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Page name: Latin Classroom [Logged in view] [RSS]
2014-08-07 17:48:06
Last author: windowframe
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Latin Classroom




Teacher: [windowframe]


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Section 1: Intro

Unlike English, Latin is a fully inflected language. What does this mean exactly? In English to change the tense or the person (first, second, third) of a verb, for example, you have to add different words around the main verb - "I ran", "She ran", "they ran", "I am running", "She is running", etc. - but the verb itself usually remains the same. In an inflected language, all of the information about tense, mood, and person are encoded in the verb itself. e.g.: amo (I love) amat (she/he/it loves), amabam (I was loving).

In English, word order is very important in figuring out the meaning of a sentence: 'The man kicks the dog' and 'the dog kicks the man' mean two very different things. In Inflected languages, word order is not so important because, again, much of the information we gain from word order is encoded into the noun itself.

The way a verb changes to show different mood, person and tense is called conjugation. The way a noun changes in order to show its function within a sentence is called declension.

Section 2: Nouns

2.1: number
Number simply reference to whether a noun is singular (referring to one thing) or plural (referring to two or more things). Even English has this property. The standard difference between a singular and a plural in English is an addition of an 's' in the plural: The Table, The tables. In Latin it is a little more complicated because of the cases.

2.2: Cases
In the declensions of Latin nouns, there are six cases, which means that for each noun, there are a maximum of 12 possible permutations (six singular, six plural). The case indicates the syntax of a noun - the function it serves in a sentence. We will cover this in more detail momentarily.

2.3: Gender
The second quality of nouns that's important right now is gender. The idea that nouns have a gender is often fairly confusing to those who aren't familiar with such a notion, but even in English, there is a certain minute amount of gendering that still happens - ships and cars, for instance, tend to be referred to as "she". Latin has three genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. It's useful to remember the gender of a noun when learning vocabulary, because the different genders decline in different ways.

Resources:


The following are Jetpunk quizzes created by [windowframe] to help students of Latin revise noun declensions, verb conjugations and general vocabulary:

100 most common Latin words (Latin to English): http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/100028/100-most-common-latin-words-110-latin-to-english


First declension noun endings: http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/100028/latin-1st-declension

First Conjugation present tense active verb endings: http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/100028/latin-1st-conjugation-present-tense

Full conjugation (all moods and tenses) for the verb 'to be': http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/100028/latin-conjugate-esse-to-be-all-tenses-all-moods



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Back to Languages, the Elftown Academy,
or have a look at the Ancient Greek Classroom


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2003-03-31 [Sheona]: Ok, I can't remember who I sent the answers to and who I haven't done yet! If you want a copy of the answers, mail me!

2003-04-02 [Lavilia]: uhm the verbs you put in there are 3th person singular praesens indicativus actif right?(sorry just had a test about the latin verbs)

2003-04-02 [Silasire]: u need a test on numerical plurals :P

2003-04-03 [Lavilia]: What do you mean?

2003-04-03 [Silasire]: 1st,2nd,3rd,4th? i better not be making an ass of myself :P

2003-04-04 [Lavilia]: I don't get it

2003-04-04 [BadCat]: you wrote '3th', instead of '3rd'.... Thirdth... heh... ahem.

2003-04-04 [Lavilia]: Sorry can't help English isn't my first language, sometimes I make mistakes

2003-04-04 [Silasire]: ok sorry :)

2003-04-04 [Lavilia]: but please keep me telling me what I have done wrong, else I will never learn

2003-05-10 [AstaldoiĆ¢]: *looks at the student list* What? Isn't [Steamcastle] done with the exercises yet?!

2003-05-10 [Mirime]: I must ask that too.....

2003-05-10 [windowframe]: add me to the list of questioners then. 

2003-05-11 [Sheona]: I realise that we are waiting for one student to finish the lesson. I am not going to push the subject for now as I understand that most people ar involved in end of year exams. Hopefully after that the lessons will run more smoothly :)

2003-05-11 [Mirime]: Aah don't remind me...

2003-05-14 [AstaldoiĆ¢]: Bleeh. End of year exams are a pain in the neck -__-

2003-05-14 [Silasire]: end of year of exams are a pain..but people take several hour breaks from revision..and these lessons here only take a few mintues.

2003-05-14 [windowframe]: yeah, but not every one is gonna use their break to come on elftown. :P

2003-05-14 [Silasire]: okok, its just my exams only last a couple of weeks, and they give me more than an hours break every day..by far.

2003-05-15 [Mirime]: well, it doesn't take me all the time they give to take the final... so I'll print it out and work on it in my spare time :)

2003-05-15 [Silasire]: well i mean you can just do it all in one go easily in half an hour. at least the last one

2003-05-15 [Mirime]: Surely, if it is similar to the first lesson

2003-05-16 [steamcastle]: I am mild dyslexic and not English. so give me a break

2003-05-16 [AstaldoiĆ¢]: Oh... That might be the reason.

2003-05-18 [iippo]: what exactly am i supposed to mail to the teacher? my translation or just say: hey, gimme answers to exercise 1?!?!

2003-05-18 [windowframe]: ur translation. :P

2003-06-07 [Augury]: I got it! I win, I win! Plooo!

2003-06-22 [Lavilia]: I am done (I know I am fast but I have been doing latin classes for already 4 years, so this isn't hard for me at all, it will be when the coniunctivus and the passivum and stuff are gonna come)

2003-06-22 [Sheona]: Well, congrats! I need to give others time to catch up with you, though!!!!

2003-06-23 [Lavilia]: that doesn't matter, I have plenty to do anyway

2003-07-01 [Blasdioh]: Hey, um...I'm just starting on Lesson 1, so is it okay if I just work behind the others? I should be able to catch up...

2003-07-05 [Mirime]: yah, that's fine I'm sure

2003-07-08 [Silasire]: oooh well now mirime's given her approval im sure everything is honky dory :P

2003-07-09 [Mirime]: very good Sil, you're learning....

2003-07-13 [Silasire]: i did lines

2003-07-13 [Sheona]: yeah, it's ok to catch up if you joined the class later :) That's why I left up the old stuff on another page.

2003-10-11 [Khwaish]: Sheona, can i have lesson one please?

2003-10-11 [Sheona]: If you go to the [Past Latin Lessons] and [Past Latin Vocab], you can find the first lesson there! ^_^ Let me know if you need any help.

2003-10-20 [Thraganux]: Q, how often will the instructor write new lessons?

2003-10-20 [Lavilia]: I am done! (already for a long time but I forgot to mention)

2003-10-24 [Sheona]: I'll write new lessons when people say they have finished the current one! Remember to say 'finished' next to your name near the top of the page. I'll post the answers on the page when you finish!

2003-10-25 [Lavilia]: I am done, I said that in my comment, should I add done to my name?

2003-10-25 [windowframe]: yup *nod* *nod*

2003-10-31 [Sheona]: Yeah, add it to your name.

2003-10-31 [Sheona]: Well, my poem was chosen as one of the Halloween poems. Yay! I've been feeling really depressed (probably why I haven't updated this as often as I should, so sorry about that) since my friend was murdered a couple months back. Having my poem picked really put a smile on my face. The first time I've smile in weeks. So I'm feeling a little better. Strange how something so small can have such an effect. Want to vote for my poem on the main street? Please? Lol. ^_^

2003-11-03 [Thraganux]: *frowns* should i join or not, *flips a coin* well that did not help much... *still thinking*

2003-12-17 [Sheona]: Hey guys! Just to let you know I should be back now. I've been in hospital due to back problems 9I was hit by a car). SO sorry to keep you waiting!

2003-12-17 [Lavilia]: are you okay now? I am so sorry to hear you had an accident!

2003-12-19 [Sheona]: I'm alot better than I was, although I've been told no running, jumping, bouncing, carrying heavy objects (there goes my bass guitar!) or sitting (oops. nevermind). I'll live!

2003-12-20 [Lavilia]: Be careful please! We wouldn't want you to suffer any damage that lasts

2004-01-12 [Sheona]: Well, it's a little late for that! lol. I have three slipped disks, so I'm going to have to be careful with my back for the rest of my life. It kinda affects my chosen career too, but oh well. Hopefully I should be able to sit down more soon!

2004-01-28 [adnihilo]: Is this Latin 1?

2004-01-28 [Sheona]: This is Latin 2! ^_^

2004-01-29 [adnihilo]: it is???!!! when do we start past tense then? and future?

2004-01-30 [Lavilia]: Do you want to get confused now already? There are way too many times 5 or 6 I believe. Believe me, you don't want to start that yet

2004-01-30 [Sheona]: You will start different tenses soon enough. But Latin is a little more complex than simple tenses. We will get to that in time! Lol.

2004-01-31 [Urizen]: what is fun is when you get psycho tenses for verbs, he he he like in the greek aorist tense... *flashes a nerd sign*, what are the different verb tenses for latin? are they like english?

2004-01-31 [Aristotle]: Well, there are about 300 different ways to conjugate each Latin verb, according to my book (I haven't counted). On the other hand, all of them have English versions, but you have to use several words, like "I would have shown", which is in Latin "monstravissem", I think. Once again, straight from my book. I don't know much myself. Yet. *Hugs book*

2004-02-08 [dragonlady24]: 300. wow. I've been taking Latin for 2 1/2 years and I know only 60 ways to conjugate verbs

2004-02-08 [Lavilia]: You know what? I only know how to translate Latin into Dutch. When I do these classes, I first translate into Dutch, and then translate into English. I have had Latin for 4 and a half year now, and I still suck at it

2004-02-09 [Aristotle]: Oh, and for those who want to study by themselves, there is an excellent page for that: www.textkit.com (they also teach Ancient Greek). They have free textbooks, and Latin readers.

2004-02-09 [Urizen]: yay! thank you! you are a wonderful person... he he he *goes off to play with the pretty toys (aka the webpage)*

2004-02-10 [Aristotle]: Umm, right. Of course I am.

2004-03-14 [Lucifers Minion]: so has almost everyone here taken real latin courses before? I've never done anything with latin, and am learning here because my school doesn't offer it and prety much no place in the city does either, except universities, and i'm only 16. anyways, ami going to get lost here then?

2004-03-14 [Lavilia]: No I don't think so, if you read this, and do the exercises you will lurn latin.

2004-04-28 [Thaelan]: Yup, I'm in latin, and its fun. But don't worry, these lessons will take you through step by step, they are very well put together. (for anyone who is thinking about latin, this is a good review of the basics!)

2004-05-06 [Sheona]: Yeah, these classes are designed for complete beginners, so don't worry ^_^

2004-05-17 [-51228-]: i'm worse than a beginner i haven't got a clue

2004-05-20 [Sheona]: Slight change...I've just put the answers up here. I'll trut you to not look at them until AFTER you've finished the exercises ;)

2004-06-02 [jonayla88]: not to be annoying or anything(sorry if i am) but are there going to be anymore lessons?

2004-06-03 [Sheona]: Yeah, my exams just finished. I'm free! Yay!

2004-06-03 [Sheona]: UPDATE: new lesson up!

2004-06-07 [jonayla88]: yah thank you

2004-06-09 [Lavilia]: I am done (as always, I also finished my exams latin, I hope I did them well)

2004-06-12 [Dulce Vita]: Hey, do you have a chart for the conjugations of SUM (in present, imperf.,fut., perf., pluperf., and fut. perf.)?

2004-06-15 [Sheona]: I suppose I could put one up, although that's skipping ahead a little. If you want one, I'm sure I can do that!

2004-06-15 [Dulce Vita]: sure, please

2004-06-18 [Dulce Vita]: sorry for skipping ahead of you, though

2004-06-29 [the 5th apocalyptic horseman]: nice page here people... i took latin for 4 years now, but tis nice to see the basics again. and for the comment on the beginning of this page "not that you'll ever be speaking in Latin to anyone, because it is a dead language" i just have to say: thats not correct. at least for me it isnt. theres so much music with latin lyrics... specially all those mr songs that are set up in two languages... i actually use my knowledge of this language mainly for that.

2004-06-30 [jonayla88]: Supposably there's also a type of spoken latin but it has many other languages added to it and new words made up... so many don't consider it latin anymore

2004-06-30 [the 5th apocalyptic horseman]: lol well those medieval rock songs usually either use ancient or medieval latin.

2004-07-08 [font]: hmmm i remember the days of learning latin at school...

2004-09-14 [Sheona]: You ocassionally encounter Latin still in old songs and perhaps in a Christian context, too. However, it is "officially" a dead language. You don't often find anyone to talk to in Latin these day ;)

2004-09-14 [windowframe]: yet so many words are Latin based...in quite a lot of languages.

2004-09-14 [Sheona]: That's very true. Most European languages are derived from Latin, so although you won't be speaking Latin to anyone, it can certainly improve your skills in other languages!

2004-09-14 [Sheona]: Just a note: the conjugations of esse, sum, fui have been put in the Past Latin Vocab. Answers are also now up!

2004-09-17 [Lavilia]: yay you great!

2004-10-28 [Lavilia]: I'm writing out. I am too busy for doing this, I have to study

2005-02-12 [M_Sinner]: I took Latin for 2 years, but have been out of the loop for nearly one full year now, studting only sparsely to keep up my skills. I am eager to learn all that I can and help in any way that I can.

2005-02-12 [M_Sinner]: Is there anywhere we should send the answers we got for the lessons, or post them anywhere, or just do them *looks around inocently, hoping someone doesn't hit him*

2005-05-05 [M_Sinner]: Quiet group, these guys...

2005-06-13 [Kitara Softpaw]: *coughs* Sorry I didn't sign up until today...I've been working on the slessons courtesy of my sister, Neziah

2005-08-07 [Janouk]: Hi! You might have noticed that the previous Latin teacher left this classroom. I will try to continue her classroom, and maybe add some new lessons soon. First I want to see what [Sheona]'s been teaching so far, as to make a good lesson to continue with. I am avaible for questions about anything though.

2005-08-07 [M_Sinner]: ALRIGHT!!! WE have an active Latin Teacher!!! *dances* Adsum, Magistra!

2005-08-07 [Janouk]: [Sheona]m bonam magistram esse video! *gets nervous*

2005-08-07 [M_Sinner]: Nonne! Non in loco erat... Holtsladeram bonam magistram esse. She was my Latin teacher at my former high school.

2005-08-07 [Janouk]: Oh! Id comprehendo ;)

2005-12-14 [lini]: is there ever going to be a lesson 4?

2005-12-14 [Janouk]: I am trying to find time to make a new lesson which will be able to follow up the ones the previous teacher already made. As a matter of fact, I searched for what I made yesterday, so I might get something online next week.

2005-12-14 [Janouk]: I'm really sorry for taking so long though...

2006-01-09 [lini]: jeej lesson 4. sorry for that comment.

2006-01-12 [Janouk]: No, you had every right to ask about it! I'll try to finish it soon, make some exercises etc., I just need to find inspiration/time ;-)

2006-10-30 [windowframe]: Is this class still actively being taught?

2006-10-30 [Janouk]: To be honest I was taking an enormously large break, but I've been planning to start again soon.
Why, have you got questions/plans/ideas?

2006-10-30 [windowframe]: No, not really; I take Latin at uni now, but I love sharing my knowledge, so I was just checking if the class was active, or whether I could force my random factoids onto people. :P

2006-10-30 [Janouk]: I'm just a highschool student who has now become Uni-student. So I no longer have lessons in Latin :( Therefor, I'd very much appreciate it if you had any nice addition thingies :)
I'm so sad about the fact that I don't have Latin and Greek any more...*is jealous* :p

2006-10-31 [windowframe]: :P Gah. Wish I could take greek too, but this year. Hey, if you know Greek, make a classroom for that, damnit :P *hounds you*

2006-10-31 [Janouk]: *has an ancient Greek classroom already* :)

2006-10-31 [windowframe]: :o I must be blind, I couldn't see a link anywhere when I checked the lists... *goes to look again*

2006-11-20 [Janouk]: I found a nice wiki page by the way: Everyday Latin Phrases.

2006-11-20 [Janouk]: Or this website: http://www.yuni.com/library/latin.html
;) I'll try to add something before the end of this month.

2007-01-30 [windowframe]: *pokes page*

2007-01-31 [Janouk]: OMG *sobs*

2007-01-31 [windowframe]: O.o It was only a poke.

2007-07-02 [Adela Leafshanks]: O omnipotenti dei qui caelum regunt...me sinite ambulata hos nonsacria moenia...Moenia, cadite! (I hope I said this right >_<) This is a Latin phrase I used in a story. See if anyone can figure it out. *_^

2007-07-02 [Janouk]: Sed quare moenia destruere vis? Eheu, hoc non comprehendo!

2007-07-02 [windowframe]: Assuming the first part is 'O omnipotent gods who rule the sky', it should be more like this: O dei omnipotentes, quos(could be wrong here; relative pronoun is a bitch) caelum regunt.

2007-07-04 [Adela Leafshanks]: Yep, that's it *_^ Thanks for pointing out that relative pronoun. I need to brush up on those little things > .<
Janouk: veniam peto, meus grammatica horrendus est! Moenia destruere vis quod dei omnipotentes hos delerunt. (I hope this makes sense...)

2007-11-23 [Lin-tastic]: -timidly walks in- Hi. ^_^" I hope I'm not interupting anything. I wasn't sure if the Elftown Academy held Latin Classes...until now.

2007-11-23 [Janouk]: It's pretty dead at the moment though...But have fun walking trough the first couple of lessons ;)

2007-11-23 [Lin-tastic]: -nods- Thanks! Oh, I kinda...went ahead and made a "Latin Words" page where I write out things I should know...from the first lessons...and really, it's my notes page. XD I only got through the first lesson so far, but that's because I had to get off the computer. I hope to add more later. ^_^"

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