Latin for Beginners

by Benjamin L. D'Ooge

Conjugation I	Conjugation II
SINGULAR		PERSONAL ENDINGS
1. amā´bam, I was loving	monē´bam, I was advising	-m
2. amā´bās, you were loving	monē´bās, you were advising	-s
3. amā´bat, he was loving	monē´bat, he was advising	-t
PLURAL
1. amābā´mus, we were loving	monēbā´mus, we were advising	-mus
2. amābā´tis, you were loving	monēbā´tis, you were advising	-tis
3. amā´bant, they were loving	monē´bant, they were advising	-nt

a. Note that the ā of the tense sign -bā- is shortened before -nt, and before m and t when final. (Cf. [§ 12. 2].)

In a similar manner inflect the verbs given in [§ 129].

[134.] Meaning of the Imperfect. The Latin imperfect describes an act as going on or progressing in past time, like the English past-progressive tense (as, I was walking). It is the regular tense used to describe a past situation or condition of affairs.

[135.] EXERCISES

I. 1. Vidēbāmus, dēsīderābat, mātūrābās. 2. Dabant, vocābātis, dēlēbāmus. 3. Pugnant, laudābās, movēbātis. 4. Iubēbant, properābātis, portābāmus. 5. Dabās, nārrābant, labōrābātis. 6. Vidēbant, movēbās, nūntiābāmus. 7. Necābat, movēbam, habēbat, parābātis.

II. 1. You were having (sing. and plur.), we were killing, they were laboring. 2. He was moving, we were ordering, we were fighting. 3. We were telling, they were seeing, he was calling. 4. They were living, I was longing for, we were destroying. 5. You were giving, you were moving, you were announcing, (sing. and plur.). 6. They were caring for, he was plowing, we were praising.

[136.] Ni´obe and her Children

First learn the [special vocabulary], p. 287.

Niobē, rēgina Thēbānōrum, erat pulchra fēmina sed superba. Erat superba nōn sōlum fōrmā1 suā marītīque potentiā1 sed etiam magnō līberōrum numerō.1 Nam habēbat2 septem fīliōs et septem fīliās. Sed ea superbia erat rēgīnae3 causa magnae trīstitiae et līberīs3 causa dūrae poenae.