Declensions are patterns of endings for nouns. If you remember, the ending of a noun is based on its case and number. However, there are different endings for each combination of case and number in each declension. For example, the ending for dative singular in first declension is -ae, but in third declension, it is -i. This is why it's important to memorize the endings for each declension.
There are five declensions in Latin, and they don't have any special names like the cases do; they're just called by their order: first declension, second declension, third declension, fourth declension, and fifth declension.
The verb form of declension is decline - to decline a noun is to write it out in all its forms for each case and number, like this:
There are five declensions in Latin, and they don't have any special names like the cases do; they're just called by their order: first declension, second declension, third declension, fourth declension, and fifth declension.
The verb form of declension is decline - to decline a noun is to write it out in all its forms for each case and number, like this:
|
Singular |
Plural |
Nominative |
rana |
ranae |
Genitive |
ranae |
ranarum |
Dative |
ranae |
ranis |
Accusative |
ranam |
ranas |
Ablative |
ranā |
ranis |
You can always tell what declension a noun is by looking at its genitive singular form. That's why the genitive singular is included in dictionary entries for nouns. Here are the genitive singular endings for each declension:
- first declension: -ae
- second declension: -i
- third declension -is
- fourth declension: -ūs
- fifth declension: -ei
Learn about each declension by going to the page of each declension.
