TO: Lesson - 4th Declension Nouns - Examples and Practice
4th Declension Nouns - Examples and Practice
Let's decline a few fourth declension nouns to review the general rules for noun formation. The basics: take the noun base and add your declension endings.
Example nouns:
- metus, metus, m. - fear
- Base: met-
- cornu, cornus, n. - horn, wing (of an army)
- Base: corn-
| metus, metus, m. | cornu, cornus, n. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case | Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
| Nominative | metus | metus | cornu | cornua |
| Genitive | metus | metuum | cornus | cornuum |
| Dative | metui | metibus | cornu | cornibus |
| Accusative | metum | metus | cornu | cornua |
| Ablative | metu | metibus | cornu | cornibus |
| Vocative | metus | metus | cornu | cornua |
The Irregular Noun domus
There is one irregular 4th declension noun that will need to be looked at more carefully: domus, domus, f. - house. This noun can use both 2nd and 4th declension endings. For instance, the genitive singular can be both domus (4th declension) but also domi (2nd declension). In the chart below, both declensions are presented side by side. Are there any forms that can only be 4th declension? Are there any that are only 2nd declension?
- domus, domus/domi - home
- Base: dom-
- Note: the base is dom regardless of whether you use the 2nd or 4th declension genitive:
- domi - i = dom-
- domus - us = dom-
| 2nd declension forms | 4th declension forms | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case | Singular | Plural | Singular | Plural |
| Nominative | domus | domi | domus | domus |
| Genitive | domi | domorum | domus | domuum |
| Dative | domo | --- | domui | domibus |
| Accusative | domum | domos | domum | domus |
| Ablative | domo | --- | domu | domibus |
Practice Activity