VES: Lesson - 3rd and 4th Conjugation - Imperatives

3rd and 4th Conjugation - Imperatives

Practice forming imperatives for regular 3rd, 3rd -io and 4th conjugation verbs using the patterns below.

Example verbs:

  • mitto, mittere, misi, missus - to send
  • capio, capere, cepi, captus - to take
  • audio, audire, audi, auditus - to listen
Positive and Negative Imperative Formation
Conjugation Positive Imperative Negative Imperative
3rd Conjugation
  • Singular: Use the 2nd principal part and remove the -re ending:
    • mittere - re
    • Mitte! - Send!
  • Plural: use the singular form, changing the final -e to -i, then add -te
    • mitte -> mitti
    • Add -te: mitti + te
    • Mittite! - Send!
  • Singular - Use noli + the 2nd principal part:
    • noli + mittere
    • Noli mittere! - Don't send!
  • Plural - Use nolite + the 2nd principal part:
    • nolite + mittere
    • Nolite mittere! - Don't send!
3rd-io Conjugation
  • Singular: Use the 2nd principal part and remove the -re ending:
    • capere - re
    • Cape! - Take!
  • Plural: use the singular form, changing the final -e to -i, then add -te
    • cape -> capi
    • Add -te: capi + te
    • Capite! - Take!
  • Singular - Use noli + the 2nd principal part:
    • noli + capere
    • Noli capere! - Don't take!
  • Plural - Use nolite + the 2nd principal part:
    • nolite + capere
    • Nolite capere! - Don't take!
4th Conjugation
  • Singular: Use the 2nd principal part and remove the -re ending:
    • audire - re
    • Audi! - Listen!
  • Plural: add -te to the singular form
    • audi + te
    • Audite! - Listen!
  • Singular - Use noli + the 2nd principal part:
    • noli + audire
    • Noli audire! - Don't listen!
  • Plural - Use nolite + the 2nd principal part:
    • nolite + audire
    • Nolite audire! - Don't listen!

Irregular commands

An image shows three irregular imperatives: duc, dic and fac.

The following verbs have irregularly formed imperatives. Note the forms in bold.

  • dico, dicere, dixi, dictus - to speak, say
    • Imperative singular: Dic!
    • Imperative plural: Dicite!
  • duco, ducere, duxi, ductus - to lead
    • Imperative singular: Duc!
    • Imperative plural: Ducite!
  • facio, facere, feci, factus - to make, do
    • Imperative singular: Fac!
    • Imperative plural: Facite!
  • sum, esse, fui - to be
    • Imperative singular: Es! - Be!
    • Imperative plural: Este! - Be!