Learning to form Verb Times 1, 2, and 3 for the passive voice
One must know how to form the first 3 times for the 4 verb groups, presented in Lesson 18
One simply needs to think of the active form, and then 'flip' it to be passive.
Instructions: instead of trying to memorize 24 different endings for each time, just make sure you know how to form the active, then spend no more than 2-3 minutes memorizing how to form the different passive verbs from the active form.
Active
Passive
1st person singular (I)
-o,-m
-or,-r
2nd person singular (you)
-s
-ris
3rd person singular (he,she,it)
-t
-tur
1st person plural (we)
-mus
-mur
2nd person plural (ye)
-tis
-mini
3rd person plural (they)
-nt
-ntur
N.B.
The letter "R" is always the sign of the passive in Latin.
These rules apply for all 3 times, and for all 4 verb groups.
Don't touch / change the vowels, expect for two exceptions (for reasons of pronunciation).
Both exceptions occur in the 'you' form (2nd person singular):
* In Time 3, Groups 1 and 2: the i becomes e
Gp 1, T.3 - active: cantabis -> passive: cantáberis
Gp 2, T.3 - active: movebis -> passive: movéberis
* In Time 1, Group 3, the same: i becomes e
Gp 3, T.1 - active: scribis -> passive: scríberis
or another example: expellis -> passive: expélleris
N.B. this makes it the same as the passive of Time 3, except for the accent!
The true passive verb does not take a direct object (accusative case), but rather the subject form.
e.g. ea dicatur puella doctissima - she is called an educated student; elegar legatus - I shall be elected legate
There is an exception that will be learned later: sometimes 2nd person singular, instead of "-ris" is "re": cantáberis = cantábere
"I think its a sin against humanity to have students memorizing conjugations." - Fr. Foster