VIL: Lesson - Perfect System Introduction

Perfect System Introduction

Recall the first set of verb tenses we learned: the present, imperfect and future tenses. These were called the Present System, because these three tenses all use the present stem and then add endings.

There is a second system for Latin verbs called the Perfect System. Just like the present system tenses use the present stem, perfect system tenses use the perfect stem. The tenses in the perfect system are:

• Perfect Tense
• Pluperfect Tense (sometimes called Past Perfect)
• Future Perfect Tense

The Perfect Stem

The perfect stem is used to form the perfect, pluperfect and future perfect active voice verbs in Latin. The perfect stem has a bit more variety than the present stem (remember: the present stem, so far, will always end in either -a for 1st conjugation or -e for 2nd conjugation), because it is based on the 3rd principal part of the verb. The perfect stem is always formed by dropping the -i from the 3rd principal part.

Often the perfect stem ends in -v, -s, -u, -x, or -d.

Example:

• Verb: adoro, adorare, adoravi, adoratus - to worship
  • 3rd Principal Part = adoravi
  • Drop -i: adoravi - i = adorav-
  • The perfect stem is adorav.

The Perfect System

The perfect system is made up of the perfect tense, pluperfect tense, and future perfect tense. These tenses are formed using the perfect stem of the verb. Watch the video lesson below to learn more about the perfect system.

Download a printable version of the slides and full transcript for the Perfect System Video Lesson Links to an external site..