Latin Grammar Formation of the Imperfect Tense (Grammar 4A, pp )

The Formation of the Imperfect Tense  In all verbs but sum and verbs made from sum, the imperfect tense, which is a past tense, is made with the syllable –bā– plus the normal personal endings. amābāmus habēbātis loquēbātur

Imperfect Tense: Non-Deponent endings  Here are the non-deponent endings for the imperfect: singularplural 1st: -bam-bāmus 2 nd : -bās-bātis 3 rd : -bat-bant The -a- wants to be long. But remember: 1.Vowels before final m, t and r are generally short in Latin. 2.All vowels are short before any -nt-.

Imperfect Tense: Non-Deponent endings  Here are the deponent endings: singularplural 1st: -bar-bāmur 2 nd : -bāris-bāminī 3 rd : -bātur-bantur The -a- wants to be long. But remember: 1.Vowels before final m, t and r are generally short in Latin. 2.All vowels are short before –nt.

First Conjugation  To form the first conjugation imperfect, add the imperfect endings to the present stem of the verb.  This is made by removing the –re from the infinitive of non-deponent verbs or the –rī from the deponent infinitive): amāre => amā- minārī => minā-

First Conjugation  Now add the endings. singularplural 1st: amābamamābāmus 2 nd : amābāsamābātis 3 rd : amābatamābant singularplural 1st: minābarminābāmur 2 nd : minābārisminābāminī 3 rd : minābāturminābantur

2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, and 3 rd -io  The other conjugations have a long e at the end of the stem. habeō => habē- polliceor => pollicē- dīcō => dīcē- loquor => loquē-

2 nd, 3 rd, 4 th, and 3 rd -io  4 th and 3 rd -io verbs have an i before the long e. audiō => audiē- mentior => mentiē- capiō => capiē- prōgredior => prōgrediē

Second Conjugation singularplural 1st: habēbamhabēbāmus 2 nd : habēbāshabēbātis 3 rd : habēbathabēbant singularplural 1st: pollicēbarpollicēbāmur 2 nd : pollicēbārispollicēbāminī 3 rd : pollicēbāturpollicēbantur

Third Conjugation singularplural 1st: dīcēbamdīcēbāmus 2 nd : dīcēbāsdīcēbātis 3 rd : dīcēbatdīcēbant singularplural 1st: loquēbarloquēbāmur 2 nd : loquēbārisloquēbāminī 3 rd : loquēbāturloquēbantur

Fourth Conjugation singularplural 1st: audiēbamaudiēbāmus 2 nd : audiēbāsaudiēbātis 3 rd : audiēbataudiēbant singularplural 1st: mentiēbarmentiēbāmur 2 nd : mentiēbārismentiēbāminī 3 rd : mentiēbāturmentiēbantur

Third-io Conjugation singularplural 1st: capiēbamcapiēbāmus 2 nd : capiēbāscapiēbātis 3 rd : capiēbatcapiēbant singularplural 1st: prōgrediēbarprōgrediēbāmur 2 nd : prōgrediēbārisprōgrediēbāminī 3 rd : prōgrediēbāturprōgrediēbantur

sum  The imperfect of the irregular verb “sum” has to be memorized. singularplural 1st: eramerāmus 2 nd : erāserātis 3 rd : eraterant

possum  possum, is of course, just pot + sum. singularplural 1st: poterampoterāmus 2 nd : poterāspoterātis 3 rd : poteratpoterant

eō, īre, iī, itum  The imperfect of the irregular verb “eō” has to be memorized. singularplural 1st: ībamībāmus 2 nd : ībāsībātis 3 rd : ībatībant