(The Farmer in the Garden)
Theme: Work and Nature
Grammar Focus: 1st & 2nd Declension nouns; present tense verb endings
Vocabulary Groups: Plants, Tools, Food, Colours
Latin Text
- Agricola in horto laborat.
- Habet palām et cistam.
- In cista sunt semina et mala.
- Rosae rubrae et violae purpureae crescunt.
- Terra humida est post imbrem.
- Agricola aquam portat et flores rigat.
- Sol lucet; avis cantat in arbore.
- Agricola laetus est, quod natura bona est.
Literal English Translation
- The farmer works in the garden.
- He has a spade and a basket.
- In the basket are seeds and apples.
- Red roses and purple violets grow.
- The ground is moist after the rain.
- The farmer carries water and waters the flowers.
- The sun shines; a bird sings in the tree.
- The farmer is happy, because nature is good.
Word Notes
| Latin | Meaning | Grammar Note |
|---|---|---|
| agricola, -ae | farmer | 1st declension, m. |
| hortus, -i | garden | 2nd declension, m. |
| laborat | works | 3rd sg. present of laborare |
| pala, -ae | spade | 1st declension, f. |
| cista, -ae | basket | 1st declension, f. |
| semen, seminis | seed | 3rd declension, n. (introduced for contrast) |
| malum, -i | apple | 2nd declension, n. |
| rosa, -ae | rose | 1st declension, f. |
| ruber, rubra, rubrum | red | adjective, agrees with rosa |
| viola, -ae | violet | 1st declension, f. |
| purpureus, -a, -um | purple | adjective |
| crescit | grows | 3rd sg. present of crescere |
| terra, -ae | earth, soil | 1st declension, f. |
| humidus, -a, -um | moist | adjective |
| imber, imbris | rain | 3rd declension, m. |
| portat | carries | 3rd sg. present of portare |
| rigat | waters | 3rd sg. present of rigare |
| sol, solis | sun | 3rd declension, m. |
| lucet | shines | 3rd sg. present of lucere |
| avis, avis | bird | 3rd declension, f. |
| cantat | sings | 3rd sg. present of cantare |
| arbor, arboris | tree | 3rd declension, f. |
| laetus, -a, -um | happy | adjective |
| natura, -ae | nature | 1st declension, f. |
| bonus, -a, -um | good | adjective |
| quod | because | conjunction |
Grammar Focus
1st Declension: mostly feminine — rosa, pala, terra, natura
2nd Declension: mostly masculine or neuter — hortus, malum
Present tense endings (1st conjugation -are verbs):
| Person | Latin Ending | Example (laborare) | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | -o | laboro | I work |
| 2nd sg | -as | laboras | you work |
| 3rd sg | -at | laborat | he/she/it works |
| 1st pl | -amus | laboramus | we work |
| 2nd pl | -atis | laboratis | you (pl) work |
| 3rd pl | -ant | laborant | they work |
Excellent idea — clear declension tables will help pupils see the pattern.
Here are the 1st and 2nd Declension noun tables using examples from the passage.
1st Declension – Feminine Nouns
Example: rosa, rosae (rose)
Other examples: pala, terra, natura
| Case | Singular | Meaning | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | rosa | the rose | rosae | the roses |
| Genitive | rosae | of the rose | rosarum | of the roses |
| Dative | rosae | to/for the rose | rosis | to/for the roses |
| Accusative | rosam | the rose (object) | rosas | the roses (object) |
| Ablative | rosa | by/with/from the rose | rosis | by/with/from the roses |
2nd Declension – Masculine Nouns
Example: hortus, horti (garden)
Other examples: servus, amicus
| Case | Singular | Meaning | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | hortus | the garden | horti | the gardens |
| Genitive | horti | of the garden | hortorum | of the gardens |
| Dative | horto | to/for the garden | hortis | to/for the gardens |
| Accusative | hortum | the garden (object) | hortos | the gardens (object) |
| Ablative | horto | by/with/from the garden | hortis | by/with/from the gardens |
2nd Declension – Neuter Nouns
Example: malum, mali (apple)
Other examples: bellum (war), templum (temple)
| Case | Singular | Meaning | Plural | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | malum | the apple | mala | the apples |
| Genitive | mali | of the apple | malorum | of the apples |
| Dative | malo | to/for the apple | malis | to/for the apples |
| Accusative | malum | the apple (object) | mala | the apples (object) |
| Ablative | malo | by/with/from the apple | malis | by/with/from the apples |
Notes
- 1st declension nouns are nearly all feminine (exceptions like agricola are masculine in meaning).
- 2nd declension nouns ending in -us are usually masculine; those in -um are neuter.
- Neuter nouns have same form in nominative and accusative (both singular and plural).
Study Exercise
Translate into Latin:
- The farmer carries a basket.
- The roses are red.
- The sun shines in the sky.
- The bird sings in the tree.
- The farmer works and is happy.
Answer Key
- Agricola cistam portat.
- Rosae rubrae sunt.
- Sol in caelo lucet.
- Avis in arbore cantat.
- Agricola laborat et laetus est.