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The imperfect of regō and audiō, and verbs that take the dative

regēbam, audiēbam; and why "obey" and "believe" take the dative.

LatinIntermediate Latin · Verbs: the present systemAbout 3 min: 1 reading, 2 practiceUpdated

After this lesson you can
  • Form the imperfect of regō and audiō
  • Use the dative with crēdō, faveō, noceō, pāreō, persuādeō, resistō and studeō
  • Avoid the accusative after these verbs
Latin Level 2: verbs and the other declensions: lesson 7 of 35
  1. Intermediate Latin · Verbs: the present system
  2. sum: I am, I was, I shall be 3 min
  3. The present of amō and moneō 4 min
  4. The imperfect: was doing 4 min
  5. The future: will do 3 min
  6. The dative with adjectives 3 min
  7. The present of regō and audiō 4 min
  8. The imperfect of regō and audiō, and verbs that take the dative 3 min
  9. The future of regō and audiō 3 min
  10. capiō, and giving orders 3 min
  11. Intermediate Latin · The passive voice
  12. The passive: being done to 3 min
  13. The passive of regō, audiō and capiō; passive infinitives 3 min
  14. Synopses, and the ablative of "from" 3 min
  15. Intermediate Latin · The perfect tenses
  16. fuī, fueram, fuerō: the perfect tenses of sum 3 min
  17. The perfect active: did, have done 5 min
  18. Had done, will have done: pluperfect and future perfect active 3 min
  19. amātus sum: the perfect passive 4 min
  20. Principal parts, prepositions, and yes-or-no questions 5 min
  21. possum, "I can", and the infinitive 3 min
  22. Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
  23. quī, quae, quod: who, which, that 4 min
  24. Intermediate Latin · The third declension
  25. rēx, rēgis: the third declension 4 min
  26. hostis, urbs, mare: i-stems 4 min
  27. vīs and iter; gender in the third declension 4 min
  28. omnis, ācer, pār: third-declension adjectives 3 min
  29. Intermediate Latin · The fourth and fifth declensions
  30. manus, cornū: the fourth declension 3 min
  31. Rōmae, domī, Athēnīs: place and the locative 4 min
  32. diēs, rēs: the fifth declension and the ablative of time 3 min
  33. Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
  34. ego, tū, sē: personal and reflexive pronouns 4 min
  35. ipse, "himself", and īdem, "the same" 3 min
  36. hic, iste, ille: this and that 4 min
  37. aliquis, quīdam, quisque: someone, a certain, each 3 min
  38. Intermediate Latin · Comparison
  39. clārior, clārissimus: comparing adjectives 4 min
  40. melior, optimus: irregular comparison, plūs, and "by how much" 3 min
  41. clārē, fortiter: adverbs and their comparison 4 min
  42. Intermediate Latin · Numerals
  43. ūnus, duo, trēs: numerals, "of" the whole, and "for how long" 5 min
  44. Intermediate Latin · Deponent verbs
  45. hortor, sequor: deponent verbs 3 min

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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson XXIV ("Imperfect Active Indicative of regō and audiō; The Dative with Special Intransitive Verbs"), §§ 151 and 153–154

What it is

The imperfect of the third and fourth conjugations uses the same -bā- as before, with a long ē in front:

regōaudiō
Iregēbamaudiēbam
youregēbāsaudiēbās
he, she, itregēbataudiēbat
weregēbāmusaudiēbāmus
you (pl.)regēbātisaudiēbātis
theyregēbantaudiēbant

Verbs that take the dative. A few verbs that look as if they need an object in English take a dative in Latin, and it helps to think of the English with "to" (give belief to, show favour to, do harm to):

crēdō (believe: give belief to) · faveō (favour) · noceō (harm) · pāreō (obey) · persuādeō (persuade) · resistō (resist) · studeō (be eager for, study)

Quick check

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  1. "The boys obey the teacher."

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    Puerī magistrō pārent.. pāreō + dative: give obedience to.

Why it matters

These verbs are very common, and the accusative feels natural to an English speaker, which makes them a classic exam trap.

Worked example

  • Rōmānī Gallīs resistēbant. → The Romans were resisting the Gauls.
  • Multī verbīs rēgīnae nōn crēdēbant. → Many did not believe the queen's words.
  • Lēgātus virōs ad mūrum dūcēbat. → The lieutenant was leading the men to the wall.

Common mistake

Using the accusative after these verbs: wrong: rēgīnam pārent. Think "give obedience to the queen": rēgīnae pārent.

Key terms

crēdō, crēdere (+ dat.)
believe, trust
noceō, nocēre (+ dat.)
harm
pāreō, pārēre (+ dat.)
obey
resistō, resistere (+ dat.)
resist
studeō, studēre (+ dat.)
be eager for, study

Practise the key terms

Tap a card to turn it over. 5 cards.

FrontBack
crēdō, crēdere (+ dat.)believe, trust
noceō, nocēre (+ dat.)harm
pāreō, pārēre (+ dat.)obey
resistō, resistere (+ dat.)resist
studeō, studēre (+ dat.)be eager for, study

Practice

Quick quiz

Tap an answer to check it.

  1. "We were sending"

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    mittēbāmus. 3rd conjugation imperfect: -ēbā-.

  2. "They harm the fields"

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    Agrīs nocent.. noceō + dative.

  3. "They were coming"

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    veniēbant. audiēbant, veniēbant.

Sort it

Which case follows the verb?

  1. pāreō (obey)

    Show answer

    Dative. Give obedience to.

  2. laudō (praise)

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    Accusative. An ordinary direct object.

  3. crēdō (believe)

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    Dative. Give belief to.

  4. videō (see)

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    Accusative. An ordinary direct object.

  5. resistō (resist)

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    Dative. Offer resistance to.

Practise speaking

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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: regō, dūcō, audiō, crēdō, noceō, pāreō, resistō, studeō. Give me English phrases like 'they were leading' or 'we were obeying the lieutenant', and I will say them in Latin, using the dative where the verb needs it. Do 8 phrases. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.

Listen too. Listen to native speakers before and after: see the free listening and shadowing links.

Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. This course teaches the classical pronunciation (see lesson 1); AI voices may mix it with the Church (Italian-style) one, so ask for classical and check against lesson 1. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.

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In short

  • 3rd and 4th conjugation imperfect: regēbam, audiēbam (…ēbā…).
  • crēdō, faveō, noceō, pāreō, persuādeō, resistō and studeō take the dative.
  • Think "give belief / obedience / resistance to".

Mastery check

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Check yourself

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  1. Give "you (one) were hearing".

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    audiēbās.

  2. Translate Puella deae crēdit.

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    The girl believes (trusts) the goddess.

  3. Which case follows studeō?

    Show answer

    The dative.

Further reading

  • D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson XXIV, §§ 151 and 153–154. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.