The present of amō and moneō
The first two conjugations, and how the infinitive tells you which is which.
LatinIntermediate Latin · Verbs: the present systemAbout 4 min: 1 reading, 3 practiceUpdated
- Find a verb's conjugation from its infinitive
- Conjugate amō and moneō in the present
- Translate a Latin present three ways
Latin Level 2: verbs and the other declensions: lesson 2 of 35
- Intermediate Latin · Verbs: the present system
- sum: I am, I was, I shall be 3 min
- The present of amō and moneō 4 min
- The imperfect: was doing 4 min
- The future: will do 3 min
- The dative with adjectives 3 min
- The present of regō and audiō 4 min
- The imperfect of regō and audiō, and verbs that take the dative 3 min
- The future of regō and audiō 3 min
- capiō, and giving orders 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The passive voice
- The passive: being done to 3 min
- The passive of regō, audiō and capiō; passive infinitives 3 min
- Synopses, and the ablative of "from" 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The perfect tenses
- fuī, fueram, fuerō: the perfect tenses of sum 3 min
- The perfect active: did, have done 5 min
- Had done, will have done: pluperfect and future perfect active 3 min
- amātus sum: the perfect passive 4 min
- Principal parts, prepositions, and yes-or-no questions 5 min
- possum, "I can", and the infinitive 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- quī, quae, quod: who, which, that 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · The third declension
- rēx, rēgis: the third declension 4 min
- hostis, urbs, mare: i-stems 4 min
- vīs and iter; gender in the third declension 4 min
- omnis, ācer, pār: third-declension adjectives 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The fourth and fifth declensions
- manus, cornū: the fourth declension 3 min
- Rōmae, domī, Athēnīs: place and the locative 4 min
- diēs, rēs: the fifth declension and the ablative of time 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- ego, tū, sē: personal and reflexive pronouns 4 min
- ipse, "himself", and īdem, "the same" 3 min
- hic, iste, ille: this and that 4 min
- aliquis, quīdam, quisque: someone, a certain, each 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Comparison
- clārior, clārissimus: comparing adjectives 4 min
- melior, optimus: irregular comparison, plūs, and "by how much" 3 min
- clārē, fortiter: adverbs and their comparison 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · Numerals
- ūnus, duo, trēs: numerals, "of" the whole, and "for how long" 5 min
- Intermediate Latin · Deponent verbs
- hortor, sequor: deponent verbs 3 min
Try first
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson XIX ("Present Active Indicative of amō and moneō"), §§ 126–130
What it is
Regular Latin verbs fall into four conjugations. You can tell which one from the present infinitive:
| Conjugation | Infinitive | Stem |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | amāre, to love | amā- |
| 2nd | monēre, to advise | monē- |
| 3rd | regere, to rule | rege- |
| 4th | audīre, to hear | audī- |
The present adds the personal endings to the stem:
Text description
Present tense of amō: I amō (ending -ō); you amās (ending -s); he / she / it amat (ending -t); we amāmus (ending -mus); you (pl.) amātis (ending -tis); they amant (ending -nt).
Moneō works the same way: moneō, monēs, monet, monēmus, monētis, monent.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
Which conjugation is vidēre (to see)?
- 1st-conjugation infinitives end in -āre
Show answer
2nd. -ēre = second conjugation.
Why it matters
These two patterns cover a large share of everyday verbs: laudō (praise), vocō (call), portō (carry), habeō (have), videō (see), iubeō (order). Learn two tables and you can use dozens of verbs.
Worked example
Puellae aquam portant. → The girls carry water / are carrying water / do carry water. Latin has one present form for all three English ones; choose whichever sounds best.
Magister puerōs monet. → The teacher warns (advises) the boys.
Common mistake
Missing the -e- in the second conjugation's "I" form: wrong: monō. The first conjugation contracts (amā-ō → amō), but the second keeps both vowels: moneō, videō, habeō.
Key terms
- conjugation
- a group of verbs that share one pattern
- infinitive
- the "to …" form: amāre, to love
- stem
- the infinitive without -re: amā-, monē-
- habeō, habēre
- have
- videō, vidēre
- see
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 5 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| conjugation | a group of verbs that share one pattern |
| infinitive | the "to …" form: amāre, to love |
| stem | the infinitive without -re: amā-, monē- |
| habeō, habēre | have |
| videō, vidēre | see |
Practice
Recognition drill
Pick the right answer, as fast as you can.
All pairs
Tap a card to turn it over. 6 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| laudant | they |
| vocās | you (one person) |
| vidēmus | we |
| habētis | you (more than one) |
| iubet | he / she / it |
| portō | I |
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
"We see"
- That is "you (pl.) see"
- That is the infinitive, "to see"
Show answer
vidēmus. Stem vidē- + -mus.
"I have"
- The second conjugation keeps its e
Show answer
habeō. Second conjugation: habeō.
Nautae cēnam parant. What can it mean?
- -nt means "they": plural
Show answer
The sailors prepare / are preparing dinner.. parant: third person plural.
Practise speaking
Studyfern has no voice tools of its own. To practise out loud, copy this prompt into a voice-capable AI assistant and talk with it.
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: amō, moneō, habeō, videō, laudō, portō. Give me a person and a verb in English (for example 'they see', 'we warn'), and I will say the present tense in Latin. Do 10 forms. 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
- Infinitive -āre: 1st conjugation; -ēre: 2nd; -ere: 3rd; -īre: 4th.
- Present = stem + personal ending: amō, amās, amat, amāmus, amātis, amant.
- moneō keeps its e: moneō, monēs, monet …
- One Latin present = "I love", "I am loving" or "I do love".
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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Conjugate vocō in the present.
Show answer
vocō, vocās, vocat, vocāmus, vocātis, vocant.
Which conjugation is audīre?
Show answer
The fourth.
Translate Dominum laudāmus.
Show answer
We praise the master.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson XIX, §§ 126–130. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
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