Latin GrammarFormation of the Imperfect Tense(Grammar 4A, pp. 194-96)

The Formation of the Imperfect Tense In all verbs but sum and verbs made from

sum, the imperfect tense, which is a past tense, is made with the syllable –bā– plus the normal personal endings.

amābāmus

habēbātis

loquēbātur

Imperfect Tense:Non-Deponent endings Here are the non-deponent endings for the imperfect:

singular plural

1st: -bam -bāmus

2nd: -bās -bātis

3rd: -bat -bant

The -a- wants to be long.But remember: 1. Vowels before final m, t and r are generally short in Latin.2. All vowels are short before any -nt-.

Imperfect Tense:Non-Deponent endings Here are the deponent endings:

singular plural

1st: -bar -bāmur

2nd: -bāris -bāminī

3rd: -bātur -bantur

The -a- wants to be long.But remember: 1. Vowels before final m, t and r are generally short in Latin.2. All vowels are short before –nt.

First Conjugation To form the first conjugation imperfect, add

the imperfect endings to the present stem of the verb.

This is made by removing the –re from the infinitive of non-deponent verbs or the –rī from the deponent infinitive):

amāre => amā-

minārī => minā-

First Conjugation Now add the endings.

singular plural

1st: amābam amābāmus

2nd: amābās amābātis

3rd: amābat amābant

singular plural

1st: minābar minābāmur

2nd: minābāris minābāminī

3rd: minābātur minābantur

2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 3rd-io The other conjugations have a long e at the

end of the stem.

habeō => habē-

polliceor => pollicē-

dīcō => dīcē-

loquor => loquē-

2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 3rd-io 4th and 3rd-io verbs have an i before the long e.

audiō => audiē-

mentior => mentiē-

capiō => capiē-

prōgredior => prōgrediē

Second Conjugation

singular plural

1st: habēbam habēbāmus

2nd: habēbās habēbātis

3rd: habēbat habēbant

singular plural

1st: pollicēbar pollicēbāmur

2nd: pollicēbāris pollicēbāminī

3rd: pollicēbātur pollicēbantur

Third Conjugation

singular plural

1st: dīcēbam dīcēbāmus

2nd: dīcēbās dīcēbātis

3rd: dīcēbat dīcēbant

singular plural

1st: loquēbar loquēbāmur

2nd: loquēbāris loquēbāminī

3rd: loquēbātur loquēbantur

Fourth Conjugation

singular plural

1st: audiēbam audiēbāmus

2nd: audiēbās audiēbātis

3rd: audiēbat audiēbant

singular plural

1st: mentiēbar mentiēbāmur

2nd: mentiēbāris mentiēbāminī

3rd: mentiēbātur mentiēbantur

Third-io Conjugation

singular plural

1st: capiēbam capiēbāmus

2nd: capiēbās capiēbātis

3rd: capiēbat capiēbant

singular plural

1st: prōgrediēbar prōgrediēbāmur

2nd: prōgrediēbāris prōgrediēbāminī

3rd: prōgrediēbātur prōgrediēbantur

sum The imperfect of the irregular verb “sum” has to be memorized.

singular plural

1st: eram erāmus

2nd: erās erātis

3rd: erat erant

possum possum, is of course, just pot + sum.

singular plural

1st: poteram poterāmus

2nd: poterās poterātis

3rd: poterat poterant

eō, īre, iī, itum The imperfect of the irregular verb “eō” has to be memorized.

singular plural

1st: ībam ībāmus

2nd: ībās ībātis

3rd: ībat ībant