Esse and Other Irregular Verbs
Master esse (to be), ire (to go), ferre (to carry), and velle (to want), the most common irregular verbs in Latin.
A lesson of Latin A1 — Beginner, in Verb Conjugations, about 10 minutes.
By the end of this lesson, you will recognize and use the four most common irregular Latin verbs — esse, ire, ferre, and velle — in present-tense sentences.
Why Irregular Verbs Matter
The most frequently used verbs in any language tend to be irregular. Latin is no exception. Knowing esse (to be) is mandatory — it appears in almost every paragraph of Latin prose and is the root of all linking verbs and many compound forms.
Esse — To Be
Esse is the most common Latin verb and is completely irregular. There is no single conjugation pattern to apply; you must memorize these forms.
Present Tense of esse
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | sum (I am) | sumus (we are) |
| 2nd | es (you are) | estis (you are) |
| 3rd | est (he/she/it is) | sunt (they are) |
Memory tip: The 3rd-singular est and 3rd-plural sunt are the forms you'll see most. They appear dozens of times per page in Caesar.
Usage of esse
Esse functions as a linking verb — it connects the subject to a predicate nominative or predicate adjective.
Gallia est magna. — "Gaul is large." (predicate adjective, agrees with Gallia) Caesar dux est. — "Caesar is a leader." (predicate nominative) Romani fortes sunt. — "The Romans are brave."
Note: the predicate noun or adjective after esse is nominative, not accusative, because it restates the subject.
Ire — To Go
Ire is an irregular 4th-conjugation-like verb. Its present forms use a short -i- stem that produces some unusual contractions.
Present Tense of ire
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | eo (I go) | imus (we go) |
| 2nd | is (you go) | itis (you go) |