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Latin Verb Tenses — Tempora

Ninth graders learn the three key Latin past-and-present tenses — present (amō), imperfect (amābam), and perfect (amāvī) — so they can tell WHEN an action happens and read Latin narrative.

Grade 9Tempora Verbōrum55 minutes1 class periodClassical LanguagesExplicit teaching4 StandardsACL
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Name the tenses.
  • ✓Tell present, imperfect, perfect.
  • ✓Know each meaning.
  • ✓Read Latin narrative.
Essential Question

Latin verbs change to show WHEN. Present, imperfect, perfect — how do you tell them apart, and what do they mean?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

Latin Verb Tenses Check

Project each item and have students answer about Latin verb tenses.

🕓 Understand Latin verb tensesTry it
Answer each question about Latin verb tenses.
The Lesson · Classical Flow (Warm-Up · Present · Practice · Speak · Reflect)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Warm-Up — Verbs Show WHEN

6 min

Latin verbs change to show WHEN — present, imperfect, perfect. How?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say “I love, I was loving, I loved.”
  • Ask which is which.
  • Set the goal.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Listen.
  • Notice.
  • Get ready.
2

Present — Tempora Verbōrum

13 min

Students learn.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to Latin Verb Tenses Check.
  • Note the three tenses.
  • Note the endings.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Answer.
  • Note it.
  • Note it.
3

Practice — Practice

15 min

Students practice.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Identify a tense.
  • Change the tense.
  • Say them aloud.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Identify.
  • Change it.
  • Say.
4

Speak — Speak

15 min

Students speak.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Say a present verb.
  • Say a past verb.
  • Ask a partner.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Say it.
  • Say it.
  • Ask.
5

Reflect — Reflect

6 min

Students close.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Name a tense.
  • Say what it means.
  • Complete the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Name one.
  • Say it.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Standards for Classical Language Learning (ACL/ACTFL, Intermediate).

ACL
Communication 1.2

Interpretive: understand tenses.

ACL
Communication 1.1

Interpersonal: narrate time.

ACL
Comparisons 4.1

Compare verb tenses.

ACL
Connections 3.1

Connect to reading narrative.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Tense cards.
  • Sentence frame: “___ means ___.”
  • Use a verb chart.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with present vs perfect.
  • Use one clear verb.
  • Repeat aloud.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Add the future tense.
  • Conjugate across tenses.
  • Translate a passage.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Screen / board
  • 🕓A verb chart
  • 💻Latin Verb Tenses Check
  • 🗣️Audio
  • ✏️Notebooks
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

tempustensepraesēnspresentimperfectumimperfectperfectumperfectamōI loveamābamI was lovingamāvīI lovedverbumverb
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What does the present “amō” mean?
I love / I am loving.
QUESTION 2
What does the imperfect “amābam” mean?
I was loving / I used to love.
QUESTION 3
What does the perfect “amāvī” mean?
I loved / I have loved.

Reflect: tempora verbōrum.

Have students say “amō,” “amābam,” and “amāvī” with their meanings. A printable tenses sheet is in the World Languages library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Latin Verb Tenses (Tempora Verbōrum)Flip
Card 1
Term
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Meaning
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Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Latin Verb Tenses (Tempora Verbōrum)Quiz
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Question 1
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Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Latin Verb Tenses (Tempora Verbōrum)Print
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: amābam, amāvī, amō, imperfectum, perfectum, praesēns, tempus, verbum
  1. present
  2. tense
  3. verb
  4. I love
  5. imperfect
  6. I was loving
  7. perfect
  8. I loved

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What does the present “amō” mean?
  2. What does the imperfect “amābam” mean?
  3. What does the perfect “amāvī” mean?
Answer key — Part A: 1) praesēns · 2) tempus · 3) verbum · 4) amō · 5) imperfectum · 6) amābam · 7) perfectum · 8) amāvī
Part B: 1) I love / I am loving. 2) I was loving / I used to love. 3) I loved / I have loved.