Editing Latin grammar (section)

===Tenses===
{{Main|Latin tenses}}

====A 3rd conjugation example====
Latin verbs have six basic [[grammatical tense|tenses]] in the indicative mood. Three of these are based on the present stem (e.g. ''dūc-'') and three on the perfect stem (e.g. ''dūx-'').

In addition, there are four tenses in the subjunctive mood, and two in the imperative.

Further tenses can be made periphrastically by combining participles with the verbs {{lang|la|sum}} "I am" or {{lang|la|habeō}} "I have", for example {{lang|la|ductūrus eram}} "I was going to lead" or {{lang|la|ductum habeō}} "I have led".

The following table gives the various forms of a 3rd conjugation verb {{lang|la|dūcō}}. As with other verbs, three different stems are needed to make the various tenses: {{lang|la|dūc-}} in the three non-perfect tenses, {{lang|la|dūx-}} in the three perfect tenses, and {{lang|la|duct-}} in the perfect participle and supine. The perfect and supine stems for any particular verb cannot always be predicted and usually have to be looked up in a dictionary.

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 55em;"
|-
! INDICATIVE
! Active
! 
! Passive
!
|-
! Present
| '''{{lang|la|dūcō|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcit|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcimus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcitis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcunt|italic=no}}'''
| I lead, I am leading<br />you lead<br />he/she/it leads<br />we lead<br />you pl. lead<br />they lead
| '''{{lang|la|dūcor|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūceris|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcitur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcimur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūciminī|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcuntur|italic=no}}'''
| I am led, I am being led<br />you are led<br />he/she/it is led<br />we are led<br />you pl. are led<br />they are led
|-
! Future
| '''{{lang|la|dūcam|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēs|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcet|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcētis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcent|italic=no}}'''
| I will lead, I will be leading<br />you will lead<br />he/she/it will lead<br />we will lead<br />you pl. will lead<br />they will lead
| '''{{lang|la|dūcar|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēris/-e|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcētur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēmur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēminī|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcentur|italic=no}}'''
| I will be led, I will be being led<br />you will be led<br />he/she/it will be led<br />we will be led<br />you pl. will be led<br />they will be led
|-
! Imperfect
| '''{{lang|la|dūcēbam|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbās|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbat|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbāmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbātis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbant|italic=no}}'''
| I was leading, used to lead<br />you were leading<br />he/she/it was leading<br />we were leading<br />you pl. were leading<br />they were leading
| '''{{lang|la|dūcēbar|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbāris/-re|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbātur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbāmur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbāminī|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcēbantur|italic=no}}'''
| I was being led, I used to be led<br />you were being led<br />he/she/it was being led<br />we were being led<br />you pl. were being led<br />they were being led
|-
! Perfect
| '''{{lang|la|dūxī|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxistī|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxit|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūximus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxistis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxērunt/-ēre|italic=no}}'''
| I led, I have led<br />you led<br />he/she/it led<br />we led<br />you pl. led<br />they led
| '''{{lang|la|ductus sum|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus es|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus est|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī sumus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī estis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī sunt|italic=no}}'''
| I was led, I have been led<br />you were led<br />he was led<br />we were led<br />you pl. were led<br />they were led
|-
! Future Perfect
| '''{{lang|la|dūxerō|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerīs/-is|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerit|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerīmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerītis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerint|italic=no}}'''
| I will have led<br />you will have led<br />he/she/it will have led<br />we will have led<br />you pl. will have led<br />they will have led
| '''{{lang|la|ductus erō|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus eris|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus erit|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī erimus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī eritis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī erunt|italic=no}}'''
| I will have been led<br />you will have been led<br />he will have been led<br />we will have been led<br />you pl. will have been led<br />they will have been led
|-
! Pluperfect
| '''{{lang|la|dūxeram|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerās|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerat|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerāmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerātis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerant|italic=no}}'''
| I had led<br />you had led<br />he/she/it had led<br />we had led<br />you pl. had led<br />they had led
| '''{{lang|la|ductus eram|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus erās|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus erat|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī erāmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī erātis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī erant|italic=no}}'''
| I had been led<br />you had been led<br />he had been led<br />we had been led<br />you pl. had been led<br />they had been led
|-
! SUBJUNCTIVE
|-
|-
|-
|-
! Present
| '''{{lang|la|dūcam|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcās|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcat|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcāmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcātis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcant|italic=no}}'''
| I may lead, I would lead<br />you would lead<br />he/she/it would lead<br />we would lead<br />you pl. would lead<br />they would lead
| '''{{lang|la|dūcar|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcāris|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcātur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcāmur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcāminī|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcantur|italic=no}}'''
| I may be led, I would be led<br />you would be  led<br />he/she/it would be  led<br />we would be  led<br />you pl. would be  led<br />they would be  led
|-
! Imperfect
| '''{{lang|la|dūcerem|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcerēs|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūceret|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcerēmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcerētis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcerent|italic=no}}'''
| I might lead, should lead<br />you might lead<br />he/she/it might lead<br />we might lead<br />you pl. might lead<br />they might lead
| '''{{lang|la|dūcerer|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcerēris|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcerētur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcerēmur|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcerēminī|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcerentur|italic=no}}'''
| I might be led<br />you might be led<br />he/she/it might be led<br />we might be led<br />you pl. might be led<br />they might be led
|-
! Perfect
| '''{{lang|la|dūxerim|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerīs|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerit|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerīmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerītis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxerint|italic=no}}'''
| I would have led, I led<br />you would have led<br />he/she/it would have led<br />we would have led<br />you pl. would lead<br />they would have led
| '''{{lang|la|ductus sim|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus sīs|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus sit|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī sīmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī sītis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī sint|italic=no}}'''
| I would have been led, I was led<br />you were led<br />he was led<br />we were led<br />you pl. were led<br />they were led
|-
! Pluperfect
| '''{{lang|la|dūxissem|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxissēs|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxisset|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxissēmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxissētis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūxissent|italic=no}}'''
| I would have led, I had led<br />you would have led<br />he/she/it would have led<br />we would have led<br />you pl. would have led<br />they would have led
| '''{{lang|la|ductus essem|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus essēs|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductus esset|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī essēmus|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī essētis|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|ductī essent|italic=no}}'''
| I would have been led<br />you would have been led<br />he would have been led<br />we would have been led<br />you pl. would have been led<br />they would have been led
|-
! IMPERATIVE
|-
|-
|-
|-
! Present
| '''{{lang|la|dūc!|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcite!|italic=no}}'''
|lead! (sg.)<br />lead! (pl.)
|'''{{lang|la|(dūcere!)|italic=no}}'''<br />'''({{lang|la|dūciminī!|italic=no}})'''
|be led!<br />be led! (pl.)
|-
! Future
| '''{{lang|la|dūcitō!|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcitōte!|italic=no}}'''
|lead! (sg.)<br />lead! (pl.)
|
|
|-
! 3rd person
| '''{{lang|la|dūcitō|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcuntō|italic=no}}'''
|he must lead<br />they must lead
|
|
|-
! INFINITIVES
|-
|-
|-
|-
! Present
| '''{{lang|la|dūcere|italic=no}}'''
|to lead
|'''{{lang|la|dūcī|italic=no}}'''
|to be led
|-
! Future
| '''{{lang|la|ductūrus esse|italic=no}}'''
|to be going to lead
|'''{{lang|la|ductum īrī|italic=no}}'''
|to be going to be led
|-
! Perfect
| '''{{lang|la|dūxisse|italic=no}}'''
|to have led
|'''{{lang|la|ductus esse|italic=no}}'''
|to have been led
|-
! Periphrastic perfect
| '''{{lang|la|ductūrus fuisse|italic=no}}'''
|to have been going to lead
|-
! PARTICIPLES
|-
|-
|-
|-
! Present
| '''{{lang|la|dūcēns|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|dūcentēs|italic=no}}'''
|(while) leading (sg.)<br />(while) leading (pl.)
|
|
|-
! Future
| '''{{lang|la|ductūrus/a/um|italic=no}}'''
|going to lead
|
|
|-
! Perfect
|
|
| '''{{lang|la|ductus/a/um|italic=no}}'''
|having been led
|-
|-
|-
|-
|-
! GERUNDIVE
| 
|
|'''{{lang|la|dūcendus/a/um|italic=no}}'''
|(needing) to be led
|-
! GERUND
|'''{{lang|la|ad dūcendum|italic=no}}'''<br >'''{{lang|la|dūcendī|italic=no}}'''<br/>'''{{lang|la|dūcendō|italic=no}}'''
|with a view to leading<br />of leading<br />by leading
|
|
|-
! SUPINE
|'''{{lang|la|ductum (it)|italic=no}}'''<br />'''{{lang|la|(facile) ductū|italic=no}}'''
|(he goes) in order to lead<br />(easy) to lead
|
|
|-
|}

A distinction between perfective [[grammatical aspect|aspect]] (''I did'') and imperfective aspect (''I was doing'') is found only in the past in Latin. In the present or future, the same tenses have both aspectual meanings.

Unlike in Ancient Greek or modern English, there is no distinction between perfect (''I have done'') and simple past (''I did''). The same tense, known in Latin grammar as the perfect tense, has both meanings.

The passive imperative is almost never used except in deponent verbs, e.g. {{lang|la|sequere mē!}} "follow me!"

====Variations====
The different conjugations differ in some tenses. For example, in the '''future tense''':
*1st and 2nd conjugation verbs and {{lang|la|eō}} have the endings {{lang|la|-bō, -bis, -bit, -bimus, -bitis, -bunt}} (e.g. {{lang|la|amābō}} "I will love", {{lang|la|vidēbō}} "I will see", {{lang|la|ībō}} "I will go"). 
*3rd and 4th conjugation verbs and {{lang|la|volō}} and {{lang|la|ferō}} have the endings {{lang|la|-am, -ēs, -et, -ēmus, -ētis, -ent}} ({{lang|la|dūcam}} "I will lead", {{lang|la|audiam}} "I will hear"). 
*{{lang|la|Sum}} and {{lang|la|possum}} have the endings {{lang|la|erō, eris, erit, erimus, eritis, erunt}} ({{lang|la|erō}} "I will be", {{lang|la|poterō}} "I will be able")

In the '''imperfect indicative''':
*Most verbs have the endings {{lang|la|-bam, -bās, -bat, -bāmus, -bātis, -bant}} (e.g. {{lang|la|amābam, vidēbam, dūcēbam, capiēbam, ferēbam, volēbam}})
*{{lang|la|Sum}} and {{lang|la|possum}} have {{lang|la|eram, erās, erat, erāmus, erātis, erant}} (e.g. {{lang|la|poteram}} "I was able")

They also differ in the '''present subjunctive''':
*1st conjugation verbs have the endings {{lang|la|-em, -ēs, -et, -ēmus, -ētis, -ent}} (e.g. {{lang|la|amem}} "I may love")
*2nd, 3rd, 4th conjugations have {{lang|la|-am, -ās, -at, -āmus, -ātis, -ant}} ({{lang|la|videam}} "I may see", {{lang|la|dūcam}} "I may lead", {{lang|la|audiam}} "I may hear", {{lang|la|eam}} "I may go")
*{{lang|la|Sum}}, {{lang|la|possum}}, {{lang|la|volō}} have {{lang|la|-im, -īs, -it, -īmus, -ītis, -int}} ({{lang|la|sim}} "I may be", {{lang|la|possim}} "I may be able", {{lang|la|velim}} "I may wish")

The '''imperfect subjunctive''' of every verb looks like the infinitive + an ending:
*Regular: {{lang|la|amārem, vidērem, dūcerem, caperem, audīrem}}
*Irregular: {{lang|la|essem, possem, ferrem, vellem, īrem}}

In the various '''perfect tenses''', all verbs have regular endings. However, the stem to which the perfect endings are added cannot always be guessed, and so is given in dictionaries.