1. 2nd Declension Neuter Nouns
Lesson XVI
2nd Declension Neuter Nouns

2. Let’s review! puella, puellae (f.) --- girl
Case Singular Plural
Nominative
Genitive
Dative
Accusative
Ablative

3. Let’s review! amicus, amici (m.) --- friend
Case Singular Plural
Nominative
Genitive
Dative
Accusative
Ablative

4. Lesson XVI: Neuter Nouns
2ND DECLENSION REVIEW: Nouns that have –i in their genitive singular are 2nd declension. They can be masculine or neuter.
amicus, amici (m.)
vir, viri (m.)
ager, agri (m.)
signum, signi (n.)

5. Dictionary entry of a noun: signum signi, n. sign
Find the noun stem
The noun stem is found by dropping the genitive singular ending from the noun.
Dictionary entry of a noun:
signum signi, n sign
Meaning
Genitive singular
Gender
Nominative singular
signi – i = sign-
Noun Stem

6. Neuter Rule
The nominative and accusative cases of neuter nouns always have the same endings.
The plural nominative and accusative ending of neuter nouns is always –A.

7. Nominative signum signa Genitive signi signorum Dative signo signis
Neuter Nouns have the same endings as masculine, except for 3 differences. signum, signi (n.) --- sign
Case Singular Plural
Nominative signum signa
Genitive signi signorum
Dative signo signis
Accusative signum signa
Ablative signo signis

8. Your turn! templum, templi (n.) --- temple
Case Singular Plural
Nominative
Genitive
Dative
Accusative
Ablative

9. Your turn! Add the endings! consilium, consilii (n.) --- plan
Case Singular Plural
Nom.
Gen.
Dat.
Acc.
Abl.
consili
consili
consili
consili
consili
consili
consili
consili
consili
consili

10. WARNING! We’ve seen that neuter nom/acc plurals end in –a.
Remember that 1st declension singular words can end in –a, too!
If a word ends in –a and is feminine or masculine, it’s singular.
puella, casa, agricola: girl, house, farmer

11. WARNING! If a word ends in –a and is neuter, it’s plural.
signa, praemia, consilia: signs, rewards, plans
Look in the glossary or vocab list if you’ve forgotten the gender.
It’s not magic…it’s just a matter of looking up the gender!

12. What To Take Away From the Lesson!
2nd declension neuter nouns find their stems by dropping the –i from the genitive.
Neuter nouns use the same 2nd declension endings as masculine nouns except for 3 differences:
nom. singular = -um (not –us or –r)
nom. plural = -a (not –i)
acc. plural = -a (not –os)

13. Practice Time!
On your own paper, copy the Latin sentences and provide the English translation for:
Page 111, Ex. A
Page 115, Ex. A