Post on 30-Dec-2015
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Neuter NounsChapter 8
Review There are three genders of nouns in
Latin. You have already seen two of them, masculine and feminine, and in this chapter, we will take a look at the third gender, the neuter.
Keep in mind that you must memorize the gender from the vocabulary. Inanimate objects are not always neuter in Latin.
Two Rules for Neuter Nouns
These rules are for ALL neuter nouns, no matter what declension they are in.
• Nominative and Accusative will look alike.
• Nominative and Accusative plural will end in –a.
Other Endings All other endings are the same as
the masculine endings you have already learned.
Second Declension Neuter Look at the following chart of endings
for a 2nd Declension, neuter word:
Notice how many neuter endings look just like the masculine ones.
Case Singular Plural
Nom. -um -a
Gen. -i -orum
Dat. -o -is
Acc. -um -a
Abl. -o -is
Example Here’s an example of a second
declension, neuter word declined.• First find the base of the noun- donum,
doni, n.• Then add the endings:
Case Singular Plural
Nom. donum dona
Gen. doni donorum
Dat. dono donis
Acc. donum dona
Abl. dono donis
Other 2nd Declension, Neuter Words
Here are some other 2nd Declension, neuter words from your reading: • arma, armorum, n. weapons *• bellum, belli, n. war• castra, castrorum, n. camp*• consilium, consili, n. plan, advice• forum, fori, n. forum• templum, templi, n. temple
Plural Neuters *NOTICE that CASTRA and ARMA
are always plural. Since the –a is the nominative, neuter, plural ending for 2nd declension, that is the nominative form that you see in the dictionary entry.
Third Declension Neuter Look at the following chart of endings for a 3rd
Declension, neuter word:
Notice that the nominative, singular is unpredictable in the 3rd Declension. The accusative will always look like the nominative when the word is neuter.
Case Singular Plural
Nom. --- -a
Gen. -is -um
Dat. -i -ibus
Acc. --- -a
Abl. -e -ibus
Example Here’s an example of a third
declension, neuter word declined.• First find the base of the noun- corpus,
corporis, n.• Then add the endings:
Case Singular Plural
Nom. corpus corpora
Gen. corporis corporum
Dat. corpori corporibus
Acc. corpus corpora
Abl. corpore corporibus
Other 3rd Declension, Neuter Words
Some of the 3rd declension neuter nouns in your readings are:• carmen, carminis., n. song, poem• corpus, corporis, n. body• iter, itineris, n. journey• mare, maris, n. sea• opus, operis, n. work, labor, a literary work
Recap Always remember the two rules for
neuter nouns. They will work no matter what the declension.
• Nominative and Accusative will look alike.
• Nominative and Accusative plural will end in –a.