Latin for Beginners · Lesson IX · Part 2: Nouns and adjectives of the first two declensions

9. The second declension: dominus and pīlum

Goal: Your child declines a masculine noun in -us and a neuter noun in -um, and uses a predicate noun after "is".

⏱ About 40 minutes · 7 steps

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You'll need

  • The book, open to this lesson
  • The special vocabulary page for this lesson (near the back of the book; the lesson tells you the page)
  • A notebook for Latin, and a pencil
  • Index cards for new words (optional)

What's in the book

Introduces the five declensions and the second declension, with the model nouns dominus (master) and pīlum (spear). Rules that hold in every declension, the predicate noun, and a dialogue between Galba and Marcus.

The lesson, step by step

  1. Review

    Decline dea bona.

  2. Five declensions

    Latin nouns fall into five groups called declensions. The genitive singular tells you which one: -ae for the first, -ī for the second.

  3. The second declension

    Nouns in -us are usually masculine; nouns in -um are neuter. The singular of dominus:

    dominus, dominī, dominō, dominum, dominō

    and of pīlum:

    pīlum, pīlī, pīlō, pīlum, pīlō

    The vocative (calling someone) of dominus is domine.

  4. Rules for every declension

    Read section 74 together. Two are easy to remember: neuter nouns have the same form in the nominative and accusative, and in the plural these end in -a.

  5. Say the forms

    Chant both models, singular and plural, until they flow.

  6. Vocabulary

    From the special vocabulary for the dialogue:

    bellum, war

    equus, horse

    oppidum, town

    servus, slave, servant

    cūrat, he (she, it) cares for

    properat, he (she, it) hastens

    Learn the rest of the list too.

  7. Read the dialogue

    Read "Galba and Marcus" in section 77, taking parts. It begins:

    Quis, Mārce, est lēgātus cum pīlō et tubā?

    Lēgātus, Galba, est Sextus.

    Then answer the questions in section 78 in Latin.

Afterwards

Plan on two days: the forms on day one, the dialogue on day two.

Tip

The predicate noun: in "Sextus is the lieutenant", lieutenant is in the same case as Sextus (nominative), because "is" links them.

Answers to the book's problems

The dialogue: G. Who, Marcus, is the lieutenant with the spear and trumpet? M. The lieutenant, Galba, is Sextus. G. Where does Sextus live? M. Sextus lives in the town with his daughters. G. Do the townspeople love Sextus? M. The townspeople love Sextus and praise him, because he fights with great firmness. G. Where, Marcus, is your maid? Why is she not preparing dinner? M. My maid, Galba, is giving water and grain to the lieutenant's horse. G. Why does not Sextus's slave care for his master's horse? M. Sextus and the slave are hurrying to the wall of the town. The townspeople are preparing for war.

Worked out for this site from the scan. If a number in your copy differs, trust the book.

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