Verbs

Supine

The supine is a verbal noun (much like a gerund). They are formed from the same stem of the perfect passive participle (fourth principal part) and their endings resemble a fourth declension noun.

Facts about the Supine

• They resemble a fourth declension noun.
• Formed from the perfect passive participle stem.
• Supines exist only in the accusative (-um) and ablative (-u) cases.
• Supines in the accusative are used with verbs of motion to show purpose.
• Supines in the ablative are used with certain adjectives to show respect or specification.

e.g.: video (to see) - the supine form is visum (accusative) and visu (ablative).
Venerunt visum. - They came to see; they came in order to see, they came for the purpose of seeing.

e.g.: dico (to tell, speak) - the supine form is dictum and dictu.
Mirabile dictu. - Amazing to say; amazing in respect to saying.

Supine Practice Exercise

Just for practice. Link to answer key below.

Translate the following words in parentheses using a supine.

Grammatica ^