Fourth Declension: manus, fructus
Fourth declension nouns have the endings -us, -us, -ui, -um, -u and are mostly masculine.
How It Works
| Case | manus | plural | fructus | plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nominative | manus | manus | fructus | fructus |
| genitive | manus | manuum | fructus | fructuum |
| dative | manui | manibus | fructui | fructibus |
| accusative | manum | manus | fructum | fructus |
| ablative | manu | manibus | fructu | fructibus |
The ending -us does four jobs: nominative singular, genitive singular, nominative plural and accusative plural. The sentence tells you which one it is.
Most fourth declension nouns are masculine, such as exercitus (army), senatus (senate), spiritus (spirit) and portus (harbor). Manus is feminine: manus magna is a big hand.
A dictionary lists a fourth declension noun by its nominative and genitive, such as manus, manus, so a repeated form is the usual sign of this declension.
Examples (5)
- Puer manum levat.
The boy raises his hand.
Manum is the accusative singular of manus.
- Caesar exercitum in Galliam ducit.
Caesar leads the army into Gaul.
Exercitum is the accusative singular of exercitus.
- Marcus fructum in manu tenet.
Marcus holds the fruit in his hand.
Fructum is accusative and manu is ablative.
- Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum.
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.
From Luke 23:46. Manus is accusative plural and spiritum is accusative singular.
- Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Spiritui is the dative singular of spiritus.
Common Mistakes
Giving manus a second declension ending.
Marcus fructum in mano tenet.Marcus fructum in manu tenet.Manus belongs to the fourth declension, so its ablative singular ends in -u: manu.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The fourth family shares the plural -ibus with the third, so the third family comes first.
Related Patterns
- Five Families of Nouns
All five declensions side by side.
Foundations - Fourth Declension Neuter: cornu
The few neuter nouns of this declension.
Level 4 - domus (House, Home)Domus: A Mixed Noun
A noun that mixes fourth and second declension endings.
Level 4 - Third Declension: rex, regis
The declension that looks most like this one.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Fourth Declension: manus, fructus in Bubblegum
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