Latin with Foster

Lesson 12: Verb Times

Learning the Meaning of Tenses (Times) of Verbs

In Latin, there are 6 verb times (in the Indicative). Note: indicative is a grammatical term just meaning that the verb indicates a fact.

Instructions: spend no more than 2-3 minutes memorizing all the meanings which can be used to translate each verb time. Don't worry about any of the technical grammar stuff. Then do Homework 7.

Time	Example	Meaning	Technical Grammar categories
T.1	fugit	he flees, he does flee, he is fleeing	Present
T.2	cantabamus	we were singing, we used to sing we would sing, we were trying to sing	Imperfect or Progressive Pass - describing a continuing past action
T.3	venient	they will come, they will be coming	Future
T.4a	dedi	I have given, I have been giving	Present Perfect
T.4b	dedi	I did give, I gave	Historical Past
T.5	dixeras	you had said, you had been saying	Pluperfect
T.6	videritis	ye will have seen, ye will have been seeing	Future Perfect

N.B.

The difference between T.2 and T.4: T.2 is like a movie-film, a continuing past action, repeated over time, T.4 is like a photo-snapshot, a singular, completed past action. T.2 never means: "we sang" - that is T.4.
The difference between T.4a and T.4b: although they look identical, they have two different meanings, which have to be judged from context.
T.4a) something past that touches on the present situation (often, but not always, something in the recent past) [in Italian, this is passato prossimo]
T.4b) something past that is unrelated to the present (usually in the distant past, but not always) [in Italian, this is passato remoto, in Greek, this is Aorist]
Example: Throughout his life, St. Paul was traveling. (T.2) St. Paul has given teachings to the Church. (T.4a - although a long time ago, still touches the present.) St. Paul gave a speech to the Sanhedrin (T.4b - a single past action.)

First Experience Latin - Fr. Reginald Foster

Answers to First Experience

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