First and second declension adjectives
Most first and second declension adjectives take these endings.
For example novus, –a, –um – new
Singular | |||
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
Nominative | novus | nova | novum |
Vocative | nove | nova | novum |
Accusative | novum | novam | novum |
Genitive | novi | nove | novi |
Dative | novo | nove | novo |
Ablative | novo | nova | novo |
Plural | ||
Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
novi | nove | nova |
novi | nove | nova |
novos | novas | nova |
novorum | novarum | novorum |
novis | novis | novis |
novis | novis | novis |
The endings are the same as those for
- second declension nouns ending ‘-us’
- first declension nouns
- second declension nouns ending ‘-um’
1. Adjectives that end ‘-er’ in the masculine nominative singular.
Most lose the ‘e’ when declined.
For example
pulcher , pulchra, pulchrumbeautiful |
Singular | |||
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
Nominative | pulcher | pulchra | pulchrum |
Vocative | pulcher | pulchra | pulchrum |
Accusative | pulchrum | pulchram | pulchrum |
Genitive | pulchri | pulchre | pulchri |
Dative | pulchro | pulchre | pulchro |
Ablative | pulchro | pulchra | pulchro |
Plural | ||
Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
pulchri | pulchre | pulchra |
pulchri | pulchre | pulchra |
pulchros | pulchras | pulchra |
pulchrorum | pulchrarum | pulchrorum |
pulchris | pulchris | pulchris |
pulchris | pulchris | pulchris |
2. Some adjectives keep the ‘e’ when declined.
For example liber , –era, –erum – free
Plural | ||
Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
liberi | libere | libera |
liberi | libere | libera |
liberos | liberas | libera |
liberorum | liberarum | liberorum |
liberis | liberis | liberis |
liberis | liberis | liberis |
Singular | |||
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
Nominative | liber | libera | liberum |
Vocative | liber | libera | liberum |
Accusative | liberum | liberam | liberum |
Genitive | liberi | libere | liberi |
Dative | libero | libere | libero |
Ablative | libero | libera | libero |
There are nine irregular adjectives that decline like novus, -a, -um but
- Genitive singular is ‘-ius’
- Dative singular is ‘-i’ for all genders
unus, –a, –um – one
totus, –a, –um – all, whole
nullus, –a, –um – no, none
solus, –a, –um – alone, only
ullus, –a, –um – any
alter, altera, alterum – the other (of two things)
neuter, neutra, neutrum – neither (of two things)
uter, utra, utrum – which (of two things)
alius, alia, aliud – the other [genitive singular sometimes alterius]
For example unus , –a, –um – one
Plural | ||
Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
uni | une | una |
unos | unas | una |
unorum | unorum | unorum |
unis | unis | unis |
unis | unis | unis |
Singular | |||
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
Nominative | unus | una | unum |
Accusative | unum | unam | unum |
Genitive | unius | unius | unius |
Dative | uni | uni | uni |
Ablative | uno | una | uno |
Third declension adjectives
These have the same endings as third declension nouns except that adjectives have
- ‘-i’ for ablative singular
- ‘-ium’ for genitive plural
- ‘-ia’ for nominative, vocative and accusative neuter plural
There are two main forms
1. Masculine and feminine are the same; neuter is different
communis, -e | common | legalis , –e | lawful | |
fidelis , –e | faithful | parochialis , –e | parochial, parish | |
finalis , –e | final | totalis , –e | total |
Masculine and Feminine | Neuter | |||
Case | Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
Nominative | omnis | omnes | omne | omnia |
Vocative | omnis | omnes | omne | omnia |
Accusative | omnem | omnes | omne | omnia |
Genitive | omnis | omnium | omnis | omnium |
Dative | omni | omnibus | omni | omnibus |
Ablative | omni | omnibus | omni | omnibus |
2. Masculine, feminine and neuter are the same in the nominative.
ingens, ingentis huge |
In this case, the nominative form is given in the word list, followed by the genitive.
Masculine and Feminine | Neuter | |||
Case | Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
Nominative | ingens | ingentes | ingens | ingentia |
Vocative | ingens | ingentes | ingens | ingentia |
Accusative | ingentem | ingentes | ingens | ingentia |
Genitive | ingentis | ingentium | ingentis | ingentium |
Dative | ingenti | ingentibus | ingenti | ingentibus |
Ablative | ingenti | ingentibus | ingenti | ingentibus |
Other examples are
presens, presentis – present
vetus, veteris – old