Practice Latin Verb Forms — Word Analysis, Verb Form Trainer V2, and Sentence Quiz
Memorizing Latin verb forms works—until the next similar form comes along and throws everything into disarray. If you understand how a verb form is structured, you’ll be able to recognize it even if you’ve never seen it before.
If you want to understand how these forms are formed, you’ll find an overview of all the patterns under “Conjugating Latin Verbs”—with tables for all 5 conjugation classes and 6 tenses.
Lapicida Latinus 1.10 introduces three new tools for this: a word analysis feature that breaks down each form into its components, a completely redesigned form trainer, and a multiple-choice mode in the sentence quiz.
- How does the word analysis work—stem, tense marker, personal ending?
- What can the new Form Trainer V2 do?
- What other new features does version 1.10 include?
What’s the most effective way to learn Latin verb forms?
Practicing Latin verb forms works best in three steps: first, understand (word analysis); then, practice in isolation (form trainer); and finally, apply in context (sentence quiz). If you can identify the stem, tense marker, and ending, you can do more than just reproduce a verb form—you understand its structure and can apply that knowledge to unfamiliar forms.
| Step | Method | Tool in Lapicida |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Understanding | Analyze the verb form | Word analysis (root · tense marker · ending) |
| 2 — Practice | Isolated practice with learning progress | Form Trainer V2 |
| 3 — Apply | Recognizing forms in real sentences | Sentence Quiz |
Word Analysis: What’s in a Verb Form?
Every regular Latin verb form follows the same principle: stem + tense marker + person ending. The tense marker indicates the tense, the person ending indicates person and number—and the stem (present stem or perfect stem) indicates which verb it is.
Lapicida displays this breakdown directly as you practice: The form is divided with dots so that the structure is recognizable at a glance.
| Verb form | Stem | Tense marker | Ending | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| laud·ā·bat | laud- | -ā·ba- | -t | he praised (imperfect indicative active) |
| laudāv·era·t | laudāv- | -era- | -t | he had praised (Past Perfect Indicative Active) |
| mon·ē·bāmus | mon- | -ē·bā- | -mus | we exhorted (imperfect indicative active) |
| laud·ā·bitur | laud- | -ā·bi- | -tur | he will be praised (Future I Passive) |
| mitt·ā·tur | mitt- | -ā- | -tur | he is sent (present subjunctive passive) |
Word analysis is particularly helpful for forms that look similar: laudabat (imperfect) and laudaverit (perfect subjunctive) differ in their stems—this becomes immediately apparent when the words are broken down. For learning Latin, this means less memorization and more understanding.
The Verb Trainer V2 — Four Modes, One Learning Journey
Understand Latin instead of cramming — try it right now.
The Latin Form Trainer has been completely rebuilt in version 1.10. The basic principle is the same as in the Vocabulary Trainer: A box system keeps track of which forms you’ve mastered—and which you haven’t. Forms that cause errors are presented more frequently.
Another new feature is the sentence context: The word appears in a real Latin sentence, with the rest of the text hidden. If you only know the form in isolation, you’ll quickly see here whether you can recognize it in context.
The four practice modes:
- Multiple Choice—select the correct form from four options. Good for getting started and for review.
- Assembling syllables—putting building blocks in the correct order. This trains recognition of endings and tense markers.
- Free-text entry — type in the form yourself. Active recall, which anchors knowledge most deeply.
- Classic — Flip the card over and assess it yourself. For quick review sessions.
The Form Trainer supports verbs, nouns, adjectives, and participles. Word analysis is active in all modes—after each answer, the form is displayed in detail.
Practice Latin verb forms — get started for free
What else is new in version 1.10?
In addition to word analysis and the verb form trainer, the update brings further improvements that make practicing more enjoyable and comprehensive.
Sentence Quiz with Multiple-Choice Mode
The Latin Sentence Quiz now includes an optional multiple-choice mode: click on sentence components instead of typing them in. This allows users who are still unsure to take their time thinking through the structure of a sentence. Also new is the section on the subjunctive in main clauses—the subjunctive of possibility and the irrealis in all four tenses.
Photograph
Vocabulary Open your textbook, take a photo of the page—the app recognizes the Latin words and matches them against the vocabulary database. Any words found can be added directly to your own list. This saves you from having to manually type in vocabulary words from class. More on this in the Vocabulary Trainer module.
Dark Mode and OpenDyslexic
The app is now also available in dark mode. If you find it easier to read with the OpenDyslexic font, you’ll find the option under Settings—both settings are saved permanently. The reading texts benefit from this particularly well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Practicing Latin Verb Forms
How many verb forms do you need to know for the Latinum?
For the Latinum, you must master all six tenses in the indicative and subjunctive, active and passive—plus the imperative, infinitives, and participles. That amounts to several hundred individual forms. With word analysis and the form trainer, you can systematically work through these forms instead of memorizing them one by one.
What is the difference between a tense marker and a personal ending?
The tense marker (also: tempus marker) indicates the tense of the form: -ba- stands for the imperfect, -era- for the pluperfect, and -bi- for the future I. The person ending indicates person and number: -t is 3rd person singular, -mus is 1st person plural. Lapicida displays this breakdown directly on the form itself as you practice.
Can I use the verb form trainer for free?
Yes. The basic forms—present, imperfect, and perfect in the indicative active—are available in the free version. The subjunctive, passive, pluperfect, and future are part of the full version for €19.99/year.
Why isn’t flashcard learning enough for verb forms?
Flashcards train recall, but not recognition. In real text, a verb form never appears in isolation—it’s embedded in a sentence, often without the corresponding vocabulary word next to it. The Verb Form Trainer in Lapicida embeds each form in a real Latin sentence, thereby training recognition in context, not just memorization.
Which verb forms does the word analysis support?
Word analysis works for all regular verb forms across the four conjugations—present to future II, indicative and subjunctive, active and passive. Special forms such as *esse*, *posse*, *velle*, and *nolle* are handled separately: *esse*, for example, displays a mini-paradigm instead of a linear breakdown.
How much does Lapicida Latinus cost?
Lapicida Latinus costs €19.99/year (= €1.67/month)—this is the main product. Alternatively, there’s a plan for €4.99/month or a one-time payment of €49.99 (lifetime). For classrooms, there’s a school license available on request. There’s also a permanently free version with basic features.
Practice Latin verb forms — now with word analysis
Understand Latin instead of cramming — try it right now.
