LCI: Lesson 11, 2nd Declension Neute

[lmeahl]

When we learned the 1st declension and 2nd declension nouns the forms given in the vocabulary list were the nominative singular and plural (i.e. mensa, mensae and servus, servi). To follow that pattern in this lesson, the words given should be "bellum, bella", etc. However, in the list in the workbook as well as on the flashcards, the words are the nominative singular and genitive singular (bellum, belli). Why? This is confusing us! Thanks for any help.

[Anonymous]

I don't have the book (yet!), but mensa, mensae and servus, servi are nominative and genitive singular. (In these declensions, the genitive singular form happens to be the same as the nominative plural.) This is the usual way nouns are listed in Latin grammars and dictionaries, because the declension is determined by the ending of the genitive. Did the book say specifically that it was listing nominative singular and plural? HTH!

[Martin Cothran]

Andrew is correct. Every Latin text I have seen lists the nominative singular and the genitive singular in the vocabulary--for the reason Andrew suggests: that the genitive singular ending tells you which declension it is in. There would be no reason to list the nominative plural.

Martin Cothran