LLPSI 1.

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Welcome to Lingua Latina Conversations: Chapter 1, Latin Grammar, Part 1. In this
conversation, you will learn some of the vocabulary and grammar of Chapter 1,
Capitulum Prīmum, Latin Grammar, Grammātica Latīna, in Hans Oerberg’s Familia
Romana text. Listen to the following conversation between the Greek teacher, Diodorus,
and his best student, Sextus. Diodorus is asking Sextus about singular and plural Latin
nouns

Diodorus: Exemplum prīmum est ‘Nīlus magnus fluvius est.’ Estne ‘fluvius’ plūrālis?
Sextus: ‘fluvius’ singulāris est, ‘fluviī’ plūrālis est.
Diodorus: Bene, Sexte!

In that conversation you heard the Latin grammatical terms “singular” and “plural”
(‘singulāris’ and ‘plūrālis’). Listen again:

Diodorus: Exemplum prīmum est ‘Nīlus magnus fluvius est.’ Estne ‘fluvius’ plūrālis?
Sextus: ‘fluvius’ singulāris est, ‘fluviī’ plūrālis est.
Diodorus: Bene, Sexte!

Don’t worry if you understood only a little of that conversation. By the end of this
lesson, you’ll not only understand the whole conversation, but you’ll be able to
participate in it yourself.

a Here is the Latin noun meaning “example”:

exemplum
Repeat:
-um
ex-em-plum
exemplum x2
What is the Latin noun meaning “example”?
exemplum x2
b Try to compare “the town is” with “the towns are”:
oppidum est/oppida sunt
Now, following the same pattern, try to compare “the example is” and “the
examples are”:
exemplum est/exempla sunt x2
a What is the Latin noun meaning “example”?
exemplum x2
Try to say “It is the first example”:
exemplum prīmum est
exemplum prīmum
b Compare “the example is” and “the examples are”:
exemplum est/exempla sunt
Ask “Is there one town?”

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 Estne ūnum oppidum?
Now try to ask “Is there one example?”
Estne ūnum exemplum?
ūnum exemplum
c Here is the Latin adjective meaning “singular”:
singulāris
Listen and repeat:
-is x2
-lā-ris
singulāris x2
What is the Latin adjective meaning “singular”?
singulāris x2
Latin nouns can be singular, meaning ‘one’ in number, or plural, meaning
‘more than one’ in number.
The noun ‘numerus’ is understood with ‘singulāris’. A noun is singular in
number: numerus singulāris.
Once again, give the Latin adjective meaning “singular in number”:
singulāris
a Give the Latin noun meaning “example”?
exemplum x2
Try to say “It is the second example”:
exemplum secundum est
exemplum secundum

c What is the Latin adjective meaning “singular”?

singulāris
b Try to say “’fluvius’ is singular”:
‘fluvius’ singulāris est x2

Compare “the example is” and “the examples are”:

exemplum est/exempla sunt
Ask “Is there one example?”
Estne ūnum exemplum?
Try to answer “There are two examples”:
duo exempla sunt
duo exempla
d Here is the Latin adjective meaning “plural”:
plūrālis
Repeat:
-is x2
-rā-lis
plū-rā-lis
plūrālis x2
What is the Latin adjective meaning “plural”?

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 plūrālis x2
As with ‘singulāris’, the noun ‘numerus’ is understood with the adjective
‘plūrālis’.
Once again, give the Latin adjective meaning “plural in number”:
plūrālis
c Give the Latin adjective meaning “singular”?
singulāris
d Say “’fluvius’ is singular”:
‘fluvius’ singulāris est x2

What is the Latin adjective meaning “plural”?

plūrālis x2
Say “’fluviī’ is plural”:
‘fluviī’ plūrālis est x2
a Give the Latin noun meaning “example”?
exemplum x2
Try to say “It is the third example”:
exemplum tertium est
exemplum tertium

b Compare “the example is” and “the examples are”:

exemplum est/exempla sunt
Ask “Are there two examples?”
Suntne duo exempla?
Here is the answer “There are three examples”:
tria exempla sunt
Repeat:
tria x2
tria exempla
tria exempla sunt
Try to say “there are three examples”:
tria exempla sunt
tria
d Give the Latin adjective meaning “plural”:
plūrālis
Say “’fluviī’ is plural”:
‘fluviī’ plūrālis est
e Now say “’īnsula’ is singular”:
‘īnsula’ singulāris est x2
c Try to say “The Nile is a big river”:
Nīlus magnus fluvius est
magnus fluvius
Now say “’fluvius’ is singular”:
‘fluvius’ singulāris est x2

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e Try to say “Corsica is a big island”:
Corsica magna īnsula est
magna īnsula
Now say “’īnsula’ is singular”:
‘īnsula’ singulāris est

d Try to say “The Nile and the Rhine are big rivers”:
Nīlus et Rhēnus magnī fluviī sunt
magnī fluviī
Now say “’fluviī’ is plural”:
‘fluviī’ plūrālis est
e Say “Corsica is a big island”:
Corsica magna īnsula est
Ask “Is ‘īnsula’ plural?”
Estne ‘īnsula’ plūrālis?
Answer “’īnsula’ is singular”:
‘īnsula’ singulāris est

a Try to ask “Is there one example?”

Estne ūnum exemplum?
b Answer “There are three examples”:
tria exempla sunt
tria exempla
tria exempla sunt
e Say “Corsica is a big island”:
Corsica magna īnsula est
Ask “Is ‘īnsula’ plural?”
Estne ‘īnsula’ plūrālis?
Answer “’īnsula’ is not plural, but singular”:
‘īnsula’ nōn plūrālis, sed singulāris est

c Say “The Nile is a big river”:

Nīlus magnus fluvius est
Ask “Is ‘fluvius’ singular?”
Estne ‘fluvius’ singulāris?
Answer “’fluvius’ is singular”:
‘fluvius’ singulāris est

d Say “The Nile and the Rhine are big rivers”:

Nīlus et Rhēnus magnī fluviī sunt
magnī fluviī
Ask “Is ‘fluviī’ plural?”
Estne ‘fluviī’ plūrālis?

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 Answer “’fluviī’ is plural”:
‘fluviī’ plūrālis est
e Say “Corsica is a big island”:
Corsica magna īnsula est
Ask “Is ‘īnsula’ plural?”
Estne ‘īnsula’ plūrālis?
Answer “’īnsula’ is not plural, but singular”:
‘īnsula’ nōn plūrālis, sed singulāris est

a Ask “Is there one example?”

Estne ūnum exemplum?
b Answer “There are three examples”:
tria exempla sunt

c Say “The first example is ‘The Nile is a big river’:

Exemplum prīmum est ‘Nīlus magnus fluvius est.’
Ask “Is ‘fluvius’ singular?”
Estne ‘fluvius’ singulāris?
Answer “’fluvius’ is singular”:
‘fluvius’ singulāris est

d Say “The Nile and the Rhine are big rivers”:

Nīlus et Rhēnus magnī fluviī sunt
Ask “Is ‘fluviī’ plural?”
Estne ‘fluviī’ plūrālis?
Answer “’fluviī’ is plural”:
‘fluviī’ plūrālis est
e Say “The second example is ‘Corsica is a big island’”:
Exemplum secundum est ‘Corsica magna īnsula est’
Ask “Is ‘īnsula’ plural?”
Estne ‘īnsula’ plūrālis?
Answer “’īnsula’ is not plural, but singular”:
‘īnsula’ nōn plūrālis, sed singulāris est

Now you’ll play the role of Sextus. Your teacher, Diodorus, will ask you a
grammar question. I’ll help you answer it.

Diodorus: Exemplum prīmum est ‘Nīlus magnus fluvius est.’ Estne ‘fluvius’
plūrālis?
Answer “’fluvius’ is singular, ‘fluviī’ is plural.”
Sextus: ‘fluvius’ singulāris est, ‘fluviī’ plūrālis est.
Diodorus: Bene, Sexte!

This is the end of Chapter 1, Latin Grammar, Part 1. Please continue with

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 Part 2 tomorrow.
f Welcome to Chapter 1, Latin Grammar, Part 2. Listen to the following
conversation between Diodorus and his best student, Sextus.

Diodorus: Exemplum prīmum est ‘Nīlus magnus fluvius est.’ Estne ‘fluvius’
plūrālis?
Sextus: ‘fluvius’ singulāris est, ‘fluviī’ plūrālis est.
Diodorus: Exemplum secundum est ‘Corsica magna īnsula est.’ Estne ‘īnsula’
plūrālis?
Sextus: ‘īnsula’ singulāris est, ‘īnsulae’ plūralis est.
Diodorus: Exemplum tertium est ‘Brundisium magnum oppidum est.’ Estne
‘oppidum’ plūrālis?
Sextus: ‘oppidum’ singulāris est, ‘oppida’ plūrālis est.
Diodorus: Bene, Sexte!

Don’t worry if you understood only part of that conversation. By the end of
this lesson, you’ll not only understand the whole conversation, but you’ll be
able to participate in it yourself.

Say “’īnsulae’ is plural”:

‘īnsulae’ plūrālis est
plūrālis est
g Now say “’oppidum’ is singular”:
‘oppidum’ singulāris est
f Say “’īnsulae’ is plural”:
‘īnsulae’ plūrālis est
g Ask “Is ’oppidum’ singular?”:
Estne ‘oppidum’ singulāris?
h Answer “’oppidum’ is singular, ‘oppida’ is plural”:
‘oppidum’ singulāris est, ‘oppida’ plūrālis est
‘oppida’ plūrālis est
f Try to say “Corsica and Sardinia are large islands”:
Corsica et Sardinia magnae īnsulae sunt
magnae īnsulae
Say “’īnsulae’ is plural”:
‘īnsulae’ plūrālis est
h Now say ‘oppida’ is plural”:
‘oppida’ plūrālis est
g
Try to say "Brundisium is a large town”:
Brundisium magnum oppidum est
magnum oppidum
Say “’oppidum’ is singular”:
‘oppidum’ singulāris est

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i Here is the Latin noun meaning “task” or “activity”:
pēnsum
Repeat:
-um
pēn-sum
pēnsum x2
What is the Latin word for “task” or “activity”?
pēnsum x2
h Now say ‘oppida’ is plural”:
‘oppida’ plūrālis est
i
What is the Latin word for “task” or “activity”?
pēnsum x2
At the end of every chapter you will find three “activities” labeled ‘Pēnsum A’,
‘Pēnsum B’, and ‘Pēnsum C’.
Try to say “Pensum A is the first activity.”
‘Pēnsum A’ est pēnsum prīmum.
pēnsum prīmum
f Say “Corsica and Sardinia are large islands”:
Corsica et Sardinia magnae īnsulae sunt
Ask “Is ‘īnsulae’ singular?”
Estne ‘īnsulae’ singulāris?
Answer “’īnsula’ is singular, ’īnsulae’ is plural”:
‘insula’ singulāris est, ‘īnsulae’ plūrālis est.
g Say "Brindisi is a large town”:
Brundisium magnum oppidum est
Ask “Is ‘oppidum’ plural?”
Estne ‘oppidum’ plūrālis?
Answer “’oppidum’ is singular”:
‘oppidum’ singulāris est
i What is the Latin word for “task” or “activity”?
pēnsum x2
Say “Pensum A is the first activity.”
‘Pēnsum A’ est pēnsum prīmum.
Now say “Pensum B is the second activity”:
‘Pēnsum B’ est pēnsum secundum.
pēnsum secundum
j Knowing that ‘pēnsum’ follows the pattern of ‘oppidum’, try to compare “the
activity is” with “the activities are”:
pēnsum est/pēnsa sunt x2
h Say “’oppidum’ is singular, ‘oppida’ is plural”:
‘oppidum’ singulāris est, ‘oppida’ plūrālis est.
j Compare “the activity is” with “the activities are”:
pēnsum est/pēnsa sunt x2

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i Give the Latin word for “task” or “activity”:
pēnsum
Say “Pensum A is the first activity.”
‘Pēnsum A’ est pēnsum prīmum.
Now say “Pensum B is the second activity”:
‘Pēnsum B’ est pēnsum secundum.
Now say “Pensum C is the third activity”:
‘Pēnsum C’ est pēnsum tertium.
pēnsum tertium
j Say “in the chapter”:
in capitulō x2
Now say “in the first chapter”:
in capitulō prīmō x2
Now ask “Is there one activity in the first chapter?”
Estne ūnum pēnsum in capitulō prīmō?
Estne ūnum pēnsum?
Try to answer “There are three activities”:
tria pēnsa sunt.
tria pēnsa
f Say “Corsica and Sardinia are large islands”:
Corsica et Sardinia magnae īnsulae sunt
Ask “Is ‘īnsulae’ singular?”
Estne ‘īnsulae’ singulāris?
Answer “’īnsula’ is singular, ’īnsulae’ is plural”:
‘insula’ singulāris est, ‘īnsulae’ plūrālis est.
g Say "Brindisi is a large town”:
Brundisium magnum oppidum est
Ask “Is ‘oppidum’ plural?”
Estne ‘oppidum’ plūrālis?
Answer “’oppidum’ is singular”:
‘oppidum’ singulāris est
j Ask “Is there one activity in the first chapter?”
Estne ūnum pēnsum in capitulō prīmō?
in capitulō prīmō
Answer “There are three activities”:
tria pēnsa sunt
tria pēnsa
h Try to say “Brindisi and Sparta are large towns”:
Brundisium et Sparta magna oppida sunt
magna oppida
Ask “Is ‘oppida’ singular?”
Estne ‘oppida’ singulāris?”
Answer “’oppida’ is plural.”
‘oppida’ plūrālis est.

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 i Try to say “Pensum A is first, Pensum B is second, and Pensum C is third.”
‘Pēnsum A’ est prīmum, ‘Pēnsum B’ est secundum, et ‘Pēnsum C’ est tertium.
j Ask “Is there one activity in the first chapter?”
Estne ūnum pēnsum in capitulō prīmō?
Answer “In the first chapter there are three activities”:
In capitulō prīmō tria pēnsa sunt x2

f Say “Corsica and Sardinia are large islands”:

Corsica et Sardinia magnae īnsulae sunt
Ask “Is ‘īnsulae’ singular?”
Estne ‘īnsulae’ singulāris?
Answer “’īnsula’ is singular, ’īnsulae’ is plural”:
‘insula’ singulāris est, ‘īnsulae’ plūrālis est.
g Say "The third example is ‘Brindisi is a large town’”:
Exemplum tertium est ‘Brundisium magnum oppidum est’
Ask “Is ‘oppidum’ plural?”
Estne ‘oppidum’ plūrālis?
Answer “’oppidum’ is singular”:
‘oppidum’ singulāris est
h Say “Brindisi and Sparta are large towns”:
Brundisium et Sparta magna oppida sunt
magna oppida
Say “’oppidum’ is singular, ‘oppida’ is plural”:
‘oppidum’ singulāris est, ‘oppida’ plūrālis est
i Say “Pensum A is first, Pensum B is second, and Pensum C is third.”
‘Pēnsum A’ est prīmum, ‘Pēnsum B’ est secundum, et ‘Pēnsum C’ est tertium.
j Ask “Is there one activity in the first chapter?”
Estne ūnum pēnsum in capitulō prīmō?
Answer “In the first chapter there are three activities”:
In capitulō prīmō tria pēnsa sunt x2

REVIEW

Now for a conversation. You’ll play the role of Sextus. Your Latin teacher, Diodorus,
will ask you some questions about singular and plural Latin nouns. At first, I’ll help
with your responses.

Diodorus: Exemplum prīmum est ‘Nīlus magnus fluvius est.’ Estne ‘fluvius’ plūrālis?
Answer “’fluvius’ is singular, ‘fluviī’ is plural.”
Sextus: ‘fluvius’ singulāris est, ‘fluviī’ plūrālis est.
Diodorus: Exemplum secundum est ‘Corsica magna īnsula est.’ Estne ‘īnsula’ plūrālis?
Reply “’īnsula’ is singular, ‘īnsulae’ is plural.”
Sextus: ‘īnsula’ singulāris est, ‘īnsulae’ plūralis est.

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Diodorus: Exemplum tertium est ‘Brundisium magnum oppidum est.’ Estne
‘oppidum’ plūrālis?
Respond “’oppidum’ is singular, ‘oppida’ is plural.”
Sextus: ‘oppidum’ singulāris est, ‘oppida’ plūrālis est.
Diodorus: Bene, Sexte!

Let’s try that conversation one more time. This time you’ll respond without any
prompting from me.

Diodorus: Exemplum prīmum est ‘Nīlus magnus fluvius est.’ Estne ‘fluvius’ plūrālis?
Sextus: ‘fluvius’ singulāris est, ‘fluviī’ plūrālis est.
Diodorus: Exemplum secundum est ‘Corsica magna īnsula est.’ Estne ‘īnsula’ plūrālis?
Sextus: ‘īnsula’ singulāris est, ‘īnsulae’ plūralis est.
Diodorus: Exemplum tertium est ‘Brundisium magnum oppidum est.’ Estne
‘oppidum’ plūrālis?
Sextus: ‘oppidum’ singulāris est, ‘oppida’ plūrālis est.
Diodorus: Bene, Sexte!

This is the end of Chapter 1, Latin Grammar. This is the end of today’s conversation.
Bene valē! Good bye!

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