PERFECT, PLUPERFECT AND FUTURE PERFECT PASSIVE

The nice part about conjugating in the perfect tenses is that all verbs follow the same pattern. For each tense, the verb uses the fourth principal part and a form of sum. Note these are two separate words, which usually, but not always, come together. As you read more original texts, you will find that authors such as Tacitus leave out the form of sum, especially in third person.

We will use amo as our example:

amo, amare, amavi, amatus, a, um

Note that the fourth principal part is formed like a first and second declension adjective. The fourth principal part ending is determined by the subject: -us or -i if masculine, -a or -ae if feminine and -um or -a if neuter. These endings will NOT be highlighted in the conjugation.

PERFECT TENSE

use fourth principal part plus the present tense of sum

amatus sum     I was loved  (or amata or amatum)

amatus es        you were loved (or amata or amatum)

amatus est       etc.   (or amata or amatum)

NOTE THE CHANGE IN ENDING WITH THE PLURAL

amati sumus     (or amatae or amata)

amati estis    (or amatae or amata)

amati sunt (or amatae or amata)

PLUPERFECT (PAST PERFECT)

Fourth principal part plus imperfect form of sum

I will only use masculine form, to simplify the appearance.

amatus eram    I had been loved

amatus eras    you had been loved

amatus erat    etc.

amati eramus

amati eratis

amati erant

FUTURE PERFECT

Fourth principal part plus future of sum

amatus ero     I shall have been loved

amatus eris   you will have been loved

amatus erit

amati erimus

amati eritis

amati erunt

Note- the biggest mistake in English to Latin work tends to be forgetting the plural endings for the fourth principal part. Again- BE CAREFUL!!!!!!