LATIN ADJECTIVES
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
• As in French, Latin adjectives can go before or
after a noun. They more often go after the noun.
• Also as in French, the forms of adjectives
change depending on whether the noun is
singular or plural and on its gender.
• Latin is a little more complicated because
– There are three genders – masculine, feminine and
neuter
– Adjectives also change according to the grammatical
role of the noun it goes with – e.g. the endings are
different when the noun is the subject of a verb from
when it is the object
ADJECTIVES IN -US, -A, -UM
• These adjectives have masculine endings like servus, feminine ones
like ancilla and neuter ones like tablīnum
• So, the singular subject endings are: Masc –us, Fem -a, Neut -um and
the singular object endings are: Masc -um, Fem -am, Neut -um:
• Look at these examples with puer, leō, umbrivir , liber (masculine).
puella, rēgīna (feminine) and computātrum (neuter)
– Puer malus puellam bonam pulsat. The bad boy hits the good girl [the boy is
subject as he does the hitting, the girl is object as he gets hit! ]
– Rēgīna bona leōnem ignāvum spectat. The good queen looks at a lazy lion.
[the queen is subject as she does the looking, the lion is object as he gets
looked at; leōnem has –em for the object ending but ignāvum keeps –um as
it is an –us, -a, -um adjective]
– Computātrum insānum mē terret. The crazy computer frightens me [the
computer is subject as it does the terrifying!]
– Puella irāta computātrum stultum pulsat. An angry girl hits a stupid computer.
[the girl does the hitting, the computer gets hit – notice the neuter keeps the
same form whether it is subject or object]
– Umbrivir insānus librum magnum tenet. A crazy gweilo is holding a big book.
[the gweilo does the holding, the book gets held]
ADJECTIVES IN -US, -A, -UM (PLURAL)
• The plural subject endings are: Masc –ī, Fem -ae, Neut -a and the
plural object endings are: Masc -ōs, Fem -ās, Neut -a:
• Look at these sentences with the same nouns in the plural:
– Puerī malī puellās bonās pulsant. The bad boys hit the good girls [the boys
are subject as they do the hitting, the girls are object as they get hit! ]
– Rēgīnae bonae leōnēs ignāvōs spectant. The good queens look at lazy lions.
[the queens are subject as they do the looking, the lions are object as they
get looked at; leōnēs has –ēs for the object ending but ignāvōs keeps –ōs as
it is an –us, -a, -um adjective]
– Computātra īnsāna mē terrent. The crazy computers frighten me [the
computer is subject as it does the terrifying!]
– Puellae īrātae computātra stulta pulsant. Angry girls hit stupid computers.
[the girls do the hitting, the computers get hit – notice the neuter keeps the
same form whether it is subject or object]
– Umbrivirī insānī librōs magnōs tenent. Crazy gweilos are holding big books.
[the gweilos do the holding, the books get held]
THE –ER VARIATION
• A few adjectives (like a few nouns in the 2nd.
Declension) have a Masculine Nominative singular
ending -er instead of –us:
– miser (miserable, wretched) līber (free)
– sacer (sacred)
pulcher (beautiful)
• All the other forms of such adjectives (i.e. the other
masculine cases and all of the Feminine and Neuter
ones) add the normal endings after the r, with the
preceding e sometimes retained and sometimes
dropped:
– (keeping e): miser, misera, miserum
–
līber, lībera, līberum
– (dropping e): sacer, sacra, sacrum
–
pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum
Now answer each question and check your answer
with the following slide
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
plural object?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
plural object?
• bonās
• What form of bonus goes with a
masculine singular subject?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a
masculine singular subject?
• bonus
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
singular subject?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
singular subject?
• bona
• What form of bonus goes with a neuter
singular subject?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a neuter
singular subject?
• bonum
• What form of bonus goes with a
masculine singular object?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a
masculine singular object?
• bonum
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
singular object?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
singular object?
• bonam
• What form of bonus goes with a neuter
singular object?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a neuter
singular object?
• bonum
• What form of bonus goes with a
masculine plural subject?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a
masculine plural subject?
• bonī
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
plural subject?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
plural subject?
• bonae
• What form of bonus goes with a neuter
plural subject?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a neuter
plural subject?
• bona
• What form of bonus goes with a
masculine plural object?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a
masculine plural object?
• bonōs
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
plural object?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a feminine
plural object?
• bonās
• What form of bonus goes with a neuter
plural object?
• ?
• What form of bonus goes with a neuter
plural object?
• bona
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnus (big), stultās (foolish), probae (honest), parva
(small), īnsānōs (crazy), Graecī (Greek), album (white),
mea (my)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puella ________ cēnam coquit.
Leō _________ in hortō ambulat. (leō is masculine)
Caecilius mercātōrēs _________ salūtat. (mercātōrēs, m.)
Librum _______ in mēnsam pōnō. (liber, m.)
Puerī ________ theātrum spectant.
Pōcula ________ sunt in cubiculō. (pōculum, n.)
Rēgīnās ________ nōn amāmus (rēgīnā = queen)
Fēminae _________ Quīntum dēlectant.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnus (big), stultās (foolish), probae (honest), parva
(small), īnsānōs (crazy), Graecī (Greek), album (white),
mea (my)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puella __parva/mea__ cēnam coquit.
Leō _________ in hortō ambulat. (leō is masculine)
Caecilius mercātōrēs _________ salūtat. (mercātōrēs, m.)
Librum _______ in mēnsam pōnō. (liber, m.)
Puerī ________ theātrum spectant.
Pōcula ________ sunt in cubiculō. (pōculum, n.)
Rēgīnās ________ nōn amāmus (rēgīnā = queen)
Fēminae _________ Quīntum dēlectant.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnus (big), stultās (foolish), probae (honest), parva
(small), īnsānōs (crazy), Graecī (Greek), album (white),
mea (my)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puella __parva/mea__ cēnam coquit.
Leō ___magnus_ in hortō ambulat. (leō is masculine)
Caecilius mercātōrēs _________ salūtat. (mercātōrēs, m.)
Librum _______ in mēnsam pōnō. (liber, m.)
Puerī ________ theātrum spectant.
Pōcula ________ sunt in cubiculō. (pōculum, n.)
Rēgīnās ________ nōn amāmus (rēgīnā = queen)
Fēminae _________ Quīntum dēlectant.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnus (big), stultās (foolish), probae (honest), parva
(small), īnsānōs (crazy), Graecī (Greek), album (white),
mea (my)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puella __parva/mea__ cēnam coquit.
Leō __magnus__ in hortō ambulat. (leō is masculine)
Caecilius mercātōrēs _ īnsānōs _ salūtat. (mercātōrēs, m.)
Librum _______ in mēnsam pōnō. (liber, m.)
Puerī ________ theātrum spectant.
Pōcula ________ sunt in cubiculō. (pōculum, n.)
Rēgīnās ________ nōn amāmus (rēgīnā = queen)
Fēminae _________ Quīntum dēlectant.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnus (big), stultās (foolish), probae (honest), parva
(small), īnsānōs (crazy), Graecī (Greek), album (white),
mea (my)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puella __ parva/mea _ cēnam coquit.
Leō _ magnus _ in hortō ambulat. (leō is masculine)
Caecilius mercātōrēs īnsānōs salūtat. (mercātōrēs, m.)
Librum _album_ in mēnsam pōnō.. (liber, m.)
Puerī ______ theātrum spectant.
Pōcula _________ sunt in cubiculō (pōculum, n.)
Rēgīnās ________ nōn amāmus (rēgīnā = queen)
Fēminae _________ Quīntum dēlectant.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnus (big), stultās (foolish), probae (honest), parva
(small), īnsānōs (crazy), Graecī (Greek), album (white),
mea (my)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puella __ parva/mea _ cēnam coquit.
Leō _ magnus _ in hortō ambulat. (leō is masculine)
Caecilius mercātōrēs īnsānōs salūtat. (mercātōrēs, m.)
Librum _album_ in mēnsam pōnō.. (liber, m.)
Puerī _Graecī _ theātrum spectant.
Pōcula _________ sunt in cubiculō (pōculum, n.)
Rēgīnās _________ nōn amāmus (rēgīnā = queen)
Fēminae __________ Quīntum dēlectant.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnus (big), stultās (foolish), probae (honest), parva
(small), īnsānōs (crazy), Graecī (Greek), album (white),
mea (my)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puella __ parva/mea _ cēnam coquit.
Leō _ magnus _ in hortō ambulat. (leō is masculine)
Caecilius mercātōrēs īnsānōs salūtat. (mercātōrēs, m.)
Librum _album_ in mēnsam pōnō.. (liber, m.)
Puerī _Graecī _ theātrum spectant.
Pōcula _parva/mea_ sunt in cubiculō (pōculum, n.)
Rēgīnās ________ nōn amāmus (rēgīnā = queen)
Fēminae ________ Quīntum dēlectant.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnus (big), stultās (foolish), probae (honest), parva
(small), īnsānōs (crazy), Graecī (Greek), album (white),
mea (my)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puella __ parva/mea _ cēnam coquit.
Leō _ magnus _ in hortō ambulat. (leō is masculine)
Caecilius mercātōrēs īnsānōs salūtat. (mercātōrēs, m.)
Librum _album_ in mēnsam pōnō.. (liber, m.)
Puerī _Graecī _ theātrum spectant.
Pōcula _parva/mea_ sunt in cubiculō (pōculum, n.)
Rēgīnās _ stultās _ nōn amāmus (rēgīnā = queen)
Fēminae __________ Quīntum dēlectant.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnus (big), stultās (foolish), probae (honest), parva
(small), īnsānōs (crazy), Graecī (Greek), album (white),
mea (my)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Puella __ parva/mea _ cēnam coquit.
Leō _ magnus _ in hortō ambulat. (leō is masculine)
Caecilius mercātōrēs īnsānōs salūtat. (mercātōrēs, m.)
Librum _album_ in mēnsam pōnō.. (liber, m.)
Puerī _Graecī _ theātrum spectant.
Pōcula _parva/mea_ sunt in cubiculō (pōculum, n.)
Rēgīnās _ stultās _ nōn amāmus (rēgīnā = queen)
Fēminae __probae_ Quīntum dēlectant.
ADJECTIVES IN -US, -A, -UM
GENITIVE, DATIVE, ABLATIVE
• The singular Genitive (possessive) endings are: Masc –ī, Fem -ae,
Neut -ī, the singular Dative (indirect object) endings are: Masc -ō, Fem
-ae, Neuter –ō, and the singular Ablative endings: Masc -ō, Fem -ā,
Neuter –ō
• Look at these examples with puer, leō, umbrivir , liber (masculine).
puella, rēgīna (feminine), computātrum (neuter) and amīcus (masculine)
– Puer puellae bonae pecūniam dat. The boy gives the good girl money
– Rēgīna leōnī ignāvō cibum dat. The queen gives food to a lazy lion. [the
ending on ignāvō is not the same as on leōnī because the adjective and
the noun belong to different declensions, but the gender and case are the
same (masculine Dative singular).
– Liber puerī īnsānī est in mēnsā. The crazy boy’s book is on the table
– Ubi est computātrum puellae īrātae? Where is the angry girl’s computer?
– Servus rēgīnae ignāvae librum rēgis probī tenet. The slave of the lazy queen
is holding the honest king’s book.
– Cum amīcō cārō ambulō. I am walking with a dear friend.
ADJECTIVES IN -US, -A, -UM
GENITIVE, DATIVE, ABLATIVE (PLURAL)
•
•
The plural Genitive endings: Masc –ōrum, Fem -ārum, Neut - ōrum and the
plural Dative and Ablative ending is -īs for all genders
Look at these examples with puer, leō, umbrivir , liber (masculine). puella,
rēgīna (feminine) and computātrum (neuter)
– Puer puellīs bonīs pecūniam dat. The boy gives the good girls money
– Rēgīna leōnibus ignāvīs cibum dat. The queen gives food to the lazy lions. [the
ending on ignāvīs is not the same as on leōnibus because the adjective and the noun
belong to different declensions, but the gender, number and case are the same
(masculine dative plural).
– Liberī puerōrum īnsānōrum sunt in mēnsā. The crazy boy’s books are on the table
– Ubi sunt computātra puellārum īrātārum? Where are the angry girls’ computers?
– Servī rēgīnārum ignāvārum librōs rēgum probōrum tenent. The slaves of the lazy
queens are holding the honest kings’ books.
– Amīcī mīlitum probōrum sunt in vīllā. The friends of the honest soldiers are in the villa.
– Marcus cum puellīs pulchrīs lūdit. Marcus is playing with the beautiful girls
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnīs (big), stultae (foolish), probōrum (honest), parvō
(small), īnsānī (crazy), Graecō (Greek), albīs (white),
meōrum (my)
• Puellae ________ pecūniam nōn dō.
• Leōnibus _________ nōn crēdimus.
• Caecilius verba mercātōrum _________ audit. (mercātōr,,
•
•
•
•
•
m.)
Fēlibus _______ aquam dare necesse est.
Fābula dominī ________ mē minimē dēlectat
Servō ________ ancilla nōn placet.
Canī ________ cibum dedī (canis, m.)
Vīdistīne librōs amīcorum _________ ?
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnīs (big), stultae (foolish), probōrum (honest), parvō
(small), īnsānī (crazy), Graecō (Greek), albīs (white),
meōrum (my)
• Puellae __stultae____ pecūniam nōn dō.
• Leōnibus ______________________ nōn crēdimus.
• Caecilius verba mercātōrum ______________________
audit. (mercātōr, m.)
• Fēlibus _________________ aquam dare necesse est.
• Fābula dominī _________ mē minimē dēlectat
• Servō _________________ ancilla nōn placet.
• Canī ___________________ cibum dedī (canis, m.)
• Vīdistīne librōs amīcorum _______________________ ?
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnīs (big), stultae (foolish), probōrum (honest), parvō
(small), īnsānī (crazy), Graecō (Greek), albīs (white),
meōrum (my)
• Puellae __stultae____ pecūniam nōn dō.
• Leōnibus __ magnīs/ albīs _______ nōn crēdimus.
• Caecilius verba mercātōrum ______________________
audit. (mercātōr, m.)
• Fēlibus _________________ aquam dare necesse est.
• Fābula dominī _________ mē minimē dēlectat
• Servō _________________ ancilla nōn placet.
• Canī ___________________ cibum dedī (canis, m.)
• Vīdistīne librōs amīcorum _______________________ ?
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnīs (big), stultae (foolish), probōrum (honest), parvō
(small), īnsānī (crazy), Graecō (Greek), albīs (white),
meōrum (my)
• Puellae __stultae____ pecūniam nōn dō.
• Leōnibus __ magnīs/ albīs _______ nōn crēdimus.
• Caecilius verba mercātōrum ___ probōrum/ meōrum _
audit. (mercātōr, m.)
• Fēlibus _________________ aquam dare necesse est.
• Fābula dominī _________ mē minimē dēlectat
• Servō _________________ ancilla nōn placet.
• Canī ___________________ cibum dedī (canis, m.)
• Vīdistīne librōs amīcorum _______________________ ?
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnīs (big), stultae (foolish), probōrum (honest), parvō
(small), īnsānī (crazy), Graecō (Greek), albīs (white),
meōrum (my)
• Puellae __stultae____ pecūniam nōn dō.
• Leōnibus __ magnīs/ albīs _______ nōn crēdimus.
• Caecilius verba mercātōrum ___ probōrum/ meōrum _
audit. (mercātōr, m.)
• Fēlibus __ magnīs/ albīs __ aquam dare necesse est.
• Fābula dominī _________ mē minimē dēlectat
• Servō _________________ ancilla nōn placet.
• Canī ___________________ cibum dedī (canis, m.)
• Vīdistīne librōs amīcorum _______________________ ?
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnīs (big), stultae (foolish), probōrum (honest), parvō
(small), īnsānī (crazy), Graecō (Greek), albīs (white),
meōrum (my)
• Puellae __stultae____ pecūniam nōn dō.
• Leōnibus __ magnīs/ albīs _______ nōn crēdimus.
• Caecilius verba mercātōrum ___ probōrum/ meōrum _
audit. (mercātōr, m.)
• Fēlibus __ magnīs/ albīs __ aquam dare necesse est.
• Fābula dominī __ īnsānī _ mē minimē dēlectat
• Servō _________________ ancilla nōn placet.
• Canī ___________________ cibum dedī (canis, m.)
• Vīdistīne librōs amīcorum _______________________ ?
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnīs (big), stultae (foolish), probōrum (honest), parvō
(small), īnsānī (crazy), Graecō (Greek), albīs (white),
meōrum (my)
• Puellae __stultae____ pecūniam nōn dō.
• Leōnibus __ magnīs/ albīs _______ nōn crēdimus.
• Caecilius verba mercātōrum ___ probōrum/ meōrum _
audit. (mercātōr, m.)
• Fēlibus __ magnīs/ albīs __ aquam dare necesse est.
• Fābula dominī __ īnsānī _ mē minimē dēlectat
• Servō __ parvō/ Graecō _ ancilla nōn placet.
• Canī ___________________ cibum dedī (canis, m.)
• Vīdistīne librōs amīcorum _______________________ ?
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnīs (big), stultae (foolish), probōrum (honest), parvō
(small), īnsānī (crazy), Graecō (Greek), albīs (white),
meōrum (white)
• Puellae __stultae____ pecūniam nōn dō.
• Leōnibus __ magnīs/ albīs _______ nōn crēdimus.
• Caecilius verba mercātōrum ___ probōrum/ meōrum _
audit. (mercātōr, m.)
• Fēlibus __ magnīs/ albīs __ aquam dare necesse est.
• Fābula dominī __ īnsānī _ mē minimē dēlectat
• Servō __ parvō/ Graecō _ ancilla nōn placet.
• Canī ___ parvō/ Graecō __ cibum dedī (canis, m.)
• Vīdistīne librōs amīcorum _______________________ ?
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• magnīs (big), stultae (foolish), probōrum (honest), parvō
(small), īnsānī (crazy), Graecō (Greek), albīs (white),
meōrum (my)
• Puellae __stultae____ pecūniam nōn dō.
• Leōnibus __ magnīs/ albīs _______ nōn crēdimus.
• Caecilius verba mercātōrum ___ probōrum/ meōrum _
audit. (mercātōr, m.)
• Fēlibus __ magnīs/ albīs __ aquam dare necesse est.
• Fābula dominī __ īnsānī _ mē minimē dēlectat
• Servō __ parvō/ Graecō _ ancilla nōn placet.
• Canī ___ parvō/ Graecō __ cibum dedī (canis, m.)
• Vīdistīne librōs amīcorum __ probōrum/ meōrum ___ ?
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - SINGULAR
Masculine
Nominative bonus
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
Feminine
Neuter
bona
bonum
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - SINGULAR
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative bonus
bona
bonum
Accusative bonum
bonam
bonum
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - SINGULAR
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative bonus
bona
bonum
Accusative bonum
bonam
bonum
bonae
bonī
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
bonī
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - SINGULAR
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative bonus
bona
bonum
Accusative bonum
bonam
bonum
Genitive
bonī
bonae
bonī
Dative
bonō
bonae
bonō
Ablative
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - SINGULAR
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative bonus
bona
bonum
Accusative bonum
bonam
bonum
Genitive
bonī
bonae
bonī
Dative
bonō
bonae
bonō
Ablative
bonō
bonā
bonō
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - PLURAL
Masculine
Nominative bonī
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
Feminine
Neuter
bonae
bona
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - PLURAL
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative bonī
bonae
bona
Accusative bonōs
bonās
bona
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - PLURAL
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative bonī
bonae
bona
Accusative bonōs
bonās
bona
bonārum
bonōrum
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
bonōrum
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - PLURAL
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative bonī
bonae
bona
Accusative bonōs
bonās
bona
Genitive
bonōrum
bonārum
bonōrum
Dative
bonīs
bonīs
bonīs
Ablative
THE FULL SET OF ENDINGS FOR
BONUS - PLURAL
Masculine
Feminine
Neuter
Nominative bonī
bonae
bona
Accusative bonōs
bonās
bona
Genitive
bonōrum
bonārum
bonōrum
Dative
bonīs
bonīs
bonīs
Ablative
bonīs
bonīs
bonīs
ADJECTIVES IN –IS, -E
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
omnis
omnēs
omnia
omne
ADJECTIVES IN –IS, -E
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
Nominative
omnis
omne
omnēs
omnia
Accusative
omnem
omne
omnēs
omnia
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
ADJECTIVES IN –IS, -E
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
Nominative
omnis
omne
omnēs
omnia
Accusative
omnem
omne
omnēs
omnia
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
omnis
omnium
ADJECTIVES IN –IS, -E
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
Nominative
omnis
omne
omnēs
omnia
Accusative
omnem
omne
omnēs
omnia
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
omnis
omnium
omnī
omnibus
ADJECTIVES IN –IS, -E
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
Nominative
omnis
omne
omnēs
omnia
Accusative
omnem
omne
omnēs
omnia
omnis
omnium
Dative
omnī
omnibus
Ablative
omnī
omnibus
Genitive
ADJECTIVES IN –X
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
ferōx
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
ferōcēs
ferōcia
ADJECTIVES IN –X
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
ferōx
ferōcem
ferōx
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
ferōcēs
ferōcia
ferōcēs
ferōcia
ADJECTIVES IN –X
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
ferōx
ferōcem
ferōx
ferōcis
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
ferōcēs
ferōcia
ferōcēs
ferōcia
ferōcium
ADJECTIVES IN –X
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
ferōx
ferōcem
ferōx
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
ferōcēs
ferōcia
ferōcēs
ferōcia
ferōcis
ferōcium
ferōcī
ferōcibus
ADJECTIVES IN –X
M & F (Sing) Neut (Sing)
Nominative
Accusative
ferōx
ferōcem
ferōx
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
ferōcēs
ferōcia
ferōcēs
ferōcia
ferōcis
ferōcium
Dative
ferōcī
ferōcibus
Ablative
ferōcī
ferōcibus
Genitive
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• facilem (easy), gracilibus (graceful), difficilia (difficult),
mīlitāria (military), levēs (light), tālium (such), simplicī
(simple), speciālī (special)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nunc cum amīcō ________ lūdō.
Iuvenēs puellīs __________ multa dōna dant.
Magister vult nōs verba _________ discere. (verbum, n.)
Servī armamenta _________ ad urbem portant.
Fābulam ________ legere volumus.
Fīliīs patrum ________ crēdere nōn possumus.
Cūr quaestiōnī ________ respōnsum nōn dedistī
Mīlitēs nostrī gladiōs _________ habent.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• facilem (easy), gracilibus (graceful), difficilia (difficult),
mīlitāria (military), levēs (light), tālium (such), simplicī
(simple), speciālī (special)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nunc cum amīcō __ speciālī/simplicī ___ lūdō.
Iuvenēs puellīs ____________ multa dōna dant.
Magister vult nōs verba _________ discere. (verbum, n.)
Servī armamenta _____________ ad urbem portant.
Fābulam ___________ legere volumus.
Fīliīs patrum _________ crēdere nōn possumus.
Cūr quaestiōnī _____________ respōnsum nōn dedistī
Mīlitēs nostrī gladiōs _______ habent.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• facilem (easy), gracilibus (graceful), difficilia (difficult),
mīlitāria (military), levēs (light), tālium (such), simplicī
(simple), speciālī (special)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nunc cum amīcō __ speciālī/simplicī ___ lūdō.
Iuvenēs puellīs _ gracilibus _ multa dōna dant.
Magister vult nōs verba _________ discere. (verbum, n.)
Servī armamenta _____________ ad urbem portant.
Fābulam ___________ legere volumus.
Fīliīs patrum _________ crēdere nōn possumus.
Cūr quaestiōnī _____________ respōnsum nōn dedistī
Mīlitēs nostrī gladiōs _______ habent.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• facilem (easy), gracilibus (graceful), difficilia (difficult),
mīlitāria (military), levēs (light), tālium (such), simplicī
(simple), speciālī (special)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nunc cum amīcō __ speciālī/simplicī ___ lūdō.
Iuvenēs puellīs _ gracilibus _ multa dōna dant.
Magister vult nōs verba _difficilia_ discere. (verbum, n.)
Servī armamenta _____________ ad urbem portant.
Fābulam ___________ legere volumus.
Fīliīs patrum _________ crēdere nōn possumus.
Cūr quaestiōnī _____________ respōnsum nōn dedistī
Mīlitēs nostrī gladiōs _______ habent.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• facilem (easy), gracilibus (graceful), difficilia (difficult),
mīlitāria (military), levēs (light), tālium (such), simplicī
(simple), speciālī (special)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nunc cum amīcō __ speciālī/simplicī ___ lūdō.
Iuvenēs puellīs _ gracilibus _ multa dōna dant.
Magister vult nōs verba _difficilia_ discere. (verbum, n.)
Servī armamenta _ mīlitāria __ ad urbem portant.
Fābulam ___________ legere volumus.
Fīliīs patrum _________ crēdere nōn possumus.
Cūr quaestiōnī _____________ respōnsum nōn dedistī
Mīlitēs nostrī gladiōs _______ habent.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• facilem (easy), gracilibus (graceful), difficilia (difficult),
mīlitāria (military), levēs (light), tālium (such), simplicī
(simple), speciālī (special)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nunc cum amīcō __ speciālī/simplicī ___ lūdō.
Iuvenēs puellīs _ gracilibus _ multa dōna dant.
Magister vult nōs verba _difficilia_ discere. (verbum, n.)
Servī armamenta _ gracilibus __ ad urbem portant.
Fābulam __ facilem _ legere volumus.
Fīliīs patrum _________ crēdere nōn possumus.
Cūr quaestiōnī _____________ respōnsum nōn dedistī
Mīlitēs nostrī gladiōs _______ habent.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• facilem (easy), gracilibus (graceful), difficilia (difficult),
mīlitāria (military), levēs (light), tālium (such), simplicī
(simple), speciālī (special)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nunc cum amīcō __ speciālī/simplicī ___ lūdō.
Iuvenēs puellīs _ gracilibus _ multa dōna dant.
Magister vult nōs verba _difficilia_ discere. (verbum, n.)
Servī armamenta _ gracilibus __ ad urbem portant.
Fābulam __ facilem _ legere volumus.
Fīliīs patrum _ tālium _ crēdere nōn possumus.
Cūr quaestiōnī _____________ respōnsum nōn dedistī
Mīlitēs nostrī gladiōs _______ habent.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• facilem (easy), gracilibus (graceful), difficilia (difficult),
mīlitāria (military), levēs (light), tālium (such), simplicī
(simple), speciālī (special)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nunc cum amīcō __ speciālī/simplicī ___ lūdō.
Iuvenēs puellīs _ gracilibus _ multa dōna dant.
Magister vult nōs verba _difficilia_ discere. (verbum, n.)
Servī armamenta _ gracilibus __ ad urbem portant.
Fābulam __ facilem _ legere volumus.
Fīliīs patrum _ tālium _ crēdere nōn possumus.
Cūr quaestiōnī _ speciālī/simplicī _ respōnsum nōn dedistī
Mīlitēs nostrī gladiōs _______ habent.
Now choose an adjective from the list to go
in each of the blanks in the sentences
• facilem (easy), gracilibus (graceful), difficilia (difficult),
mīlitāria mīlitāria (military), levēs (light), tālium (such),
simplicī (simple), speciālī (special)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Nunc cum amīcō __ speciālī/simplicī ___ lūdō.
Iuvenēs puellīs _ gracilibus _ multa dōna dant.
Magister vult nōs verba _difficilia_ discere. (verbum, n.)
Servī armamenta _ gracilibus __ ad urbem portant.
Fābulam __ facilem _ legere volumus.
Fīliīs patrum _ tālium _ crēdere nōn possumus.
Cūr quaestiōnī _ speciālī/simplicī _ respōnsum nōn dedistī
Mīlitēs nostrī gladiōs _ levēs _ habent.
3rd DECLENSION ADJECTIVES
IN –ER, (E)RIS, -E
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
Masc S
Fem S
Neut S
M & F Pl Neut Pl
celer
celeris celere
celerēs celeria
3rd DECLENSION ADJECTIVES
IN –ER, (E)RIS, -E
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
Masc S
Fem S
Neut S
M & F Pl Neut Pl
celer
celeris celere
celerēs celeria
celerem
celere
celerēs celeria
3rd DECLENSION ADJECTIVES
IN –ER, (E)RIS, -E
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
Masc S
Fem S
Neut S
M & F Pl Neut Pl
celer
celeris celere
celerēs celeria
celerem
celeris
celere
celerēs celeria
celerium
3rd DECLENSION ADJECTIVES
IN –ER, (E)RIS, -E
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
Masc S
Fem S
Neut S
M & F Pl Neut Pl
celer
celeris celere
celerēs celeria
celerem
celere
celerēs celeria
celeris
celerium
celerī
celeribus
3rd DECLENSION ADJECTIVES
IN –ER, (E)RIS, -E
Nominative
Accusative
Masc S
Fem S
Neut S
M & F Pl Neut Pl
celer
celeris celere
celerēs celeria
celerem
celere
celerēs celeria
celeris
celerium
Dative
celerī
celeribus
Ablative
celerī
celeribus
Genitive
IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES
• Although most 3rd declension adjectives have –ī in the
ablative singular, –ium in the genitive plural and –ia in
the neuter plural, there are some exceptions:
– The single-termination adjectives pauper, pauperis and vetus,
veteris usually had ablative in –e, genitive plural in –um and
neuter plural in –a
– Comparative adjectives (e.g. laetior, laetius) also used these
non-ī endings.
– Present participles (for which there is a separate PowerPoint –
INFINITIVES AND PARTICIPLES) had –ium and -ia in the plural
but in the singular used –e for the ablative when the participle
referred to a temporary action (and was thus felt to be more
verbal) and –ī for lasting state (more adjectival)
• There is also inconsistency between different ancient
authors (even the Romans themselves found 3rd
terminations a bit confusing) and, of course, between
different modern books on Latin grammar!
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
• The comparative (expressed in English with –er or more)
is formed by adding the endings –ior (m/f) and –ius
(neuter) to a stem formed by removing the ending (ī, ae
or is) from the genitive singular:
– laetus (genitive: laetī or laetae ) > laetior, laetius
– fēlīx (genitive: fēlīcis) > fēlīcior, fēlīcius
• The superlative (English –est or most) is usually formed
by adding the suffix –issimus/-a/-um to the same stem:
– laetus (genitive: laetī or laetae ) > laetissimus
– fēlīx (genitive: fēlīcis) > fēlīcissimus
• Adjectives in –er, -(e)ra, -(e)rum add `-rumus/a/um to
the masculine nominative singular for the superlative:
– pulcher > pulchrior > pulcherrimus
– miser > miserior > miserrimus
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES (II)
•
Six adjectives ending in –ilis use the irregular ending –illimus/-a/-um in the
superlative:
–
–
–
–
–
–
•
facilis (easy)> facilior, facilius > facillimus
difficilis (difficult)> difficilior, difficilius > difficillimus
similis (similiar)> similior, similius > simillimus
dissimilis (dissimilar)> dissimilior, dissimilior > dissimillimus
gracilis (graceful)> gracilior, gracilius > gracillimus
humilis (low, humble)> humilior, humilius > humillimus
A few adjectives are completely irregular (as in English):
–
–
–
–
–
magnus (large)> maior, maius > maximus
parvus (small)> minor, minus > minimus
bonus (good)> melior, melius, optimus
malus (bad)> peior, peius > pessimus
multus (much)> plūs* > plūrimus
*N.B. plūs is declined like an ordinary comparative in the plural (see
following slides) but in the singular is an indeclinable noun and used
with the genitive:
• plūs aquae (more water)
• plūs vīnī (more wine)
LAETIOR (happier)
Nominative
Accusative
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
M&F
(Sing)
Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
laetior
laetius
laetiōrēs
laetiōra
LAETIOR (happier)
M&F
(Sing)
Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
Nominative
laetior
laetius
laetiōrēs
laetiōra
Accusative
laetiōrem
laetius
laetiōrēs
laetiōra
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
LAETIOR (happier)
M&F
(Sing)
Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
Nominative
laetior
laetius
laetiōrēs
laetiōra
Accusative
laetiōrem
laetius
laetiōrēs
laetiōra
Genitive
Dative
Ablative
laetiōris
laetiōrum
LAETIOR (happier)
M&F
(Sing)
Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
Nominative
laetior
laetius
laetiōrēs
laetiōra
Accusative
laetiōrem
laetius
laetiōrēs
laetiōra
Genitive
laetiōris
laetiōrum
Dative
laetiōrī
laetiōribus
Ablative
LAETIOR (happier)
M&F
(Sing)
Neut (Sing)
M & F (Plr)
Neut (Plr)
Nominative
laetior
laetius
laetiōrēs
laetiōra
Accusative
laetiōrem
laetius
laetiōrēs
laetiōra
Genitive
laetiōris
laetiōrum
Dative
laetiōrī
laetiōribus
Ablative
laetiōre
laetiōribus