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Latin IV
Chapter 40
What Is a Participle?
A participle is a verbal adjective, which is to say that it is formed from a verb stem, and functions as an adjective.
In Latin there are several types of participles that indicate (adjectivally) a time relation to a main verb in a
sentence, and at the same time modify a noun - hence the verbal adjective. Another way of viewing participles is
to say that on the adjective side, they modify nouns, yet on the verb side, they can take objects (as in the example
below).
Present Active Participle
This participle indicates action that is contemporaneous (at the same time) with the main verb of the sentence.
This is a rule regardless of main verb tense, which is to say that if the main verb is in the perfect tense, and the
participle is a present active participle, then the action of the participle will be contemporaneous with the past
tense verb.
Example:
Quīntus Iūlium Caesarem vīdit theātrum cum magistrātibus intrantem.
Quintus saw Julius Caesar entering the theater with [his] magistrates.
Here, in English, we see the word “entering” (note the -ing translation in English) as being adjectival yet giving us
a sense that there is an action being performed in relation to the noun it modifies (Julius Caesar).
Formation of Present Active Participles
To form these participles, simply use the present stem of the verb, and add -ns in the nominative, and -ntis in the
genitive. This form stands for all three genders.
Conjugation
1st
2nd
3rd
3rd-io
4th
Verbs
amo, amare, amavi, amatus
moneo, monere, monui, monitus
rego, regere, rexi, rectus
capio, capere, cepi, captus
audio, audire, audivi, auditus
Present Active Participle
amans, amantis
monens, monentis
regens, regentis
capiens, capientis
audiens, audientis
Declension of Present Active Participles
Present active participles decline like 3rd declension adjectives. They are i-stems. However there are some noted
rules concerning the ablative singular.
amans, amantis
Nominative
Genitive
Dative
Accusative
Ablative
Masc/Fem
Singular
Plural
amans
amantes
amantis
amantium
amanti
amantibus
amantem
amantes
amante (amanti)*
amantibus
Neuter
Singular
amans
amantis
amanti
amans
amante (amanti)*
Plural
amantia
amantium
amantibus
amantia
amantibus
*Note: the ablative singular generally ends in -i when functioning as an adjective 1, and with -e when functioning
verbally (taking an object) or as a substantive.
1
ā patre amanti - by a loving father
There are times when, like adjectives, participles will act as substantives and stand alone.
Examples:
amans
sapiens
venientes
a loving one (a lover)
one being wise (a wise man, philosopher)
those coming
Some Irregular Participles
possum, posse, posui, positus
eo, ire, ii, itus
fero, ferre, tuli, latus
volo, velle, volui
nolo, nolle, nolui
potens, potentis
iens, euntis
ferens, ferentis
volens, volentis
nolens, nolentis