Deponents in the Perfect
Use the participle with sum for the perfect, and an infinitive in -ri or -i.
How It Works
| Person | masculine | feminine |
|---|---|---|
| I | locutus sum | locuta sum |
| you (one) | locutus es | locuta es |
| he, she | locutus est | locuta est |
| we | locuti sumus | locutae sumus |
| you (all) | locuti estis | locutae estis |
| they | locuti sunt | locutae sunt |
The participle is active in meaning: locutus alone means having spoken. Other examples are secutus (having followed), conatus (having tried) and passus (having suffered).
The infinitive ends in -ri for the first and second conjugations (conari, vereri) and in -i for the third (loqui, sequi, pati).
The pluperfect and the future perfect are built the same way with eram and ero: locutus eram means I had spoken.
Examples (5)
- Marcus Latine locutus est.
Marcus spoke Latin.
Locutus est is the perfect, and locutus is masculine like Marcus.
- Puellae magistrum secutae sunt.
The girls followed the teacher.
Secutae is feminine plural, like puellae.
- Volo Latine loqui.
I want to speak Latin.
Loqui is the infinitive of loquor.
- Qui locutus est per prophetas.
Who has spoken through the prophets.
From the Creed. Locutus est means has spoken.
- Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato, passus et sepultus est.
He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, suffered and was buried.
From the Creed. Passus is the perfect participle of patior, active in meaning.
Common Mistakes
Using the wrong gender for the participle.
Puellae magistrum secuti sunt.Puellae magistrum secutae sunt.The participle agrees with the subject, like an adjective. Puellae is feminine plural, so the participle is secutae.
Using a form that looks like an infinitive but is not.
Volo Latine loquere.Volo Latine loqui.Loquere is good Latin, but it means you speak or speak! After volo, the infinitive loqui is needed.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Deponents form their perfect and infinitive in the passive way.
- Deponent Verbs
Know deponent verbs, because this entry covers their other forms.
Level 4 - Perfect Passive: amatus sum
Know the perfect passive, because deponents form their perfect that way: locutus sum.
Level 4 - Passive Infinitives: amari, duci
Know the passive infinitive, because deponents use it: loqui.
Level 4
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Deponents in the Perfect in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Latin lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
