Answer:
Present tense
Ego Lucie nuntium do ā I give a message to Lucy
We also looked at verbs in the past tense
For example:
Past tense (perfect)
Ego Lucie nuntium dedi ā I gave a message to Lucy
This kind of past tense is called a perfect tense. It is used to describe an action in the past which is completed.
To describe a past action or state which is incomplete, we use an imperfect tense. This tense indicates an action which has gone on over a period time or has happened frequently. It is translated into English by āwas/wereā + ā-ingā or āused toā.
For example:
Past tense (imperfect)
Ego Lucie nuntium dabam ā I was giving a message to Lucy
Just as with the present and perfect tenses, we need to know the conjugation a verb belongs to in order to make an imperfect tense.
Remember
Latin verbs are divided into four groups, or conjugations.
In each conjugation, the verbs share the same endings:
An example of a first conjugation verb is: confirmo, confirmare, confirmavi, confirmatum (1) ā to confirm.
An example of a second conjugation verb is: habeo, habere, habui, habitum (2) ā to have
An example of a third conjugation verb is: duco, ducere, duxi, ductum (3) ā to lead
An example of a fourth conjugation verb is: audio, audire, audivi, auditum (4) ā to hear
The endings for the imperfect tense are similar to those of the present tense.
