A verb in the present tense represents an act which is taking place now (at the same time as the person speaking), e.g. he shouts, he is shouting, he does shout. Note that whereas English has three ways of expressing the present tense, there is only one form in Latin, i.e. clamat.

The present tense in Latin is formed by taking the present stem (infinitive minus -re) and adding the following person endings:

The First Conjugation.

The first conjugation is where all the a-stem verbs are grouped together. The common vowel -a- can be seen running right through the present tense before the person ending (although it is lost in the first person singular form because of the -o). Only first conjugation verbs like amo, amare have this a-vowel running through the present indicative active.

To form the present tense of amo or any first conjugation verb, firstly find the present stem. This is done by taking the infinitive or second principal part and chopping off the -re. Then add the six different person endings given above. Thus, to make the Latin verb form meaning 'he loves', find the present stem from (ama-), and then add the third person singular person ending (-t), which, when joined together make the form amat, he loves.

Other verbs conjugated like amo are:

rogo, rogare, rogavi, rogatum	to ask
ambulo, ambulare, ambulavi, ambulatum	to walk
clamo, clamare, clamavi, clamatum	to shout
navigo, navigare, navigavi, navigatum	to sail

Practising the First Conjugation Present Active Indicative.

Practise forming a first conjugation verb in the present active indicative by studying the table in the previous section, and then applying the rules to the first conjugation verb directly above. Type in the verb forms, and then press << Check Answers >> to see whether you are correct. You can move between the text boxes by using the << Tab >> key.

Be tested on different first conjugation verbs by clicking on the pictures below. You can be tested on either Latin to English, or English to Latin.

Latin to English			English to Latin

The Second Conjugation.

The second conjugation is where all the long-e-stem verbs are grouped together. The common vowel -e- (long) can be seen running right through the present tense before the person ending. Only second conjugation verbs like moneo, monere have this long-e vowel running through the present indicative active.

Other verbs conjugated like moneo are:

video, videre, vidi, visum	to see
habeo, habere, habui, habitum	to have
timeo, timere, timui	to fear
maneo, manere, mansi, mansum	to remain

Practising the Second Conjugation Present Active Indicative.

Practise forming a second conjugation verb in the present active indicative by studying the table in the previous section, and then applying the rules to the second conjugation verb directly above. Type in the verb forms, and then press << Check Answers >> to see whether you are correct. You can move between the text boxes by using the << Tab >> key.

Be tested on different second conjugation verbs by clicking on the pictures below. You can be tested on either Latin to English, or English to Latin.

Latin to English			English to Latin

The Third Conjugation.

The third conjugation is where all the short-e-stem verbs are grouped together. This short-e is so weak that it in fact changes to an -i- in the present, which breaks the 'stem + person ending' rule. Thus, the third conjugation in the present is quite irregular. The common vowel -i- can be seen running through the present tense before the person ending, except in the first person singular, where it drops out before the -o, and in the third person plural, where it changes to a -u- in regunt. All third conjugation verbs follow this pattern.

Other verbs conjugated like rego are:

mitto, mittere, misi, missum	to send
dico, dicere, dixi, dictum	to say
duco, ducere, duxi, ductum	to lead
scribo, scribere, scripsi, scriptum	to write

Practising the Third Conjugation Present Active Indicative.

Practise forming a third conjugation verb in the present active indicative by studying the table in the previous section, and then applying the rules to the third conjugation verb directly above. Type in the verb forms, and then press << Check Answers >> to see whether you are correct. You can move between the text boxes by using the << Tab >> key.

Be tested on different third conjugation verbs by clicking on the pictures below. You can be tested on either Latin to English, or English to Latin.

Latin to English			English to Latin

The Third-io Conjugation.

The third-io conjugation is a small sub-branch of the third conjugation. These verbs belong to the third conjugation, for their infinitive ends in -ere (short), but in the present system they look exactly like a fourth conjugation verb in every respect. The common vowel -i- can be seen running right through the present tense before the person ending, even in the first person singular capio, and in the third person plural capiunt. All third -io conjugation verbs follow this pattern.

Other verbs conjugated like capio are:

facio, facere, feci, factum	to do, make
cupio, cupere, cupivi, cupitum	to desire
accipio, accipere, accepi, acceptum	to receive, accept
interficio, interficere, interfeci, interfectum	to kill

Practising the Third-io Conjugation Present Active Indicative.

Practise forming a third-io conjugation verb in the present active indicative by studying the table in the previous section, and then applying the rules to the third-io conjugation verb directly above. Type in the verb forms, and then press << Check Answers >> to see whether you are correct. You can move between the text boxes by using the << Tab >> key.

Be tested on different third-io conjugation verbs by clicking on the pictures below. You can be tested on either Latin to English, or English to Latin.

Latin to English			English to Latin

The Fourth Conjugation.

The fourth conjugation is where all the i-stem verbs are grouped together. The common vowel -i- can be seen running right through the present tense before the person ending. The only exception is that a -u- is inserted in the third person plural, to give audiunt.

Other verbs conjugated like audio are:

custodio, custodire, custodivi, custoditum	to guard
finio, finire, finivi, finitum	to finish
venio, venire, veni, ventum	to come
punio, punire, punivi, punitum	to punish

Practising the Fourth Conjugation Present Active Indicative.

Practise forming a fourth conjugation verb in the present active indicative by studying the table in the previous section, and then applying the rules to the fourth conjugation verb directly above. Type in the verb forms, and then press << Check Answers >> to see whether you are correct. You can move between the text boxes by using the << Tab >> key.

Be tested on different fourth conjugation verbs by clicking on the pictures below. You can be tested on either Latin to English, or English to Latin.

Latin to English			English to Latin

Summary of the Present Active Indicative.

Formation: present stem (infinitive - re) + person ending (but thirds change 'e' to an 'i').
Meanings: I love, I am loving, I do love.
Forms to note: regunt, capiunt, audiunt

Go to Introduction			Return to Main Index			Go to Part III

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