In the thirty-seventh class of the Latin from Scratch course, we’ll study the morphology of participles, which is necessary before studying the syntax in the next class.
Contents
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Participles are verbal adjectives: from a verb, an adjective is formed. In Latin there are four participles, but the most common ones coincide with the English present participle and perfect participle.
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Present participle (active)
The present participle is a 1-ending, i-stem, 3rd declension adjective. It is formed in the following way:
- present stem
- linking ĕ (3rd, mixed and 4th conjugations)
- present participle morpheme nt
- 3rd declension i-stem endings
| 1st conjugation | 2nd conjugation | 3rd conjugation | mixed conjugation | 4th conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| amans amantis | monens monentis | ducens ducentis | capiens capientis | audiens audientis |
In the nominative (and vocative) singular, the interconsonantical t disappears: *amants > amans.
The present participle expresses simultaneity. According to the context, what feels right, etc., it can be translated as a English present participle, a simple gerund or a relative periphrasis such as “that/who + present/past”.
Dominus plorantem puellam videt.
The master sees the crying girl.
The master sees the girl crying.
The master sees the girl who cries / is crying.
Perfect participle (passive)
The perfect participle is a 2-1-2 adjective. It is formed in the following way:
| 1st conjugation | 2nd conjugation | 3rd conjugation | mixed conjugation | 4th conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| amatus, -a, -um | monitus, -a, -um | ductus, -a, -um | captus, -a, -um | auditus, -a, -um |
This participle can be translated just as a English past participle:
Hostes ab nostris territi fugerunt.
The enemies, frightened by our soldiers, fled.
However, if it is an active deponent verb, most of the times is better translated as a compound gerund (but sometimes a simple gerund) or any other way which expresses anteriority:
Consul militibus divitias pollicitus proelium commisit.
The consul, having promised / after promising riches to the soldiers, started the battle.
Future participle, active
The active future participle is a 2-1-2 adjective, so it is similar to the perfect participle, but with the morpheme ‑ūr‑. It is formed in the following way:
- supine stem
- active future participle ūr
- 2-1-2 endings
| 1st conjugation | 2nd conjugation | 3rd conjugation | mixed conjugation | 4th conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| amaturus, -a, -um | moniturus, -a, -um | ducturus, -a, -um | capturus, -a, -um | auditurus, -a, -um |
The future participle expresses posteriority. There is no equivalent in English, so we should translate in any way that conveys notions of future, intention, imminence, obligation, etc.
Caesar, morituri te salutant.
Caesar, those who are about to die salute you.
Caesar, those willing to die salute you.
Future participle, passive
The passive future participle is 2-1-2 adjective. It is formed in the following way:
- present stem
- linking ĕ (3rd, mixed and 4th conjugations)
- passive future participle nd
- 2-1-2 endings
| 1st conjugation | 2nd conjugation | 3rd conjugation | mixed conjugation | 4th conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| amandus, -a, -um | monendus, -a, -um | ducendus, -a, -um | capiendus, -a, -um | audiendus, -a, -um |
The passive future participle (also known as gerundive) is used in several constructions which will be studied later.
Now that we know the morphology of the four participles, let’s study the syntax, that is, how they are used in texts.
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