Regular Adjectives: 2-1-2 (-īus adjs.), 3 termination, 2 termination, 1 termination |
Demonstrative Adjectives: hic, haec, hoc; ille, illa, illud |
Intensifying Adjectives: ipse, ipsa, ipsud |
Adjective Synopses: 2-1-2, 3-termination, 2-termination, 1-termination, Demonstratives
For this first module, focus on the bolded forms in the charts; we’ll learn about the others in later weeks.
To decline a 2-1-2 adjective beyond the nominative case, begin by going to the second part of the dictionary entry, which is the feminine nominative singular form. Chop off the final -a, and then add the endings that you need.
As mentioned in the conceptual breakdown, 2-1-2 adjectives decline exactly like their corresponding noun forms. In the above example, bonus declines exactly like a second declension masculine noun like maritus; bona declines exactly like a first declension feminine noun like puella; bonum decline exactly like a second declension neuter noun like exemplum.
Some 2-1-2 adjectives have a masculine nominative singular that ends in -r: for example, pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum, “beautiful, handsome.” In cases like these, it is important to keep in mind the first rule above: get the stem from the second part of the dictionary entry, the feminine nominative singular form. So, the genitive singular of pulcher is pulchrī, NOT pulcherī – there is no -e- in the feminine nominative singular form!
Note the different form of the adjective chart compared to the noun chart; how do the column headings differ?
bonus, bona, bonum - good
Singular
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | bonus | bona | bonum |
| Genitive | bonī | bonae | bonī |
| Dative | bonō | bonae | bonō |
| Accusative | bonum | bonam | bonum |
| Ablative | bonō | bonā | bonō |
Plural
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | bonī | bonae | bona |
| Genitive | bonōrum | bonārum | bonōrum |
| Dative | bonīs | bonīs | bonīs |
| Accusative | bonōs | bonās | bona |
| Ablative | bonīs | bonīs | bonīs |
As stated in the notes, -īus adjectives generally follow the declension pattern of 2-1-2 adjectives except in the genitive and dative singular.
nullus, nulla, nullum - no, none
Singular
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | nullus | nulla | nullum |
| Genitive | nullīus | nullīus | nullīus |
| Dative | nullī | nullī | nullī |
| Accusative | nullum | nullam | nullum |
| Ablative | nullō | nullā | nullō |
Plural
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | nullī | nullae | nulla |
| Genitive | nullōrum | nullārum | nullōrum |
| Dative | nullīs | nullīs | nullīs |
| Accusative | nullōs | nullās | nulla |
| Ablative | nullīs | nullīs | nullīs |
To decline a three termination adjective beyond the nominative case, begin the same way as with a 2-1-2 adjective: go to the second part of the dictionary entry, the feminine nominative singular form, and get the adjective’s stem by chopping off the final -is. Then, add the endings that you need.
Generally, these adjectives decline like third declension masculine/feminine and third declension neuter nouns with a few small differences. The genitive plural for all third declension adjectives ends in -ium instead of -um and the nominative plural for neuter third declension adjectives ends in -ia instead of -a (NB: the ablative singular for all third declension adjectives ends with -ī instead of -e, but we don’t have to worry about that for now).
The masculine and feminine forms of these adjectives are exactly the same except for the nominative singular.
ācer, ācris, ācre - harsh, sharp
Singular
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ācer | ācris | ācre |
| Genitive | ācris | ācris | ācris |
| Dative | ācrī | ācrī | ācrī |
| Accusative | ācrem | ācrem | ācre |
| Ablative | ācrī | ācrī | ācrī |
Plural
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ācrēs | ācrēs | ācria |
| Genitive | ācrium | ācrium | ācrium |
| Dative | ācribus | ācribus | ācribus |
| Accusative | ācrēs | ācrēs | ācria |
| Ablative | ācribus | ācribus | ācribus |
Two termination adjectives decline exactly like three termination adjectives except that the masculine and feminine forms of fortis are exactly the same, with fortis serving as the nominative singular for both.
One termination adjectives are slightly tricky because while the nominative and genitive singular are the same for all three genders, the neuter accusative singular and the neuter nominative and accusative plural are different.
Singular
| Case | Fem/Masc | Neuter |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ferox | ferox |
| Genitive | ferocis | ferocis |
| Dative | ferocī | ferocī |
| Accusative | ferocem | ferox |
| Ablative | ferocī | ferocī |
Plural
| Case | Fem/Masc | Neuter |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ferocēs | ferocia |
| Genitive | ferocium | ferocium |
| Dative | ferocibus | ferocibus |
| Accusative | ferocēs | ferocia |
| Ablative | ferocibus | ferocibus |
The forms in the dictionary entry represent the nominative singular in all three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter).
Singular (note the different form of the chart compared to nouns)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | hic | haec | hoc |
| Genitive | huius | huius | huius |
| Dative | huic | huic | huic |
| Accusative | hunc | hanc | hoc |
| Ablative | hōc | hāc | hōc |
Plural
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | hī | hae | haec |
| Genitive | hōrum | hārum | hōrum |
| Dative | hīs | hīs | hīs |
| Accusative | hōs | hās | haec |
| Ablative | hīs | hīs | hīs |
The forms in the dictionary entry represent the nominative singular in all three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter).
Singular (note the different form of the chart compared to nouns)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ille | illa | illud |
| Genitive | illīus | illīus | illīus |
| Dative | illī | illī | illī |
| Accusative | illum | illam | illud |
| Ablative | illō | illā | illō |
Plural (notice how the endings are very similar to 2-1-2 adjectives)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | illī | illae | illa |
| Genitive | illōrum | illārum | illōrum |
| Dative | illīs | illīs | illīs |
| Accusative | illōs | illās | illa |
| Ablative | illīs | illīs | illīs |
ipse, ipsa, ipsum - very, itself
Singular (note how similar this is in formation to demonstrative adjectives)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ipse | ipsa | ipsum |
| Genitive | ipsīus | ipsīus | ipsīus |
| Dative | ipsī | ipsī | ipsī |
| Accusative | ipsum | ipsam | ipsum |
| Ablative | ipsō | ipsā | ipsō |
Plural
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ipsī | ipsae | ipsa |
| Genitive | ipsōrum | ipsārum | ipsōrum |
| Dative | ipsīs | ipsīs | ipsīs |
| Accusative | ipsōs | ipsās | ipsa |
| Ablative | ipsīs | ipsīs | ipsīs |
NOTE: The declension of alter, altera, alterum and nullus, nulla, nullum is exactly the same as that of ipse, ipsa, ipsum.
The following charts show what an adjective-noun pairing looks like across different declensions and genders. The nouns used will be the following:
Each chart illustrates how the same adjective changes to match its noun in gender, case, and number. Focus on the bolded pairings for the first few weeks of this semester.
magnus, magna, magnum - great, big
| 1st decl. F | 2nd decl. M | 2nd decl. N | 3rd decl. M | 3rd decl. F | 3rd decl. N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. sg. | magna puella | magnus puer | magnum exemplum | magnus pater | magna pax | magnum nōmen |
| gen. sg. | magnae puellae | magnī puerī | magnī exemplī | magnī patris | magnae pācis | magnī nōminis |
| dat. sg. | magnae puellae | magnō puerō | magnō exemplō | magnō patrī | magnae pācī | magnō nōminī |
| acc. sg. | magnam puellam | magnum puerum | magnum exemplum | magnum patrem | magnam pācem | magnum nōmen |
| abl. sg. | magnā puellā | magnō puerō | magnō exemplō | magnō patre | magnā pāce | magnō nōmine |
| nom. pl. | magnae puellae | magnī puerī | magna exempla | magnī patrēs | magnae pācēs | magna nōmina |
| gen. pl. | magnārum puellārum | magnōrum puerōrum | magnōrum exemplōrum | magnōrum patrum | magnārum pācum | magnōrum nōminum |
| dat. pl. | magnīs puellīs | magnīs puerīs | magnīs exemplīs | magnīs patribus | magnīs pācibus | magnīs nōminibus |
| acc. pl. | magnās puellās | magnōs puerōs | magna exempla | magnōs patrēs | magnās pācēs | magna nōmina |
| abl. pl. | magnīs puellīs | magnīs puerīs | magnīs exemplīs | magnīs patribus | magnīs pācibus | magnīs nōminibus |
ācer, ācris, ācre - keen, sharp
| 1st decl. F | 2nd decl. M | 2nd decl. N | 3rd decl. M | 3rd decl. F | 3rd decl. N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. sg. | ācris puella | ācer puer | ācre exemplum | ācer pater | ācris pax | ācre nōmen |
| gen. sg. | ācris puellae | ācris puerī | ācris exemplī | ācris patris | ācris pācis | ācris nōminis |
| dat. sg. | ācrī puellae | ācrī puerō | ācrī exemplō | ācrī patrī | ācrī pācī | ācrī nōminī |
| acc. sg. | ācrem puellam | ācrem puerum | ācre exemplum | ācrem patrem | ācrem pācem | ācre nōmen |
| abl. sg. | ācrī puellā | ācrī puerō | ācrī exemplō | ācrī patre | ācrī pāce | ācrī nōmine |
| nom. pl. | ācrēs puellae | ācrēs puerī | ācria exempla | ācrēs patrēs | ācrēs pācēs | ācria nōmina |
| gen. pl. | ācrium puellārum | ācrium puerōrum | ācrium exemplōrum | ācrium patrum | ācrium pācum | ācrium nōminum |
| dat. pl. | ācribus puellīs | ācribus puerīs | ācribus exemplīs | ācribus patribus | ācribus pācibus | ācribus nōminibus |
| acc. pl. | ācrēs puellās | ācrēs puerōs | ācria exempla | ācrēs patrēs | ācrēs pācēs | ācria nōmina |
| abl. pl. | ācribus puellīs | ācribus puerīs | ācribus exemplīs | ācribus patribus | ācribus pācibus | ācribus nōminibus |
fortis, forte - brave, strong
| 1st decl. F | 2nd decl. M | 2nd decl. N | 3rd decl. M | 3rd decl. F | 3rd decl. N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. sg. | fortis puella | fortis puer | forte exemplum | fortis pater | fortis pax | forte nōmen |
| gen. sg. | fortis puellae | fortis puerī | fortis exemplī | fortis patris | fortis pācis | fortis nōminis |
| dat. sg. | fortī puellae | fortī puerō | fortī exemplō | fortī patrī | fortī pācī | fortī nōminī |
| acc. sg. | fortem puellam | fortem puerum | forte exemplum | fortem patrem | fortem pācem | forte nōmen |
| abl. sg. | fortī puellā | fortī puerō | fortī exemplō | fortī patre | fortī pāce | fortī nōmine |
| nom. pl. | fortēs puellae | fortēs puerī | fortia exempla | fortēs patrēs | fortēs pācēs | fortia nōmina |
| gen. pl. | fortium puellārum | fortium puerōrum | fortium exemplōrum | fortium patrum | fortium pācum | fortium nōminum |
| dat. pl. | fortibus puellīs | fortibus puerīs | fortibus exemplīs | fortibus patribus | fortibus pācibus | fortibus nōminibus |
| acc. pl. | fortēs puellās | fortēs puerōs | fortia exempla | fortēs patrēs | fortēs pācēs | fortia nōmina |
| abl. pl. | fortibus puellīs | fortibus puerīs | fortibus exemplīs | fortibus patribus | fortibus pācibus | fortibus nōminibus |
sapiēns, sapientis - wise
| 1st decl. F | 2nd decl. M | 2nd decl. N | 3rd decl. M | 3rd decl. F | 3rd decl. N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. sg. | sapiēns puella | sapiēns puer | sapiēns exemplum | sapiēns pater | sapiēns pax | sapiēns nōmen |
| gen. sg. | sapientis puellae | sapientis puerī | sapientis exemplī | sapientis patris | sapientis pācis | sapientis nōminis |
| dat. sg. | sapientī puellae | sapientī puerō | sapientī exemplō | sapientī patrī | sapientī pācī | sapientī nōminī |
| acc. sg. | sapientem puellam | sapientem puerum | sapiēns exemplum | sapientem patrem | sapientem pācem | sapiēns nōmen |
| abl. sg. | sapientī puellā | sapientī puerō | sapientī exemplō | sapientī patre | sapientī pāce | sapientī nōmine |
| nom. pl. | sapientēs puellae | sapientēs puerī | sapientia exempla | sapientēs patrēs | sapientēs pācēs | sapientia nōmina |
| gen. pl. | sapientium puellārum | sapientium puerōrum | sapientium exemplōrum | sapientium patrum | sapientium pācum | sapientium nōminum |
| dat. pl. | sapientibus puellīs | sapientibus puerīs | sapientibus exemplīs | sapientibus patribus | sapientibus pācibus | sapientibus nōminibus |
| acc. pl. | sapientēs puellās | sapientēs puerōs | sapientia exempla | sapientēs patrēs | sapientēs pācēs | sapientia nōmina |
| abl. pl. | sapientibus puellīs | sapientibus puerīs | sapientibus exemplīs | sapientibus patribus | sapientibus pācibus | sapientibus nōminibus |
hic, haec, hoc - this, these
| 1st decl. F | 2nd decl. M | 2nd decl. N | 3rd decl. M | 3rd decl. F | 3rd decl. N | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. sg. | haec puella | hic puer | hoc exemplum | hic pater | haec pax | hoc nōmen |
| gen. sg. | huius puellae | huius puerī | huius exemplī | huius patris | huius pācis | huius nōminis |
| dat. sg. | huic puellae | huic puerō | huic exemplō | huic patrī | huic pācī | huic nōminī |
| acc. sg. | hanc puellam | hunc puerum | hoc exemplum | hunc patrem | hanc pācem | hoc nōmen |
| abl. sg. | hāc puellā | hōc puerō | hōc exemplō | hōc patre | hāc pāce | hōc nōmine |
| nom. pl. | hae puellae | hī puerī | haec exempla | hī patrēs | hae pācēs | haec nōmina |
| gen. pl. | hārum puellārum | hōrum puerōrum | hōrum exemplōrum | hōrum patrum | hārum pācum | hōrum nōminum |
| dat. pl. | hīs puellīs | hīs puerīs | hīs exemplīs | hīs patribus | hīs pācibus | hīs nōminibus |
| acc. pl. | hās puellās | hōs puerōs | haec exempla | hōs patrēs | hās pācēs | haec nōmina |
| abl. pl. | hīs puellīs | hīs puerīs | hīs exemplīs | hīs patribus | hīs pācibus | hīs nōminibus |
