Adjectives

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