| Plural | Personal Endings | ||
| 1. | amābā´mus, we were loving | monēbā´mus, we were advising | -mus |
| 2. | amābā´tis, you were loving | monēbā´tis, you were advising | -tis |
| 3. | amā´bant, they were loving | monē´bant, they were advising | -nt |
- a. Note that the ā of the tense sign -bā- is shortened before -nt, and before m and t when final. (Cf. § 12.2.)
In a similar manner inflect the verbs given in § 129.
134. Meaning of the Imperfect. The Latin imperfect describes an act as going on or progressing in past time, like the English past-progressive tense (as, I was walking). It is the regular tense used to describe a past situation or condition of affairs.
I.
- Vidēbāmus, dēsīderābat, mātūrābās.
- Dabant, vocābātis, dēlēbāmus.
- Pugnant, laudābās, movēbātis.
- Iubēbant, properābātis, portābāmus.
- Dabās, nārrābant, labōrābātis.
- Vidēbant, movēbās, nūntiābāmus.
- Necābat, movēbam, habēbat, parābātis.
II.
- You were having (sing. and plur.), we were killing, they were laboring.
- He was moving, we were ordering, we were fighting.
- We were telling, they were seeing, he was calling.
- They were living, I was longing for, we were destroying.
- You were giving, you were moving, you were announcing, (sing. and plur.).
- They were caring for, he was plowing, we were praising.
First learn the special vocabulary, p. 287.
Niobē, rēgīna Thēbānōrum, erat pulchra fēmina sed superba. Erat superba nōn sōlum fōrmā[1] suā marītīque potentiā[1] sed etiam magnō līberōrum numerō.[1] Nam habēbat[2] septem fīliōs et septem fīliās. Sed ea superbia erat rēgīnae[3] causa magnae trīstitiae et līberīs[3] causa dūrae poenae.
Note. The words Niobē, Thēbānōrum, and marītī will be found in the general vocabulary. Translate the selection without looking up any other words.
