Meaning & Definition of word "Conjugation"

Conjugation

/ˌkɒn.dʒʊˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

noun:

  • 1. The inflection of a verb in accordance with its grammatical features such as tense, mood, voice, aspect, person, and number.
    • Example: In Spanish, the conjugation of regular -ar verbs follows a predictable pattern.
  • 2. A listing of the different forms a verb can take.
    • Example: The teacher provided a conjugation chart for the verb 'to be'.
  • 3. The process of changing a verb from one form to another.
    • Example: Students often struggle with the conjugation of irregular verbs.

Etymology

From Latin 'conjugatio', meaning 'joining together'

Common Phrases and Expressions

verb conjugation:

The process of changing a verb form to convey different meanings.

regular conjugation:

Conjugation of verbs that follow standard patterns in a language.

irregular conjugation:

Conjugation of verbs that do not follow regular patterns.

Related Words

infinitive:

The base form of a verb before any conjugation.

declension:

The inflection of nouns and pronouns to express case, number, and gender.

Slang Meanings of conjugation

Meaning: Colloquial usage in language study.

Example Sentence: Learning verb conjugation is a pain but necessary for fluency!

Meaning: Playful reference to a complex grammatical rule.

Example Sentence: I had a conjugation crisis during the exam!