Lesson 26: The Fourth Conjugation

Verbs of the fourth (and final) conjugation are recognized by the -īre ending on the second principal part, like veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum. Except for the imperative forms, they are conjugated much like third conjugation I-stems. Drop the -ō from the first principal part to find the present stem.

The -i- of the stem becomes long in the first person plural and both second person forms, and the third person plural gets a -u- before the ending like the third declension.

Like the third declension, the tense-sign of the imperfect tense is -ēbā-, and the -ā- is shortened when it's the last vowel in the word:

The future takes the tense-sign -ē-, which becomes -a- in the first person singular and is shortened in the third person.

All three perfect tenses are formed the same as in the other three conjugations; nothing new to learn here. Drop the -ī from the third principal part and add any tense-sign and the personal endings. Remember that the perfect tense has its own unique personal endings.

The imperative is formed in the same way as the first two conjugations. Drop the -re from the second principle part to get the singular, and add -te for the plural.

• audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum, hear, listen to
• dormiō, dormīre, dormīvī, dormītum, sleep
• impediō, impedīre, impedīvī, impedītum, hinder
• mūniō, mūnīre, mūnīvī, mūnītum, build, fortify
• sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum, perceive, experience
• serviō, servīre, servīvī, servītum, serve, be a slave to
• veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum, come
• vestiō, vestīre, vestīvī, vestītum, clothe

• etiam, adverb, also, even
• tamen, adverb, yet, nevertheless
• nam, conjunction, for

Veniō is a good example of adding prepositions to verbs as prefixes to get related meanings.

• adveniō → ad + veniō → come toward → approach
• conveniō → co- + veniō → come together → assemble
• ēveniō → ex + veniō → come out of → come forth, happen
• interveniō → inter + veniō → come between → interfere with
• inveniō → in + veniō → come upon → find
• obveniō → ob + veniō → come in front of → happen upon
• perveniō → per + veniō → come through → arrive
• reveniō → re + veniō → come back → return
• superveniō → super + veniō → come over top of → overcome

Tamen is a postpositive, which means it never comes first in a clause or sentence. It usually comes second.

Perveniō carries the meaning of motion, so “arrive at” takes the accusative of motion toward, not the ablative of place.

• Ad Romam pervēnī. - I arrived at Rome.

1. I had slept for seven hours when the envoy shouted at the door.
2. We waited at the harbor for two hours, yet the ship did not arrive.
3. Marcus heard the trumpet with which the soldier was sending the signal.
4. All the men who had swords assembled in the plain before the battle.
5. People who clothe dogs are crazy¹⁾.
6. The king whom everyone loves will reign for a long time.
7. We are building a new camp, for the enemy has seized our first.
8. The girls found a small dog which wanted food near the river.
9. The forest hindered the army which was marching toward our town.
10. Caesar's ships came nine miles across the sea after the battle.

Venite, filii, audite me: timorem Domini docebo vos.

Suscepimus²⁾, Deus, misericordiam³⁾ tuam in medio⁴⁾ templi⁵⁾ tui: secundum⁶⁾ nomen tuum, Deus, ita⁷⁾ et laus tua in fines terrae: justitia⁸⁾ plena est dextera⁹⁾ tua.

Give an English word related to each word in the Vocabulary and Word Study sections.

We've learned all four conjugations, so now we can handle any Latin verbs except a few irregular ones. We still have to learn the passive voice and subjunctive mood, but we'll be able to tackle all four conjunctions at once with those. Next lesson, the fifth (and final) declension of nouns.

1. I had slept for seven hours when the envoy shouted at the door. - Septem horas dormiveram cum legatus in ianua clamaverat.
2. We waited at the harbor for two hours, yet the ship did not arrive. - In portu duas horas exspectavimus, navis tamen non pervenit.
3. Marcus heard the trumpet with which the soldier was sending the signal. - Marcus tubam quacum miles signum misit audivit.
4. All the men who had swords assembled in the plain before the battle. - Omnes qui gladios habuerunt in campo ante proelium convenerunt.
5. People who clothe dogs are crazy¹⁰⁾. - Homines qui canes vestiunt dementes sunt.
6. The king whom everyone loves will reign for a long time. - Rex quem omnes amant diu reget.
7. We are building a new camp, for the enemy has seized our first. - Castra nova munimus, nam hostes prima nostra occupaverunt.
8. The girls found a small dog which wanted food near the river. - Puellae canem parvum qui cibum cupivit ad flumen invenit.
9. The forest hindered the army which was marching toward our town. - Silva exercitum qui iter ad oppidum nostrum faciebat impedivit.
10. Caesar's ships came nine miles across the sea after the battle. - Naves Caesaris novem milia passuum trans mare post proelium venerunt.

Venite, filii, audite me: timorem Domini docebo vos.

Come, children, and hear me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Suscepimus¹¹⁾, Deus, misericordiam¹²⁾ tuam in medio¹³⁾ templi¹⁴⁾ tui: secundum¹⁵⁾ nomen tuum, Deus, ita¹⁶⁾ et laus tua in fines terrae: justitia¹⁷⁾ plena est dextera¹⁸⁾ tua.

We have received Thy mercy, O God, in the middle of Thy temple: following Thy Name, O God, and thus Thy praise is to the boundaries of the earth: full of justice is Thy right hand.

Give an English word related to each verb in the Vocabulary and Word Study sections.

• audiō, audīre, audīvī, audītum, hear, listen to, audio
• dormiō, dormīre, dormīvī, dormītum, sleep, dormitory
• impediō, impedīre, impedīvī, impedītum, hinder, impediment
• mūniō, mūnīre, mūnīvī, mūnītum, build, fortify, munitions
• sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum, perceive, experience, sentience
• serviō, servīre, servīvī, servītum, serve, be a slave to, serve
• veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum, come, ??
• vestiō, vestīre, vestīvī, vestītum, clothe, vestment

• adveniō, advent
• conveniō, convention
• ēveniō, eventually
• interveniō, intervention
• inveniō, invention
• obveniō, ??
• perveniō, ??
• reveniō, revenge (maybe?)
• superveniō, ??