Looking at Latin Grammar

An overview of Latin grammar seemed to be a suitable follow-up to a basic review of English grammar.  Latin grammar consists of Nouns, pronouns, verbs, propositions, numerals, adjectives, adverbs, the case system and word order. 

Each of the different parts of grammar has the same sub-categories as English grammar, as well as some additional considerations to take into account.  Case, number and gender become very important for a correct understanding of Latin.  Let’s start here with the case system.

Latin has six cases which define the function of each word. Each case has its own word endings for nouns, pronouns and adjectives and has declensions.  The cases and functions are:

Nominative:    subject

Accusative:     direct object

Genitive:         possession/origin/quality

Dative:            indirect object

Ablative:         prepositional objects

The gender of a noun, pronoun or adjective can be masculine (m.), feminine (f.), or neuter (n.).  The gender will also change the word endings and must agree with other words in the sentence to form the sentence correctly. 

The number is addressing if the word is singular or plural and this will also affect the word endings.

Pronouns have specific types, such as personal, relative, demonstrative, interrogative, possessive and reflexive.  Pronouns are masculine, feminine and neuter and the reflexive pronouns have person, 1^st person, 2^nd person and 3^rd person perspectives.  

Adjectives and adverbs have three declensions, 1^st/2^nd and 3^rd.

Verbs have seven modes, four conjugations, two moods, six tenses and two voices.

Modes:            Indicative, subjunctive, imperative, supine, gerund, participle and infinitive.

Conjugations: 1^st conj – āre, 2^nd conj – ēre, 3^rd conj – ere, and 4^th conj – Īre.

Moods:            Imperative, indicative, and subjunctive.

Tenses:            Present, imperfect, future, perfect, pluperfect and future perfect.

Voices:            Active and passive.

Latin uses Macrons on vowels to indicate the long sound for the vowel. Often the use of macron will indicate a different meaning to the words.  Macrons are line over vowels.

Latin does not use articles.  The articles are implied by the case of the word and construction of expressions to explain specific things like manner, circumstance and time.

Prepositions are used and followed by an Accusative or an Ablative.  They are used less frequently than English grammar.

Note: I referenced my course materials in Lingua Latina and English Grammar for Student of Latin by Norma W. Goldman to ensure the grammar concepts I used were correct.