In this lesson, we introduce first declension nouns in a variety of constructions. Note that the "endings" of the declensions (e.g. -a) are not given; endings should be memorized with words—you can easily derive/write out what the endings are (like an "exam question") if you successfully memorize an example noun's declension.
In the Practice Sentences section, uses for each of Latin's 6 cases are given with examples using nouns in both the singular and plural.
This is the "default" case you'll look up in dictionaries. It often corresponds to the subject of a sentence.
Passive construction (Wheelock's 7ed., p. 148)
cōnservābitur.
The will be saved.
Passive construction (Wheelock's 7ed., p. 154)
laudātæ erant.
The had been praised.
Numbers—c.f. English "3 of XYZ" (Wheelock's 7ed., p. 124)
pars
part of the
Adjectives must agree with nouns in gender and number. Remember that the feminine adjective conjugate like first conjugation nouns for the genitive plural. By noticing what is going on in some two-word combinations, you can quickly remember a rule like this.
magnārum
of great
Interrogative pronouns (Wheelock's 7ed., p. 156)
Cui librum dedistī?
To which did you give the book?
Dative with special verbs (Wheelock's 7ed., p. 295)
Crēde .
Trust your .
(Wheelock's 7ed., p. 148)
cōnservābit.
He will save the .
(Wheelock's 7ed., p. 230)
Bonās nōbīs dent nē malās legāmus.
Let them give us good so that we may not read bad ones.
(Wheelock's 7ed., p. 116)
Cīvēs vīcit.
He conquered the citizens with/by .
Cum vēnērunt.
They came with .
!
O !
!
O !
Dictionary entries will typically provide you with the nominative singular, genitive singular and gender of a given noun. From this information you can determine which declension a noun follows.
Click the button below to see another word declined with corresponding example sentences.
The words below all follow the first declension.
Note that all the nouns given here for the first declension are feminine nouns. You will have to make adjectives (as in the genitive plural example) agree with nouns in case and number (singular or plural).
Given below is the declension for the adjective bonus "good" for feminine first declension nouns, like those presented here. Note the parallels between the adjective and noun endings. For other declensions, there will be more adjective endings to memorize.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | bona | bonæ |
| Genitive | bonæ | bonārum |
| Dative | bonæ | bonīs |
| Accusative | bonam | bonās |
| Ablative | bonā | bonīs |
| Vocative | bona | bonæ |
Adjectives can be combined with nouns—before or after— like so: bona familia "good family"; familia bona "good family".
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