ADJECTI

VE

AGREEMENT

WH

I CH

WO

RD

IS B

E I NG

MO

DI F

I ED

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MEMORIZE THIS TRUTH!

An adjective must agree with the noun it modifies in case, number, and gender.

EXAMPLES OF ADJECTIVE AGREEMENTSalvius servum aegrum retinēre noluit.

Salvius servos aegros retinēre noluit.

Salvius ancillam aegram retinēre noluit.

Salvius ancillas aegras retinēre noluit.

Note that the endings on the adjective change just as the endings on the nouns change.

30 FORMS – YES, REALLY, 30 FORMSLet’s look at an example – fessus, fessa, fessum – tiredNote the –us, -a, -um endings which indicate masc, fem, neuter.

This is a 1st/2nd Declension Adjective.This adjective is declined like 1st and 2nd declension nouns.

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural

Nom fessus fessi fessa fessae fessum fessaGen fessi fessoru

mfessae fessaru

mfessi fessoru

mDat fesso fessis fessae fessis fesso fessisAcc fessum fessos fessam fessas fessum fessaAbl fesso fessis fessā fessis fesso fessis

LET’S LOOK CLOSELY AT THOSE ENDINGS

Masculine endings are like 2nd declension masculine nouns.Feminine endings are like 1st declension nouns.Neuter endings are like 2nd declension neuter nouns.

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural

Nom fessus fessi fessa fessae fessum fessaGen fessi fessoru

mfessae fessaru

mfessi fessoru

mDat fesso fessis fessae fessis fesso fessisAcc fessum fessos fessam fessas fessum fessaAbl fesso fessis fessā fessis fesso fessis

OTHER 1ST/2ND DECLENSION ADJECTIVES bonus, bona, bonum – good laetus, laeta, laetum – happy ignavus, ignava, ignavum – lazy magnus, magna, magnum – big callidus, callida, callidum – clever

But also adjectives like: aeger, aegra, aegrum – sick sacer, sacra, sacrum – sacred ceteri, ceterae, cetera – the rest (note: plural only)

Any adjective with a vocabulary listing of-us/r, -a, -um (or the plurals -i, -ae, -a)

3RD DECLENSION ADJECTIVESLet’s look at another example - gravis, gravis, grave – heavy

Note the –is, -is, -e endings which indicate masc, fem, neut.This is a 3rd Declension Adjective.This adjective is declined like 3rd declension nouns.Masculine Feminine Neuter

Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural

Nom gravis graves gravis graves grave graviaGen gravis gravium gravis gravium gravis graviumDat gravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sAcc gravem graves gravem graves grave graviaAbl gravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

s

LET’S LOOK CLOSELY AT THOSE ENDINGS

Endings look like 3rd declension nouns … BUT … Note the exceptions:

Ablative singular is –i instead of –e. Genitive plural is –ium. Neuter plural nominative and accusative is –ia instead of –a.

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural

Nom gravis graves gravis graves grave graviaGen gravis gravium gravis gravium gravis graviumDat gravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sAcc gravem graves gravem graves grave graviaAbl gravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

s

MASCULINE AND FEMININE ARE IDENTICAL

So we can reduce this

chart.

*3rd declension only

Masculine Feminine Neuter

Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural

Nom gravis graves gravis graves grave graviaGen gravis gravium gravis gravium gravis graviumDat gravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sAcc gravem graves gravem graves grave graviaAbl gravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sMasculine/Feminine

Neuter

Singular Plural Singular Plural

Nom gravis graves grave graviaGen gravis gravium gravis graviumDat gravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

sAcc gravem graves grave graviaAbl gravi gravibu

sgravi gravibu

s

OTHER 3RD DECLENSION ADJECTIVESdifficilis, difficilis, difficile – hard fortis, fortis, forte - brave, strongfidelis, fidelis, fidele – loyalnobilis, nobilis, nobile – noblemirabilis, mirabilis, mirabile - strange

But also adjectives like: ferox, ferox, ferox (ferocis) – fiercemelior, melior, melius (melioris) – betterneglegens, neglegens, neglegens (neglegentis) - careless

Give the correct form of the adjective to modify the underlined noun.

1. servus _______________ non laborare vult.The tired slave does not want to work.

2. ancilla _______________ non laborare vult.The tired slave-girl does not want to work.

3. gemini amphoram _______________ portare non potest.The twins can not carry the heavy winejar.

4. servi amphoras _______________ portare possunt.The slaves can carry the heavy winejars.

5. amphora est _______________. The winejar is heavy.

6. amphorae sunt _______________.The winejars are heavy.

fessus = tiredgravis =

heavy