Latin
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This is an elementary Latin course accompanied with a detailed grammar based upon Kennedy's Public School Latin Grammar designed to introduce one to the world of classical languages. A basic understanding of grammatical terminology would be helpful, however, it is not required. Basic definitions of terms will be explained in Lessons 1 and 2, and later elaborated as needed.
For detailed explanations and examples of English grammatical terms, please consult the English grammar course. However, Latin grammar is quite different from English, and thus it requires different grammatical terms to explain the concepts. These will be taught as needed.
Contents |
[edit] Note
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This book will attempt to teach Latin from the ground up. Please consult the Appendix or a Latin or Latin-aware Dictionary if you are confused about questionable presentation of Latin grammatical elements using English concepts.
Please read the Introduction carefully, as it introduces the concept of a stem. Always decline nouns using the genitive stem of the word - the form in the genitive case minus the ending. As is typical in many other languages, the infinitive stem (present tense, active voice) is used for conjugating verbs. [The introduction of additional information in parentheses is done simply to avoid confusing a student who has already had exposure to Latin.]
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[edit] A Progressive Latin Grammar and Exercises
Introduction to the origins and structure of Latin:
- How to study a language on the Internet and in your head
- Special consideration: How to use a Wikibook when progress may mean inaccuracy
- Grammatical Introduction to Latin The origin and structure of Latin
- Basic Grammar Grammatical introduction.
Chapter 1: Basic Sentences
- The Nominative Case Create basic Latin sentences.
- Adjectives An overview of adjectives in Latin.
- Present indicative active construct An introduction to verbs, and the present tense of regular verbs.
- Adverbs & Prepositions More on adjectives, and an overview of adverbs and prepositions.
- The Accusative Case Learn to create sentences with transitive verbs.
- Pronouns Summary of Pronouns
- Chapter 1 Verse
Chapter 2: Complicated Sentences
- The Imperfect Tense The imperfect tense, working in the past.
- The Genitive and Dative Cases Indicate indirect objects and possession.
- The Future Tense Verbs in the Future
- The Ablative Case Indicate an ablative construct.
- The Vocative Case Directly Address Something/one
- Irregular Verbs & Revision Review of all five declensions and the conjugation of present imperfect indicative active verbs.
- Translation Exercise Translate a passage.
- Imperfect and Future indicative active constructs
- Chapter 2 Verse
Chapter 3: Advanced Sentences
- Imperatives Ordering or Telling People What to Do.
- Active v. Passive Verbs
- Indicative Passive Verbs Present, imperfect, and future passives.
- Principal Parts Principal verb parts and verb conjugation.
- The Perfect Indicative Tense The uses and formation of the perfect indicative tense.
- The Perfect Indicative Passive Verbs Use the perfect with the passives.
- Future and Past Perfect Indicative Tenses
- Chapter 3 Verse
Chapter 4: The Subjunctive Mood and Complex Sentences
- The Subjunctive Mood Subjunctive vs. Indicative moods, conjugate the Subjunctive present.
- The Uses of the Subjunctive
- The Subjunctive Imperfect Conjugation and uses of the imperfect subjunctive.
- The Subjunctive Passive Verbs Conjugate the present and imperfect subjunctives.
- The Subjunctive Perfects The perfect endings for the Subjunctive.
- The Subjunctive Perfect Passive Verbs Perfect auxiliary verbs for the subjunctive passives.
- The Gerund and Participles Verbal Nouns.
- Revision Review of all five declensions and the conjugation of the active subjunctive verbs.
- Idioms An overview of idiomatic phrases used in Latin.
- Translation Translate a passage from the Vulgate Bible.
Bust of Julius Caesar
- Chapter 4 Verse
- Verse from the Gospels
Chapter 5: Review
- Revision Review of all five noun and adjective declensions.
- Revision Revise work on all verb conjugations and learned forms.
- Translation Translate a passage from Catullus.
- Exercises Review of subjunctive forms.
- Exercises Review of passive forms.
- Translation
- Revision Ideas and memory tools for language patterns in conjugation and declining.
- Chapter 5 Verse
- Poem about Latin
[edit] Spoken Latin
This is a test book to teach those who wish to learn Latin which they can use in their daily lives.
[edit] Appendices
- Verb Synopsis
- List of Declensions
- Phonology of Latin (pronunciation)
- Accents and Scansion
- Morphology of Latin
- Ecclessiastical & Medieval Latin
- Latin Grammatical Definitions
- Latin Dictionary
- Latin Mottos and Phrases Used today.
- Latin Abbreviations Used today.
- Common phrases
- Latin Resources
- Library of Graded Latin Texts for Translation
- Roman History
- Roman Culture
- Spoken Latin
- Words and their Flexion
- Prefixes and Suffixes
- Advanced: Stylistic Features of Latin Verse and Prose
[edit] About the Book
Please leave ideas for additional chapters on the talk page.
[edit] External links
A complete textbook for spoken Classical Latin, G.J. Adler's "A Practical Grammar of the Latin Language for Speaking and Writing Latin" can be found on Google Books: http://www.google.co.uk/books?id=GJgAAAAAYAAJ This textbook can be heard read out aloud here: http://latinum.mypodcast.com This podcast has received over a million episode downloads.
If you are looking to learn Biblical Latin, try the course at http://www.learnlangs.com/biblelatin , which allows you to read the Vulgate Bible in Latin right from lesson 1.
If you are more interested in Romans and history, an extensive free course in Classical Latin is available from http://www.learnlangs.com/latin .
More free language-learning materials for Latin are available at Textkit's website at http://www.textkit.com
A large set of lessons are available at http://www.du.edu/~etuttle/classics/latin/learnlat.htm
