Irregular verbs

Irregular verbs

Irregular Verbs

Introduction to Irregular Verbs

  • Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the regular conjugation patterns.

  • Essential irregular verbs in Latin include sum (I am), possum (I am able), eo (I go), fero (I carry) and volo (I want).

The Verb ‘Sum’

  • The verb sum (I am) is an essential irregular verb, with forms that need to be memorised:
    • Single forms are:
      • sum (I am),
      • es (you are),
      • est (he/she/it is),
      • sumus (we are),
      • estis (you are),
      • sunt (they are).
  • The perfect tense of sum is fui, which is used to form perfect, pluperfect and future perfect tenses of passive verbs.

The Verb ‘Possum’

  • Possum is a compound of potis (able, possible) and sum (I am), and it means ‘I am able, I can’.
    • Single forms are:
      • possum (I can),
      • potes (you can),
      • potest (he/she/it can),
      • possumus (we can),
      • potestis (you can),
      • possunt (they can).

The Verb ‘Eo’

  • The verb eo (I go) is also irregular:
    • Single forms are:
      • eo (I go),
      • is (you go),
      • it (he/she/it goes),
      • imus (we go),
      • itis (you go),
      • eunt (they go).

The Verb ‘Fero’

  • The verb fero (I carry, I bring) has an irregular conjugation:
    • Single forms are:
      • fero (I carry),
      • fers (you carry),
      • fert (he/she/it carries),
      • ferimus (we carry),
      • fertis (you carry),
      • ferunt (they carry).

The Verb ‘Volo’

  • The verb volo (I want) is slightly irregular too:
    • Single forms are:
      • volo (I want),
      • vis (you want),
      • vult (he/she/it wants),
      • volumus (we want),
      • vultis (you want),
      • volunt (they want).
  • Remember these irregular verbs and their forms to enhance your understanding and proficiency in reading and translating Latin.