Latin Foundations
Lesson VII
2nd Conjugation Verbs
In lesson I, you learned about 1st conjugation verbs. Remember, conjugation is a fancy
word for a verb group. In this lesson, you are going to learn about 2nd conjugation verbs.
Is there a pattern for 2nd conjugation verbs?
Answer: Yes, there is a pattern for the four principle parts of 2nd conjugation verbs. If
you can memorize this pattern, you will find that memorizing new vocabulary will be
easier. Remember, however, that there are irregular verbs (verbs that don’t follow the
pattern). Watch out for these!
Pattern for the 4 principle parts of 2nd conjugation:
-eo, -ere, -ui, -itum
Adverbs
What is an adverb?
Answer: An adverb is a word that modifies (describes) a verb, an adjective or another
adverb. Adverbs indicate manner, quantity, time, place, and intensity. Many, but not all,
adverbs in English end in the suffix –ly.
Good News! Adverbs in Latin do not have different endings that you have to
memorize. Each adverb has only one form that you need to memorize!
Conjunctions
What is a conjunction?
Answer: A conjunction is a word which joins words or groups of words together.
More Good News! Conjunctions in Latin do not have different endings that you need
to memorize. Each conjunction has only one form that your need to memorize!
1
Latin Foundations
Lesson VII
Helping Verbs
What are helping verbs?
Answer: A verb is considered a helping verb when it helps identify the tense of another
verb. You are currently working with verbs in the present tense. Here are some English
helping verbs you can use in the present tense.





am
is
are
do
does
all of these are helping verbs for present tense!
Good News and Bad News! Latin does not have helping verbs. The good news is
that you don’t have to worry about memorizing theses. The bad news is that English uses
them all of the time, so you will need to figure out when you should include them in your
translations and when you shouldn’t. This takes practice.
Example
The following sentences are all examples of different ways to express the present tense
for the same Latin verb.

Latin Verb
Laudat
English Translations in the Present Tense
- He praises (no helping verb)
- He is praising (helping verb “is” plus –ing on the verb)
- He does praise (helping verb “does”)
* All three of these translations are correct!
So, when you are translating your verbs from Latin to English, you now have some
choices to make.
When translating sentences from English to Latin, watch out for those helping verbs.
Remember, Latin does not use helping verbs. Helping verbs just help you figure out what
tense to put your Latin verb in.
2
Latin Foundations
Lesson VII
Vocabulary
2nd Conjugation Verbs
1. debeo, debere, debui, debitum:
to owe; ought, must
2. moneo, monere, monui, monitum:
to warn, remind, advise
3. salveo, salvere:
to be well, be in good health
4. terreo, terrere, terrui, territum:
to terrify, frighten
5. valeo, valere, valui, valiturum:
to be strong, have power; be well
6. video, videre, vidi, visum:
to see; observe, understand
Special Imperatives
1. salve (sg.), salvete (pl.):
hello, greetings
2. vale (sg.), valete (pl.):
goodbye, farewell
Adverbs
1. non:
not
2. saepe:
often
3. semper:
always
4. hodie:
today
5. nunc:
now
Conjunctions
1. et:
and
2. et…et:
both…and
3. sed:
but
4. si:
if
5. aut:
or
6. aut…aut:
either…or
7. quod:
because
3
Latin Foundations
Lesson VII
Exercises
1. Make flash cards for your new vocabulary words.
2. Start memorizing your new vocabulary words.
* Pay special attention to any irregular verbs (verbs that don’t follow the pattern).
3. Keep practicing old vocabulary words.
4. On a separate piece of paper, translate the following Latin sentences into English.
Remember to show your work.
a) Agricola feminam nunc monet.
b) Nautae et poetae semper valent.
c) Hodie et femina et puella rosas vident.
d) Sententia agricolam terret, sed agricola valet.
e) Fortuna non terret puellam, quod puella salvet.
f) Puellae pecuniam nunc debent.
g) Si vita valet, fortunam laudamus.
5. On a separate piece of paper, translate the following English sentences into Latin.
Remember to show your work.
a) Advise (pl) both the woman and the poet.
b) We now praise the life and fortune.
c) The sailors give (their) opinion, because the rumor is strong.
d) If the girl always helps farmers, the farmers praise (her).
e) Either the poet or the sailor reminds the woman.
f) The gates are not strong, but today they help the sailors.
g) The woman does not often blame the girl.
4
Latin Foundations
Lesson VII
Additional Exercises
6. On a separate piece of paper, translate each of the following Latin sentences into
English. Using present tense helping verbs, write down two different translations
for each sentence.
a) Agricola feminam nunc videt.
b) Patriam semper amo.
c) Femina puellam saepe monet.
d) Iram semper supera!
e) Et rosas et pecuniam nunc datis.
f) Hodie puellas vocamus, sed non iuvant.
g) Si poeta nautam laudat, nauta salvet.
h) Aut nauta aut puella sententias dat.
i) Agricola pecuniam conservat, quod pecuniam amat.
j) Non vocate hodie poetam aut nautam!
7. On a separate piece of paper, translate each of the following English sentences into
Latin. Be careful of the present tense helping verbs in the English sentences.
Remember that you don’t use helping verbs in Latin. You need to find the main
action word.
a) The women do praise the girls often.
b) Today I am strong, but the farmer is not strong.
c) Both the poet and the sailor owe money.
d) We are always preserving fortune and fame.
e) The rumor does terrify the girl and the woman.
f) They are now helping the farmers because the farmers love life.
g) I am strong if you are strong.
h)(pl) Do not advise the girl if she makes a mistake!
i) (sg.) Help either the sailor or the poet!
j) The farmers are now seeing the gates.
5