LatinLesson 4 of 4 in the course Latin nouns

Latin Tense Systems and Their Forms and Uses

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Latin verbs locate actions in time, but their tense forms do not always match English tense forms one-to-one. This lesson introduces the six main indicative tenses and the two systems they belong to.

Latin’s six main indicative tenses fall into two groups. The present system, also called the infectum system, presents an action or situation without viewing it as a completed whole. It includes the present, future, and imperfect.

All flashcards

What is the infectum system?
The present system of Latin indicative tenses. It includes the present, future, and imperfect.
What is the perfectum system?
The perfect system of Latin indicative tenses. It includes the perfect, future perfect, and pluperfect, and its active forms commonly use the perfect stem.
What are the six main indicative tenses?
Present, future, imperfect, perfect, future perfect, and pluperfect.
What does dūxī mean?
It is the perfect active form of dūcō and can mean “I led” or “I have led,” depending on context.
What is a periphrastic tense?
A compound tense formed with a verbal form such as a participle combined with another verb, often sum. For example, ductūrus sum means “I am going to lead.”

Quiz questions

  1. Which three tenses belong to the present, or infectum, system?Answer: The present, future, and imperfect.
  2. Which tense system includes the pluperfect?Answer: The perfect (perfectum) system.
  3. Why should learners look up a verb’s perfect stem?Answer: It often differs from the present stem and must be learned from principal parts.
  4. Why can dūxī be translated as either “I led” or “I have led”?Answer: The context determines which English tense best conveys the Latin form.
  5. What does amās mean?Answer: You love.

Based on the Wikipedia article Latin tenses, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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