Present, Imperfect & Perfect Tenses Conjugating Verbs Present, Imperfect & Perfect Tenses

Background Info To conjugate a verb means to list the forms. Verbs are grouped into conjugations. Conjugations determine the linking vowels for present tense and imperfect tense. 1st conjugation verbs have 2nd PP ending –are 2nd conjugation verbs have 2nd PP ending –ēre 3rd conjugation verbs have 2nd PP ending –ere 4th conjugation verbs have 2nd PP ending –ire

Conjugating in Present Tense The endings are: -o -mus -s -tis -t -nt The linking vowels for present tense are: 1 2 3 4 a e i i To form the present tense, remove infinitive ending from the end of the 2nd pp, then add the correct linking vowel plus the endings. Remember that in 1st and 3rd conjugation, -o swallows the vowel. Remember that in 3rd and 4th conjugation, the 3rd person plural ending is –unt and –iunt.

Conjugating in Imperfect Tense The endings are: -bam -bamus -bas -batis -bat -bant The linking vowels for imperfect tense are: 1 2 3 4 a e e ie To form the imperfect tense, remove the infinitive ending from the end of the 2nd pp, then add the correct linking vowel plus the endings.

Conjugating in Perfect Tense The endings are: -i -imus -isti -istis -it -erunt To form the perfect tense, remove –i from the end of the 3rd pp, then add the endings. This applies for all conjugations, including irregular verbs. There are no linking vowels for perfect tense.

Conjugate porto, portare, portavi – carry in present, imperfect and perfect tenses. Since the 2nd pp ends in –are, this verb is 1st conjugation. 1st conjugation verbs use –a for the linking vowel for both present and imperfect. Present Tense Imperfect Tense porto portamus portabam portabamus portas portatis portabas portabatis portat portant portabat portabant Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is portavi, minus -i, plus endings  portavi portavimus portavisti portavistis portavit portaverunt

Conjugate rideo, ridēre, risi – laugh in present, imperfect and perfect tenses. Since the 2nd pp ends in –ēre, this verb is 2nd conjugation. 2nd conjugation verbs use –e for the linking vowel for both present and imperfect. Present Tense Imperfect Tense rideo ridemus ridebam ridebamus rides ridetis ridebas ridebatis ridet rident ridebat ridebant Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is risi, minus -i, plus endings  risi risimus risisti risistis risit riserunt

Conjugate vendo, vendere, vendidi– sell in present, imperfect and perfect tenses. Since the 2nd pp ends in –ere, this verb is 3rd conjugation. 3rd conjugation verbs use –i for present tense and –e for the imperfect tense. Present Tense Imperfect Tense vendo vendimus vendebam vendebamus vendis venditis vendebas vendebatis vendit vendunt vendebat vendebant Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is vendidi, minus -i, plus endings  vendidi vendidimus vendidisti vendidistis vendidit vendiderunt

Conjugate dormio, dormire, dormivi – sleep in present, imperfect and perfect tenses. Since the 2nd pp ends in –ire, this verb is 4th conjugation. 4th conjugation verbs use –i for present tense and –ie for the imperfect tense. Present Tense Imperfect Tense dormio dormimus dormiebam dormiebamus dormis dormitis dormiebas dormiebatis dormit dormiunt dormiebat dormiebant Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is dormivi, minus -i, plus endings  dormivi dormivimus dormivisti dormivistis dormivit dormiverunt

Conjugate sum, esse, fui – to be in present, imperfect and perfect tenses. Since this verb is irregular, it doesn’t belong to any conjugation. The forms must be memorized for present and imperfect. Present Tense Imperfect Tense sum sumus eram eramus es estis eras eratis est sunt erat erant Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is fui, minus -i, plus endings  fui fuimus fuisti fuistis fuit fuerunt Compounds will be conjugated similarly.

Conjugate eo, ire, ii – go in present, imperfect and perfect tenses. Since this verb is irregular, it doesn’t belong to any conjugation. The forms must be memorized for present and imperfect. Present Tense Imperfect Tense eo imus ibam ibamus is itis ibas ibatis it eunt ibat ibant Perfect Tense – 3rd pp is ii, minus -i, plus endings  ii iimus iisti iistis iit ierunt Compounds will be conjugated similarly.