2nd Conjugation (Present)

A1 — Darbības vārdi

2nd conjugation present tense: multi-syllable verbs in -āt, -ēt, -īt, -ot that keep their vowel and add -j- (runāt - runāju, dzīvot - dzīvoju)

I can use 2nd conjugation verbs.

Examples

Es domāju par brīvdienām. — I'm thinking about the holidays.
Viņš strādā bankā. — He works in a bank.
Mēs dzīvojam Rīgā. — We live in Riga.

VerbsA1

2nd Conjugation (Present)

2nd conjugation present tense: multi-syllable verbs in -āt, -ēt, -īt, -ot that keep their vowel and add -j- (runāt - runāju, dzīvot - dzīvoju)

Learning Goal

I can use 2nd conjugation verbs.

Exam Skills:VISC A1

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Es domāju par brīvdienām.

I'm thinking about the holidays.

Viņš strādā bankā.

He works in a bank.

Mēs dzīvojam Rīgā.

We live in Riga.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

The second conjugation is the most regular group of Latvian verbs. It contains verbs with an infinitive of more than one syllable ending in -āt, -ēt, -īt or -ot that keep that vowel in the present and add -j- before an ending: runāt (speak), strādāt (work), domāt (think), dzīvot (live), mazgāt (wash), lietot (use), dejot (dance).

Person	runāt (speak)	dzīvot (live)
es	runāju	dzīvoju
tu	runā	dzīvo
viņš / viņa	runā	dzīvo
mēs	runājam	dzīvojam
jūs	runājat	dzīvojat
viņi / viņas	runā	dzīvo

How to form it

Take the infinitive and drop -t: runā-. That bare stem is the form for "you (sg.)", "he/she" and "they". For "I", "we" and "you (pl.)", add -ju, -jam, -jat. There is no stem change at all, which makes this the easiest group to use, and new verbs entering the language usually join it.

In use

Es strādāju birojā. - I work in an office.
Mēs runājam latviski. - We speak Latvian.
Es domāju par brīvdienām. - I'm thinking about the holidays.
Mana māsa dzīvo Liepājā. - My sister lives in Liepāja.
Jāņos visi līgo un dejo. - At Midsummer everyone sings the līgo songs and dances.

For English speakers

The three bare forms look identical, so the pronoun or the subject tells you who is acting: tu runā (you speak), viņa runā (she speaks), viņi runā (they speak). Unlike English, there is no "-s" for he/she. And the same present covers "I work" and "I'm working": Es tagad strādāju - I'm working now.

Not every verb in -īt or -ēt belongs here: lasīt (read) and sēdēt (sit) drop their vowel in the present (lasu, sēžu) and form the third conjugation.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Keep the vowel and add -j- before -u, -am, -at: runāju, runājam, not *runu. There is no stem change in this group; verbs that drop their vowel (rakstīt → rakstu) belong to the 3rd conjugation.

Es domāju par brīvdienām.

I'm thinking about the holidays.

domāt → domāju: the vowel stays and -j- comes before -u.

Viņš strādā bankā.

He works in a bank.

3rd person: strādāt → strādā, the bare stem (the same as tu strādā).

Mēs dzīvojam Rīgā.

We live in Riga.

1st person plural: dzīvot → dzīvojam (-j- + -am).

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Frequently asked questions

When do you use 2nd Conjugation (Present)?: The second conjugation is the most regular group of Latvian verbs. It contains verbs with an infinitive of more than one syllable ending in -āt, -ēt, -īt or -ot that keep that vowel in the present and add -j- before an ending: runāt (speak), strādāt (work), domāt (think), dzīvot (live), mazgāt (wash), lietot (use), dejot (dance).
How do you form 2nd Conjugation (Present)?: Take the infinitive and drop -t : runā- . That bare stem is the form for "you (sg.)", "he/she" and "they". For "I", "we" and "you (pl.)", add -ju, -jam, -jat . There is no stem change at all, which makes this the easiest group to use, and new verbs entering the language usually join it. The three bare forms look identical, so the pronoun or the subject tells you who is acting: tu runā (you speak), viņa runā (she speaks), viņi runā (they speak). Unlike English, there is no "-s" for he/she. And the same present covers "I work" and "I'm working": Es tagad strādāju - I'm working now.
What are common mistakes with 2nd Conjugation (Present)?: Keep the vowel and add -j- before -u, -am, -at: runāju, runājam, not *runu. There is no stem change in this group; verbs that drop their vowel (rakstīt → rakstu) belong to the 3rd conjugation.

Person

runāt (speak)

dzīvot (live)

runāju

dzīvoju

runā

dzīvo

viņš / viņa

runā

dzīvo

mēs

runājam

dzīvojam

jūs

runājat

dzīvojat

viņi / viņas

runā

dzīvo

Frequently asked questions

When do you use 2nd Conjugation (Present)?

The second conjugation is the most regular group of Latvian verbs. It contains verbs with an infinitive of more than one syllable ending in -āt, -ēt, -īt or -ot that keep that vowel in the present and add -j- before an ending: runāt (speak), strādāt (work), domāt (think), dzīvot (live), mazgāt (wash), lietot (use), dejot (dance).

How do you form 2nd Conjugation (Present)?

Take the infinitive and drop -t : runā- . That bare stem is the form for "you (sg.)", "he/she" and "they". For "I", "we" and "you (pl.)", add -ju, -jam, -jat . There is no stem change at all, which makes this the easiest group to use, and new verbs entering the language usually join it. The three bare forms look identical, so the pronoun or the subject tells you who is acting: tu runā (you speak), viņa runā (she speaks), viņi runā (they speak). Unlike English, there is no "-s" for he/she. And the same present covers "I work" and "I'm working": Es tagad strādāju - I'm working now.

What are common mistakes with 2nd Conjugation (Present)?

Keep the vowel and add -j- before -u, -am, -at: runāju, runājam, not *runu. There is no stem change in this group; verbs that drop their vowel (rakstīt → rakstu) belong to the 3rd conjugation.