Imperfect verbs Olivia Calamia Latin 8

What are imperfect verbs? Imperfect Verbs are verbs that express a continuous action in the past. Example: Correct: She was reading a book. Incorrect: She read a book. In most cases, imperfect verbs begin with the word “was” in English. In Latin, imperfect tense verbs are most often identified by the ending “ba…” to a verb with the exceptions of the verbs “esse” and “posse”.

Kinds of verbs In Latin, there are four different conjugations of verbs: “-ARE” verbs. Example: natare – to swim “-ERE” verbs (long -ere verbs) Example: habere – to hold “-ERE” verbs (short -ere verbs) Example: mittere – to send “-IRE” verbs. Example: audire – to hear There are also two verbs of being. There are: “esse” – to be “posse” – to be able to Note: The imperfect form of these two verbs are identified by the letters “ra” instead of “ba” These verbs can all be translated into the imperfect tense.

-ARE Verbs (ex: natare – to swim) Latin English Translation Person: Singular Plural 1st Person Ego natabam Nos natabamus 2nd Person Tu natabas Vos natabatis 3rd Person Is, ea, id natabat Ei, eae, ea natabant Person: Singular Plural 1st Person I was swimming We were swimming 2nd Person You were swimming 3rd Person He, she, it was swimming They were swimming

More “-Are” verbs Here are some more examples of “-are” verbs: Potare – to carry Lavare – to wash Laborare – to work Clamare – to shout Like “natare”, these verbs can be conjugated following the format on the previous slide.

-ERE Verbs (long “e”) (ex: habere – to have) Latin English Translation Person Singular Plural 1st Person Ego habebam Nos habebamus 2nd Person Tu habebas Vos habebatis 3rd Person Is, ea, id habebat Ei, eae, ea habebant Person Singular Plural 1st Person I was having We were having 2nd Person You were having 3rd Person He, she, it was having They were having

More “-ere” verbs Here are some more examples of long “-ere” verbs: Sedere – to sit Ridere – to laugh Timere – to fear Movere – to move Like “habere”, these verbs can be conjugated following the format on the previous slide.

-ERE Verbs (short “e”) (ex: mittere – to send) Latin English Translation Person Singular Plural 1st Person Ego mittebam Nos mittebamus 2nd Person Tu mittebas Vos mittebatis 3rd Person Is, ea, id mittebat Ei, eae, ea mittebant Person Singular Plural 1st Person I was sending We were sending 2nd Person You were sending 3rd Person He, she, it was sending They were sending

More “-ere” (short) verbs Here are some more examples of “-ere” (short) verbs: Currere – to run Scribere – to write Legere – to read Ludere – to play Like “mittere”, these verbs can be conjugated following the format on the previous slide.

-Ire Verbs (ex: audire – to hear) Latin English Translation Person Singular Plural 1st Person Ego audiebam Nos audiebamus 2nd Person Tu audiebas Vos audiebatis 3rd Person Is, ea, id audiebat Ei, eae, ea audiebant Person Singular Plural 1st Person I was hearing We were hearing 2nd Person You were hearing 3rd Person He, she, it was hearing They were hearing

More “-ire” verbs Here are some more examples of “-ire” verbs: Dormire – to sleep Salire – to jump Finire – to finish Venire – to come Like “audire”, these verbs can be conjugated following the format on the previous slide.

Imperfect form of “esse” – to be Latin English Translation Person Singular Plural 1st Person Ego eram Nos eramus 2nd Person Tu eras Vos eratis 3rd Person Is, ea, id erat Ei, eae, ea erant Person Singular Plural 1st Person I was We were 2nd Person You were 3rd Person He, she , it was They were

Imperfect form of “posse” – to be able to Latin English Translation Person Singular Plural 1st Person Ego poteram Nos poteramus 2nd Person Tu poteras Vos poteratis 3rd Person Is, ea, id poterat Ei, eae, ea poterant Person Singular Plural 1st Person I was able to We were able to 2nd Person You were able to 3rd Person He, she, it was able to They were able to

Practice exercises 1) ____ We were working hard. For these word problems, simply choose the correct Latin verb that matches the verb or verb phrase in bold/italics. Feel free to reference back to previous slides to help you answer these questions. 1) ____ We were working hard. a. laborabam c. laborabamus b. laborabatis d. laborabant 2) ____ They were coming at noon. a. veniebat c. veniebatis b. veniebant d. veniebas 3) ____ I was running fast. a. currebam c. currebant b. currebamus d. currebatis 4) ____ You (singular) were laughing at the joke. a. ridebant c. ridebam b. ridebamus d. ridebas

Answer key These are the answers to the exercise: C. laborabamus B. veniebant A. currebam D. ridebas