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🏛️elementary latin review

Rego

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

In Latin, 'rego' is a verb meaning 'to rule' or 'to govern.' It is a third declension verb and plays an essential role in expressing authority and control in various contexts. Understanding 'rego' is vital for grasping how verbs in this declension change based on tense, mood, and voice, as well as their impact on the sentence structure.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. 'Rego' belongs to the third conjugation class of Latin verbs, which typically have an '-ere' ending in the infinitive form.
  2. The present active indicative form of 'rego' is 'rego,' meaning 'I rule.'
  3. In Latin grammar, 'rego' can be conjugated into various tenses, including future (regam), imperfect (regiebam), and perfect (rexi).
  4. When forming sentences, 'rego' often pairs with accusative case nouns to denote who or what is being ruled.
  5. 'Rego' can also be used metaphorically to convey control over situations or people beyond literal governance.

Review Questions

  • How does understanding the verb 'rego' enhance your grasp of Latin sentence structure?
    • 'Rego' is essential for understanding how authority is expressed in Latin. Since it is a third declension verb, knowing its forms helps you identify how subjects relate to actions in sentences. Additionally, recognizing its conjugation allows you to interpret meaning based on tense and mood, which is crucial for constructing accurate translations and understanding nuances in Latin texts.
  • Discuss how 'rego' functions in different tenses and provide examples of its use in sentences.
    • 'Rego' functions across various tenses that modify its meaning based on time. For instance, in the present tense, 'rego' translates as 'I rule,' indicating current action. In the future tense, 'regam' means 'I will rule,' suggesting a future intention. An example would be: 'Rex regit civitatem,' meaning 'The king rules the city,' showcasing its present action. Each tense provides insight into how authority is expressed over time in Latin.
  • Evaluate the significance of the third declension and its relationship with verbs like 'rego' in understanding Latin's grammatical complexities.
    • 'Regio' exemplifies the complexities of the third declension by demonstrating how it contrasts with first and second declensions. This distinction influences conjugation patterns and affects sentence construction. The ability to navigate these complexities with verbs like 'rego' enhances comprehension of Latin's structural intricacies and allows for a deeper appreciation of how power dynamics are articulated through language. Mastery of such verbs enables students to analyze texts more critically and understand subtleties in meaning.