive Plural Feminine: magn-arum reginarum (of the great queens)
Genitive Plural Neuter: magn-orum templorum (of the great temples)
Dative Plural Masculine: magn-is regibus (to/for the great kings)
Dative Plural Feminine: magn-is reginis (to/for the great queens)
Dative Plural Neuter: magn-is templis (to/for the great temples)
Accusative Plural Masculine: magn-os reges (great kings)
Accusative Plural Feminine: magn-as reginas (great queens)
Accusative Plural Neuter: magn-a templa (great temples)
Ablative Plural Masculine: magn-is regibus (by/with/from the great kings)
Ablative Plural Feminine: magn-is reginis (by/with/from the great queens)
Ablative Plural Neuter: magn-is templis (by/with/from the great temples)

Solutions[edit | edit source]

Exercise 1:

Nominative Singular Masculine: altus mons
Nominative Singular Feminine: alta arbor
Nominative Singular Neuter: altum mare
Genitive Singular Masculine: alti montis
Genitive Singular Feminine: altae arboris
Genitive Singular Neuter: alti maris
Dative Singular Masculine: alto monti
Dative Singular Feminine: altae arbori
Dative Singular Neuter: alto mari
Accusative Singular Masculine: altum montem
Accusative Singular Feminine: altam arborem
Accusative Singular Neuter: altum mare
Ablative Singular Masculine: alto monte
Ablative Singular Feminine: alta arbore
Ablative Singular Neuter: alto mari
Nominative Plural Masculine: alti montes
Nominative Plural Feminine: altae arbores
Nominative Plural Neuter: alta maria
Genitive Plural Masculine: altorum montium
Genitive Plural Feminine: altarum arborum
Genitive Plural Neuter: altorum marium
Dative Plural Masculine: altis montibus
Dative Plural Feminine: altis arboribus
Dative Plural Neuter: altis maribus
Accusative Plural Masculine: altos montes
Accusative Plural Feminine: altas arbores
Accusative Plural Neuter: alta maria
Ablative Plural Masculine: altis montibus
Ablative Plural Feminine: altis arboribus
Ablative Plural Neuter: altis maribus

Exercise 2:

Nominative Singular Masculine: magnus rex
Nominative Singular Feminine: magna regina
Nominative Singular Neuter: magnum templum
Genitive Singular Masculine: magni regis
Genitive Singular Feminine: magnae reginae
Genitive Singular Neuter: magni templi
Dative Singular Masculine: magno regi
Dative Singular Feminine: magnae reginae
Dative Singular Neuter: magno templo
Accusative Singular Masculine: magnum regem
Accusative Singular Feminine: magnam reginam
Accusative Singular Neuter: magnum templum
Ablative Singular Masculine: magno rege
Ablative Singular Feminine: magna regina
Ablative Singular Neuter: magno templo
Nominative Plural Masculine: magni reges
Nominative Plural Feminine: magnae reginae
Nominative Plural Neuter: magna templa
Genitive Plural Masculine: magnorum regum
Genitive Plural Feminine: magnarum reginarum
Genitive Plural Neuter: magnorum templorum
Dative Plural Masculine: magnis regibus
Dative Plural Feminine: magnis reginis
Dative Plural Neuter: magnis templis
Accusative Plural Masculine: magnos reges
Accusative Plural Feminine: magnas reginas
Accusative Plural Neuter: magna templa
Ablative Plural Masculine: magnis regibus
Ablative Plural Feminine: magnis reginis
Ablative Plural Neuter: magnis templis

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You have successfully learned about adjective declensions in Latin. By mastering the three different declensions and their respective endings, you can now skillfully match adjectives to nouns based on gender, number, and case. This knowledge will greatly enhance your ability to construct accurate and meaningful Latin sentences. Keep practicing and exploring the beauty of the Latin language, and soon you will be on your way to becoming a proficient Latin speaker. Vale!

Table of Contents - Latin Course - 0 to A1[edit source]

Course Presentation

Greetings and Introductions

Nouns and Pronouns

Numbers and Time

Verbs and Conjugations

Family and Relationships

Adjectives and Adverbs

Food and Dining

Roman History and Mythology

Prepositions and Conjunctions

Travel and Transportation

Roman Literature and Art

Videos[edit | edit source]

Introduction to the Latin Adjective - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Latin Grammar - Comparative and Superlative Adjectives - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Sources[edit | edit source]

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

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