Latin Accidence

Latin Accidence is the study of the grammatical forms of Latin words—how nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, and other parts of speech change their endings to express grammatical relationships. For OCR A-Level Latin, mastering accidence is essential because it underpins all translation and comprehension. Without a solid grasp of declensions and conjugations, you cannot accurately interpret Latin sentences or produce correct English translations. This topic covers the five noun declensions, the four verb conjugations (including irregular verbs like sum and possum), adjective and adverb forms, pronouns, and numerals. It also includes the formation of participles, infinitives, and the subjunctive mood.

Accidence is the foundation upon which syntax and translation skills are built. In the OCR A-Level, you will be expected to recognise and produce correct forms in both the verse and prose set texts, as well as in unseen translation. A strong command of accidence allows you to focus on higher-level skills like analysing word order, identifying clauses, and understanding stylistic features. Moreover, many exam questions directly test your knowledge of forms—for example, identifying the tense, mood, and voice of a verb, or the case, number, and gender of a noun. Therefore, systematic revision of paradigms is non-negotiable for success.

Within the wider subject of Latin, accidence is the first major hurdle. It is the grammar that enables you to read authentic Latin literature by authors such as Virgil, Tacitus, and Ovid. The OCR specification expects you to know all regular and many irregular forms, including those of deponent and semi-deponent verbs. You should also be familiar with the comparative and superlative of adjectives and adverbs. This topic is not just about memorisation; it is about understanding patterns and exceptions, which will serve you well when you encounter unfamiliar vocabulary or complex sentences in the exam.