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LESSON 8

LATIN THIRD DECLENSION NOUNS. NEUTER GENDER

In this lesson you will:

•Learn the endings of the neuter third declension nouns.

•Learn exceptions to the rule of the neuter third declension nouns endings.

This lesson is divided into the following sections:

I. Endings of neuter third declension nouns.

II. Exceptions to the rule of the neuter third declension nouns endings. III. Exercises.

IV. Vocabulary

I. ENDINGS OF NEUTER THIRD DECLENSION NOUNS

Most nouns ending by –ar, -e, -en, -ma, -ur, -us are neuter, cf.:

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II. EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULE OF THE NEUTER THIRD DECLENSION NOUNS ENDINGS

The following nouns having neuter endings are masculine:

1.lien, liēnis m - spleen

2.ren, renis m – kidney

The neuter third declension nouns ending in –ma should be distinguished from feminine first declension nouns ending in –a:

E.g.: diaphragma, ătis n - diaphragm; chiasma, ătis n - chiasm; stroma, ătis n - stroma; systēma, ătis n - system; zygōma, ătis n – cheek-bone.

but

squama, ae f - scales; struma, ae f – crop.

III. EXERCISES

1. Make up grammatical agreement of the adjectives with the given nouns:

1)forāmen (occipitālis,e; mentālis, e; incisīvus, a, um; mastoiděus, a, um; major, jus)

2)systēma (centrālis, e; nervōsus, a, um; lymphatĭcus, a, um)

3)caput (longus, a, um; transversus, a, um; laterālis, e; brevis, e)

4)ren (dexter, tra, trum; mobĭlis, e; sinister, tra, trum; lobātus, a, um)

5)crus (sinister, tra, trum; laterālis, e; brevis, e; simplex, ĭcis; anterior, ius)

6)hepar (mobĭlis, e; lobātus, a, um; major, jus)

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2. Translate into Latin:

superficial lymphatic vessel, posterior nucleus of trapezoid body, internal carotid artery, base of heart, apex of heart, root of lung, cavity of uterus, renal pelvis, thyroid cartilage, pylorus part, left lobe of lung, ventricle of larynx, superior constrictor of larynx, capsule of pancreas, external oblique muscle of stomach, mucous membrane of mouth, cardiac impression of lung, body of mammary gland, spinal muscle of neck, the longest muscle of head, canal of neck of uterus, frontal region of face, external base of skull, wing of vomer, membranous wall of trachea.