The Tutoring and Learning Center 300 Library 747-5366
http://academics.utep.edu/tlc
Latin Handout #5
Basic Sentence Structure for Latin

In English, most sentences are made up of three components:
subject + verb + direct object
Example:
Veronica loves Marcus.

In Latin, most sentences include these three components as well; however, they are in
different order.
subject + object + verb
Example:
Veronica Marcum amat.

The subject of a sentence must be in the nominative case.
Nominative: Veronica
Genitive:
Veronicae
Dative:
Veronicae
Accusative: Veronicam
Ablative:
Veronicā
Vocative:
Veronica

The direct object is in the accusative case.
Nominative:
Genitive:
Dative:
Accusative:
Ablative:
Vocative:
Marcus
Marci
Marcō
Marcum
Marcō
Marcus
Note: Each case has different functions. For our purposes, we will be discussing the
nominative and accusative case only.
Let’s switch the sentence around.
Marcus loves Veronica.
Some materials borrowed from Balme , Maurice and James Morwoord . Oxford Latin Course Part I. New
York: Oxford, 2000.
Hint: Marcus = nominative
Veronica = accusative.
Answer: Marcus Veronicam amat.

The verb must agree in number and person (1st, 2nd, 3rd) with the subject. Also, verbs
fall under one of 4 conjugations.
1st conjugation
(stems in –a)
I
par-ō
You (sing) parā-s
He/she
para-t
We
parā-mus
You (pl.) parā-tis
They
para-nt
2nd conjugation
(stems in –e)
I
mone-ō
You
monē-s
He/she mone-t
We
monē-mus
You (pl.) monē-tis
They
mone-nt
3rd conjugation
(stems in consonants)
I
reg-ō
You (sing)
reg-is
He/she
reg-it
We
reg-imus
You (pl)
reg-itis
They
reg-unt
3rd conjugation
(stems in –io)
I
capi-ō
You (sing) cap-is
He/she
cap-it
We
cap-imus
You (pl.) cap-itis
They
capi-unt
4th conjugation
(stems in –i)
I
audi-ō
You (sing)
audi-s
He/she
audi-t
We
audi-mus
You (pl.)
audi-tis
They
audi-unt
Some materials borrowed from Balme , Maurice and James Morwoord . Oxford Latin Course Part I. New
York: Oxford, 2000.