Irregular Verbs
By: Caitlyn Ecock
Verbs
 Most Latin verbs are regular and belong to one of the four
conjugations.
 However there are a few that are irregular such as sum
and esse. Irregular verbs do not belong to any of the four
conjugations.
 Four common irregular verbs are:
1. volo, velle- to wish, to want
2. nolo, nolle (non volo)- to be unwilling, not wish
3. fero, ferre- to bring, carry
4. eo, ire- to go
PAGE 128
(in textbook)
Volo, Velle
Even though this verb is irregular it can still be conjugated.
The infinitive form is velle meaning to wish, want.
The Present Tense:
Latin
Singular
Plural
1st Person
Volo
Volumus
2nd Person
Vis
Vultis
3rd Person
Vult
Volunt
Volo, Velle
The present tense translated to English is:
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
I wish
We wish
2nd Person
You wish
You wish
3rd Person
He, she, it wishes
They wish
Volo, Velle
Irregular verbs can also be conjugated in the imperfect tense.
Latin
Singular
Plural
1st Person
Volebam
Volebamus
2nd Person
Volebas
Volebatis
3rd Person
Volebat
Volebant
As you may notice the imperfect of irregular verbs shares the same
ending as regular verbs.
Volo, Velle
The English translation is:
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
I was wishing
We were wishing
2nd Person
You were wishing
You were wishing
3rd Person
He, she, it was
wishing
They were wishing
Nolo, Nolle
The infinitive form is nolle meaning to be unwilling, not want.
 Unlike volo the verb nolo includes an imperative form.
Imperative just means the verb is being used as an order.
Latin
1st person
2nd person
3rd person
Singular
---noli
----
Plural
---nolite
----
English
1st person
2nd person
3rd person
Singular
---do not
wish
----
Plural
---do not
wish
----
The imperative form can only be used in the second person.
Nolo, Nolle
The Present Tense:
Latin
1st Person
Singular
Plural
Nolo
Nolumus
2nd Person
Non vis
Non vultis
3rd Person
Non vult
Nolunt
Nolo, Nolle
English Translation:
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
I do not wish
We do not wish
2nd Person
You do not wish
You do not wish
3rd Person
He, she, it does not
wish
They do not wish
Nolo, Nolle
Imperfect form:
Latin
Singular
Plural
1st Person
Nolebam
Nolebamus
2nd Person
Nolebas
Nolebatis
3rd Person
Nolebat
Nolebant
Nolo, Nolle
English Translation
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
I was not wishing
We were not
wishing
2nd Person
You were not
wishing
You were not
wishing
3rd Person
He, she, it was not
wishing
They were not
wishing
Fero, Ferre
The infinitive form is ferre meaning to bring, carry.
Like nolo, fero also can be used in the imperative form.
Latin
Singular
Plural
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
----
----
1st Person
----
----
2nd Person
Fer
Ferte
2nd Person
Carry
Carry
3rd Person
----
----
3rd Person
----
----
Fero, Ferre
The present tense is:
Latin
Singular
Plural
1st Person
Fero
Ferimus
2nd Person
Fers
Fertis
3rd Person
Fert
Ferunt
Fero, Ferre
 The English translation is:
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
I carry
We carry
2nd Person
You carry
You carry
3rd Person
He, she, it carries
They carry
Fero, Ferre
The imperfect is:
Latin
Singular
Plural
1st Person
Ferebam
Ferebamus
2nd Person
Ferebas
Ferebatis
3rd Person
Ferebas
Ferebant
Fero, Ferre
The English translation is:
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
I was carrying
We were carrying
2nd Person
You were carrying You were carrying
3rd Person
He, she, it was
carrying
They were
carrying
Eo, Ire
The infinitive form is ire meaning to go.
The imperative form is:
Latin
Singular
Plural
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
Eo
Imus
1st Person
----
----
2nd Person
Is
Itis
2nd Person
Go
Go
3rd Person
Ite
Eunt
3rd Person
----
----
Eo, Ire
The Present tense is:
Latin
Singular
Plural
1st Person
Eo
Imus
2nd Person
Is
Itis
3rd Person
Ite
Eunt
Eo, Ire
English Translation:
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
I go
We go
2nd Person
You go
You go
3rd Person
He, she, it goes
They go
Eo, Ire
The imperfect is:
Latin
1st Person
Singular
Plural
Ibam
Ibamus
2nd Person
Ibas
Ibatis
3rd Person
Ibas
Ibant
Eo, Ire
The English translation is:
English
Singular
Plural
1st Person
I was going
We were going
2nd Person
You were going
You were going
3rd Person
He, she, it was
going
They were going
Irregular Verbs
 Now that you have learned the conjugations try some
exercises in the text book on page 128 exercise 17B &
page 129 Exercise 17D.
For more help on irregular verbs try the following exercises.
Exercises
Translate the following sentences to English and do grammar.
English to Latin
1.
2.
3.
“I do not wish to stay at the inn,” says Aurelia.
“Go work,” says Cornelius to the slaves.
You were bringing the horses.
Latin to English
1.
Cornelius Romanus senator non vult.
2.
Baculum ferebam.
3.
Cornelius inquit, “Ad caupona pernoctare volumus.”
Answers
English to Latin
1. comp infinitive
1st per sing. v
Latin to English
infin
Acc. Sing
verb
“I do not wish to stay at the inn,” says
1. Nom
Adj
abl
verb
Cornelius Romanus senator non vult.
Conrnelius does not wish to be a Roman
senator.
Nom. s
Aurelia
“Ad caupona pernoctare nolo,” inquit
Aurelia.
2.
Imperative
verb Nom. S
Acc.
“Go,” says Cornelius to the slaves.
“I,” Cornelius ad servi inquit.
3.
Imperfect
Acc. Pl
You were bringing the horses.
Equos nolebas.
2. Nom. S imperfect
Baculum ferebam.
I was carrying the stick.
3. nom. S
verb
prep+acc
Cornelius inquit, “Ad cauponam
Comp infin
pernoctare volumus.”
Conrnelius says, “ we wish to spend the
night at the inn.”