Principal Parts

Principal parts of very are very important, as you will find out. Most verbs will have 4 principal parts, but not less than 3, thus each verb will have 3-4 principal parts. Make sure that you learn EVERY PRINCIPAL PART GIVEN, at some point in time, you will be using every form, so make things easy on yourself.

Infinitive Endings

1st Conjugation- amo, amare, amavi, amatus - to love
2nd Conjugation- sedeo, sedere, sedi, sessurus - to sit
3rd Conjugation- curro, currere, cucurri, cursurus - to run
4th Conjugation- audio, audire, audi, auditus - to hear

Understanding each Principal Part

The first principal part is the 1st person singular, present tense indicative (translated; I ___, e.g. amo = I love)
-The second principal part is the present infinitive (translated; to ___, e.g. amare = to love)
- The third principal part is the 1st person perfect tense indactive ( translated; I ____ed, e.g. amavi = I loved)
- The fourth principal part is the perfect passive participle (translated; having been ___ed, e.g. amatus = having been loved)