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PARTICIPLES
What is a participle?
A participle is a verbal adjective, which means that it agrees with a noun/pronoun in number, case
and gender.
Meet the participles
Present active (= “_______ing”)
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Denotes an action occurring at the same time as the main verb. Can be translated by ‘…ing’ but
also by ‘while’, ‘since,’ ‘although.’
Can also be used as a substantive (i.e. doing the job of a noun) – e.g. amans ‘a loving person’ = a
lover.
Recognize by -ns or -nt- on the present stem of the verb.
Endings are the same as 3rd declension adjectives.
abierunt illi ridentes.
lupum in silvam intrantem conspeximus.
They went away laughing.
We caught sight of the wolf going into the wood.
Perfect passive (= “having been ______ed”)
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Denotes an action completed before that of the main verb. In most grammar books, this
appears as the 4th principal part of a Latin verb.
Translates literally as ‘having been…’ (i.e. it’s past and it’s passive) but this phrase will not often
make its way into your final translation. It can be helpful, however, to have it in mind as you
begin to translate.
Declines like bonus.
coquus vocatus a convivis laudatus est.
When he had been summoned, the cook was praised by the guests.
(Literally: “Having been summoned, the cook…”)
(Also remember that deponent verbs have a past participle with an active meaning. See below.)
Future active (= “about to ________”)
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Denotes an action that will take place after the main verb.
Translates literally as ‘about to…’ but also ‘about to…’, ‘intending to…’, determined to…’, ‘on the
point of…’.
Recognise by -ur- within the 4th principle part of the verb. E.g. amaturus, missurus.
una ex ancillis ad tabernam profecta est panem emptura.
One of the slave girls set out for the shop (intending) to buy bread.
Participles of Deponent Verbs
Deponent verbs also have present, future and past participles, but present and future have an active
form (which is odd, as deponents normally look passive). All deponent participles are active in
meaning.
Regular verbs (e.g., amō, amāre, amāvī, amātus to love)
Active
Passive
Present
amāns, amantis
“loving”
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Perfect
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amātus, -a, -um
“having been loved”
Future
amātūrus, -a, -um
“about to love”
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Deponent Verbs (e.g. loquor, loquī, locūtus, -a, um to speak)
Active
Passive
Present
loquēns, loquentis
“speaking”
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Perfect
locūtus, -a, -um
“having spoken”
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Future
locūtūrus, -a, -um
“about to speak”
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