In this lesson, we continue to study the grammar of third declension nouns, focusing on the genitive plural forms of different nouns. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks:
- Read over the lesson once to become familiar with the content to be studied.
- Study the lesson for mastery, learning the translation of each Latin rule.
- Complete the lesson assessment.
Source: Alvarez, Institutio Grammatica, translated by Mr. William C. Michael.
Lesson
Note that among third declension nouns, there are two classes: (A) those whose genitive plural form ends in -IUM, and (B) those whose genitive plural form ends in -UM. Which nouns are included in each class is described in the rules below.
A. Genitive Plural ends in -IUM
I. In -IUM exeunt quaecunque literis -NS finiuntur, ut serpentium, prudentium, amantium, ingentium, adolescentium.
Translation: They end in -IUM whichever (third declension nouns) are terminated with the letters -NS, as serpens, serpentium; prudens, prudentium; amans, amantium; ingens, ingentium; adolescens, adolescentium.
II. Item pleraque -S litera terminata, quae genitivo non crescunt, ut collis, collium; clades, cladium.
Translation: Likewise, most third declension nouns terminated with the letter -S, which do not increase (in syllables) in the genitive case, as: collis, collium; clades, cladium.
III. Et quorum ablativus in -I tantum vel in -I et -E exit, ut: dioecesium, syrtium, navium, imbrium, ultricium, animalium, calcarium, cubilium, salubrium, plurium, felicium, etc.
Translation: And those of which the ablative case ends only in -I or in -I and -E, as: diocese, diocesium; syrtis, syrtium; navis, navium; imber, imbrium; ultrix, ultricium; animal, animalium; calcar, calcarium; cubile, cubilium; saluber, salubrium; plus, plurium; felix, felicium, etc.
IV. Quibus adde Samnitium, lintrium, cohortium, utrium, ventrium, penatium, carnium, fornacium, paludium; quamvis fornacum semel a Plinio usi paludum a Caesare, et Mela usurpatum sit.
Translation: To which (nouns) add Samnitium, lintrium, cohortium, utrium, ventrium, penatium, carnium, fornacium, paludium; though fornacum is used once by Pliny, paludum by Caesar, et also by Mela.
Note: This seems to be a random list of known third declension words whose genitive plural ends in -IUM as the others. There seems to be no other characteristic shared by them.
V. Ad haec monosyllaba, quae in duas consonantes exeunt, ut trabs, seps, ars, arx, maerx, pars, dens, fons, mens, etc. trabium, sepium, artium, arcium, etc.
To these (add the) monosyllabic words, which end in two consonants, as trabs, seps, ars, arx, maerx, pars, dens, fons, mens, etc., which make trabium, sepium, artium, arcium, etc.
Note: “monosyllabic” means having one syllable, and we’re referring only to the nominative case.
VI. Quibus accedunt assis, glis, lis, mus, dos, nix, nox, os, fauces, vas et si qua sunt alia a viris doctis usurpata.
VI. To which are added assis, glis, lis, mus, dos, nix, nox, os, fauces, vas and if any others are used by learned men.
B. Genitive Plural ends in -UM
VII. Ab his omnibus rursus excipiuntur parens, panis, memor, inops, supplex, vetus, degener, uber, lynx et alia, quorum genitivus exit in -UM, parentum, panum, memorum, lyncum, etc. Parens tamen aliquando, praecipue apud poetas, habet parentium; Horatius dixit, dos est magna parentium virtus. Reliqua usu disces.
VII. From all these (nouns ending in -IUM, listed above), on the other hand, are excepted: parens, panis, memor, inops, supplex, vetus, degener, uber, lynx and others, of which the genitive ends in -UM: parentum, panum, memorum, lyncum, etc. Parens nevertheless, sometimes, especially with the poets, has parentium; Horace said, dos est magna parentium virtus (the great dowry of their parents is virtue).
Those that remain you shall learn by experience.
