1. The tense sign is -bā-, as in the first two conjugations.
2. Observe that the final -ĕ- of the stem is lengthened before the tense sign -bā-. This makes the imperfect of the third conjugation just like the imperfect of the second (cf. monēbam and regēbam).
3. In the fourth conjugation -ē- is inserted between the stem and the tense sign -bā- (audi-ē-ba-m).
4. In a similar manner inflect the verbs given in § 148.
I.
- Agēbat, veniēbat, mittēbat, dūcēbant.
- Agēbant, mittēbant, dūcēbās, mūniēbant.
- Mittēbāmus, dūcēbātis, dīcēbant.
- Mūniēbāmus, veniēbātis, dīcēbās.
- Mittēbās, veniēbāmus, reperiēbat.
- Reperiēbās, veniēbās, audiēbātis.
- Agēbāmus, reperiēbātis, mūniēbat.
- Agēbātis, dīcēbam, mūniēbam.
II.
- They were leading, you were driving (sing. and plur.), he was fortifying.
- They were sending, we were finding, I was coming.
- You were sending, you were fortifying, (sing. and plur.), he was saying.
- They were hearing, you were leading (sing. and plur.), I was driving.
- We were saying, he was sending, I was fortifying,
- They were coming, he was hearing, I was finding.
- You were ruling (sing. and plur.), we were coming, they were ruling.
153. The Dative with Special Intransitive Verbs. We learned above (§ 20. a) that a verb which does not admit of a direct object is called an intransitive verb. Many such verbs, however, are of such meaning that they can govern an indirect object, which will, of course, be in the dative case (§ 45). Learn the following list of intransitive verbs with their meanings. In each case the dative indirect object is the person or thing to which a benefit, injury, or feeling is directed. (Cf. § 43.)
| crēdō, crēdere, believe (give belief to) |
| faveō, favēre, favor (show favor to) |
| noceō, nocēre, injure (do harm to) |
| pāreō, pārēre, obey (give obedience to) |
| persuādeō, persuādēre, persuade (offer persuasion to) |
| resistō, resistere, resist (offer resistance to) |
| studeō, studēre, be eager for (give attention to) |
