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Lesson 3: the third declension

Once you've got the hang of what the declensions are about, it's much easier to learn the rest of them. However, the 3rd declension is not as easy as it seems, so take it with a pinch of salt. Good luck!


3rd Declension introduction

3rd declension is all genders (masculine, feminine and neuter), and its distinctive feature is that, although there are patterns, there is no set nominative. The neuter patterns are the same as the second declension; nom. and acc. are the same in the singular and plural (however nom. acc. plural end in 'a' -> 'please remember every day, neuter plurals end in 'a'!'


A few of these common nominative trends are; -tas -> -tatis -s -> -tis -x -> -cis/ -gis -ps -> -pis


Special rule alert!!

The general rule for the genitive plural (where it is -ium or -um) goes like so;

For civis, civis (same amount of syllables in NOM sing and GEN sing) = -ium

Where there are a different number of syllables in NOM sing and GEN sing = -um

Exceptions include; a) canis, iuvenes, senex, sedes, pater, mater, frater b) fur



3rd declension endings



Singular NOM

rex

VOC

rex


ACC


reg-em

GEN

reg-is

DAT

reg-i

ABL

reg-e

Plural NOM

reg-es

VOC

reg-es ACC

reg-es

GEN

reg- um

DAT

reg-ibus

ABL

reg-ibus

Important irregular nouns

Some very common irregular 3rd declension nouns are; -Iuppiter, Iovis (Jupiter), -bos, bovis (cow), vis (force/ strength), nemo (no-one).

Sg (both only have singular because Jupiter is a name, and nemo is a pronoun)

Singular NOM of 'Iuppiter'

Iuppiter

VOC

Iuppiter

ACC


Iov-em

GEN

Iov-is

DAT

Iov-i

ABL

Iov-e


Singular NOM of 'nemo'


nemo


VOC


nemo


ACC


neminem


GEN


nullius


DAT


nemini


ABL


nullo


The other two are; bos,bovis and vis

sg pl

NOM bos boves

ACC bovem boves

GEN bovis bovum

DAT bovi bobus

ABL bove bobus


NOM vis vires

ACC vim vires

GEN - virium

DAT - viribus

ABL vi viribus



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