1. Chapter 8

2.  There are three genders of nouns in Latin. You have already seen two of them, masculine and feminine, and in this chapter, we will take a look at the third gender, the neuter.  Keep in mind that you must memorize the gender from the vocabulary. Inanimate objects are not always neuter in Latin.

3.  These rules are for ALL neuter nouns, no matter what declension they are in. Nominative and Accusative will look alike. Nominative and Accusative plural will end in –a.

4.  All other endings are the same as the masculine endings you have already learned.

5.  Look at the following chart of endings for a 2 nd Declension, neuter word:  Notice how many neuter endings look just like the masculine ones. CaseSingularPlural Nom.-um-a Gen.-i-orum Dat.-o-is Acc.-um-a Abl.-o-is

6.  Here’s an example of a second declension, neuter word declined. First find the base of the noun- donum, doni, n. Then add the endings: CaseSingularPlural Nom.donumdona Gen.donidonorum Dat.donodonis Acc.donumdona Abl.donodonis

7.  Here are some other 2 nd Declension, neuter words from your reading: arma, armorum, n. weapons * bellum, belli, n. war castra, castrorum, n. camp* consilium, consili, n. plan, advice forum, fori, n. forum templum, templi, n. temple

8.  *NOTICE that CASTRA and ARMA are always plural. Since the –a is the nominative, neuter, plural ending for 2 nd declension, that is the nominative form that you see in the dictionary entry.

9.  Look at the following chart of endings for a 3rd Declension, neuter word:  Notice that the nominative, singular is unpredictable in the 3 rd Declension. The accusative will always look like the nominative when the word is neuter. CaseSingularPlural Nom.----a Gen.-is-um Dat.-i-ibus Acc.----a Abl.-e-ibus

10.  Here’s an example of a third declension, neuter word declined. First find the base of the noun- corpus, corporis, n. Then add the endings: CaseSingularPlural Nom.corpuscorpora Gen.corporiscorporum Dat.corporicorporibus Acc.corpuscorpora Abl.corporecorporibus

11.  Some of the 3 rd declension neuter nouns in your readings are: carmen, carminis., n. song, poem corpus, corporis, n. body iter, itineris, n. journey mare, maris, n. sea opus, operis, n. work, labor, a literary work

12.  Always remember the two rules for neuter nouns. They will work no matter what the declension. Nominative and Accusative will look alike. Nominative and Accusative plural will end in –a.