This is my first semester taking Lain and I'm a little confused about how to tell the 2nd conjugation of verbs from the 3rd. Please help I thought I had this down
Honestly the only real way to tell them apart is if you memorize the 1st person singular present tense and the infinitive. For example:
vidEo, videre versus rego, regere
The second conjugation verb will always have that E before the O in the 1st person singular present tense.
Where as rego is 3rd conj because there is no E.
So, if you look at other 2nd and 3rd conj. verbs you will see the same pattern. Unfortunately sometimes Latin is just memorization, but I hope this helps!
Thank you Anne for putting that out there---this is really the best way to tell them apart.
Also, remember that the book marks the -e- of the second conjugation with a long mark (like an accent) but not the -e- of the third. So when you are not sure, close your eyes and visualize that infinitive. Does it have that mark on top?
I hope this doesn't sound too new agey!!
E.
PS. Anne, in case I forgot to tell you in person, I love the Roman Stewie! Thanks again for everything.
2 comments:
Hi Shequera,
Honestly the only real way to tell them apart is if you memorize the 1st person singular present tense and the infinitive. For example:
vidEo, videre versus rego, regere
The second conjugation verb will always have that E before the O in the 1st person singular present tense.
Where as rego is 3rd conj because there is no E.
So, if you look at other 2nd and 3rd conj. verbs you will see the same pattern. Unfortunately sometimes Latin is just memorization, but I hope this helps!
Anne
Thank you Anne for putting that out there---this is really the best way to tell them apart.
Also, remember that the book marks the -e- of the second conjugation with a long mark (like an accent) but not the -e- of the third. So when you are not sure, close your eyes and visualize that infinitive. Does it have that mark on top?
I hope this doesn't sound too new agey!!
E.
PS. Anne, in case I forgot to tell you in person, I love the Roman Stewie! Thanks again for everything.
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