Latin Verbs - Deponent Verbs

Deponent verbs are active in meaning and passive in form.
This means that if you see a deponent like conor, you must translate it as an active verb; here: "I try." In the dictionary, you will see the verb for "to try" listed as

conor, -ari, -atus sum = try

Conor is the present passive first person singular indicative, but because the verb is deponent, it is translated as if it were active.

Conari is the present passive infinitive. Because of the "a." you can tell this is a first conjugation verb. Conari is translated as if it were an active infinitive: "to try."

The third entry in a non-deponent verb is the third principal part, which gives you the perfect active stem. If the verb were laudo, you would see

laudo, -are, -avi, - atus = praise

Remove the "i" from "laud + avi" and you have the perfect stem. There is none in the case of conor, because in deponent verbs, the third principal part is skipped.

Conatus sum is the perfect passive participle plus the first person of the verb for "to be." In a non-deponent verb, this form would give you the "perfect passive," but here the form gives you the perfect active: "I tried." In a non-deponent verb, the sum would not be added.

Except where the forms are missing, deponent verbs are conjugated just as other verbs in their conjugations.

Latin Grammar Tips

Index of Quick Tips on Latin Verbs

• Types of Latin Verbs
• Latin Supine
• Latin Verb Endings
• Latin Imperatives
• Latin Infinitives
• Latin Verbs - Internal Thematic Vowel
• Latin Verbs - Person and Number
• Latin Verbs - Prepositions in Verbs
• Latin Verbs - Sequence of Tenses in Indirect Discourse
• Latin Words - Where Do You Add on Endings?
• Passive Periphrastic

More Ancient / Classical History Quick Tips