Prefer: malo
Learn the six forms and add an infinitive, with quam for rather than.
How It Works
| Person | Latin | English |
|---|---|---|
| I | malo | I prefer |
| you (one) | mavis | you prefer |
| he, she, it | mavult | he prefers |
| we | malumus | we prefer |
| you (all) | mavultis | you all prefer |
| they | malunt | they prefer |
The infinitive is malle and the perfect is malui. The forms are volo, vis, vult, volumus, vultis, volunt with ma- in front: mavis, mavult, mavultis. In malo, malumus and malunt, the v and the vowel after it drop out.
Use it for choices: Quid mavis? asks What do you prefer?
When someone else would act, use an accusative and an infinitive, as with volo: Malo te venire means I prefer you to come.
Examples (5)
- Malo legere quam scribere.
I would rather read than write.
Malo is followed by the infinitive legere.
- Marcus Romae habitare mavult quam Athenis.
Marcus prefers to live in Rome rather than in Athens.
Mavult is third person singular.
- Quid mavis, aquam an vinum?
What do you prefer, water or wine?
Mavis is second person singular.
- Monachi tacere malunt.
The monks prefer to be silent.
Malunt is third person plural.
- Mavultis hodie manere an ire?
Do you all prefer to stay today or to go?
Mavultis is second person plural.
Common Mistakes
Forming the third person like a regular verb.
Marcus malit legere.Marcus mavult legere.The third person singular of malo is mavult, like vult in volo. It does not take the regular ending -it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Malo is built from magis and volo and changes like volo.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Prefer: malo in Bubblegum
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