Singular and Plural Verbs

Level 1

Match the verb ending to the subject.

How It Works

SubjectVerbMeaning
puellacantatthe girl sings
puellaecantantthe girls sing
Marcus et IuliaridentMarcus and Iulia laugh
populuscantatthe people sing

Check the noun ending first, then choose the verb ending that matches it.

In Latin the verb often stands far from its subject, so a plural subject at the start of a long sentence is easy to miss. Find the subject first, then check the verb ending against it.

The same rule holds for the verb to be, and for neuter plurals: Dona sunt bona uses sunt because dona means more than one gift.

Examples (5)

  1. Puella cantat.

    The girl sings.

    One subject, so -t.

  2. Puellae cantant.

    The girls sing.

    More than one subject, so -nt.

  3. Marcus et Iulia rident.

    Marcus and Iulia are laughing.

    Two subjects joined by et make a plural subject.

  4. Populus cantat.

    The people sing.

    Populus is a singular word for a group, so the verb ends in -t.

  5. Pueri in horto sunt.

    The boys are in the garden.

    The plural subject takes sunt.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a singular verb with a plural subject.

    Puellae cantat.
    Puellae cantant.

    Puellae is plural, so the verb must end in -nt.

  • Using a singular verb with two subjects.

    Marcus et Iulia ridet.
    Marcus et Iulia rident.

    Marcus et Iulia are two people, so a verb that follows them is plural.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Singular and Plural VerbsLevel 1

Learn This First

A plural subject needs a plural verb, so plural nouns and the verb overview come first.