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