Present Participle: amans, ducens
The Participle: Amans, Ducens
Add -ns to the stem and decline it like a third declension adjective.
How It Works
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | amans | amantes |
| genitive | amantis | amantium |
| dative | amanti | amantibus |
| accusative | amantem | amantes |
| ablative | amante | amantibus |
The participle describes what a person is doing at the same moment as the main verb: Puer ridens venit says that the boy comes laughing.
It agrees with the noun it describes, in case and number: puellam cantantem video (I see the girl singing), pueri ridentes (the laughing boys).
The neuter plural ends in -ia, like fortia: amantia. Beyond the first conjugation the stem vowel shows: habens, ducens, capiens, audiens.
Examples (5)
- Puer ridens venit.
The boy comes laughing.
Ridens is the nominative singular, agreeing with puer.
- Puellam cantantem video.
I see the girl singing.
Cantantem is the accusative singular, agreeing with puellam.
- Monachi cantantes ad ecclesiam eunt.
The singing monks go to the church.
Cantantes is the nominative plural, agreeing with monachi.
- Marcus Iuliam legentem videt.
Marcus sees Iulia reading.
Legentem is the accusative singular of the third conjugation participle.
- Maria Iesum dormientem spectat.
Mary looks at Jesus sleeping.
Dormientem is the accusative singular, agreeing with Iesum.
Common Mistakes
Using -ans for every conjugation.
Marcus Iuliam legantem videt.Marcus Iuliam legentem videt.Only the first conjugation has -ans. Lego is third conjugation, so the participle is legens, and the accusative is legentem.
Not changing the participle to match the noun.
Puellam cantans video.Puellam cantantem video.The participle agrees with its noun. Puellam is accusative, so the participle is the accusative cantantem.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The present participle is built on the present stem and declines like a third-family adjective.
Related Patterns
- Participles Doing Another Job
Participles that stand on their own.
Level 4 - Ablative Absolute (While): Marco legenteAblative Absolute: Marco Legente
The participle in a phrase of its own.
Level 4 - Perfect Passive Participle: amatus, ductus, captusThe Participle: Amatus, Ductus, Captus
The participle that looks back.
Level 4 - Future Participle: amaturusAbout to: Amaturus
The participle that looks ahead.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice Present Participle: amans, ducens in Bubblegum
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