The Verb Comes Last
Subject, object, verb is the usual order.
How It Works
| English order | Latin order |
|---|---|
| Iulia carries a rose. | Iulia rosam portat. |
| The boys sing in the garden. | Pueri in horto cantant. |
| The girl sees Marcus. | Puella Marcum videt. |
Extra words, such as a place or a phrase with in, go before the verb: Marcus in horto cum amicis laborat. The verb still stands last.
When you read, find the verb at the end first, then ask who is doing it.
The verb comes last in most prose by Caesar and Cicero. Church prayers often put the verb first or in the middle, as in Laudamus te, so the verb at the end is a habit and not a law.
Examples (5)
- Iulia rosam portat.
Iulia carries a rose.
Subject, object, verb.
- Pueri in horto cantant.
The boys sing in the garden.
The place comes before the verb cantant.
- Puella Marcum videt.
The girl sees Marcus.
Videt stands last, and Marcum is the object.
- Populus Deum laudat.
The people praise God.
Laudat stands last.
- Marcus in horto cum amicis laborat.
Marcus works in the garden with friends.
Place and company come first, and the verb comes last.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The verb ends a plain sentence after the subject and the object, so free word order, the accusative and a present tense come first.
- Word Order Is Free
Know that word order is free, because the verb still has a usual place at the end.
Foundations - Present Tense: amare
Know a present tense, because the first sentences end in a verb: Marcus puellam amat.
Level 1 - The Accusative Case
Know the accusative, because the object stands just before the verb: Iulia rosam portat.
Level 1
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice The Verb Comes Last in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Latin lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
