Hello
I am currently trying to learn latin by the Dowling method. I have memorized “all” noun declensions or, at least, the ones found here: http://rustymason.com/edu/lang/latin/latin_chants.pdf. In this respect, however, I find it troubling that there exist several discrepancies between different information sources. I am using the declensions chart in “Reading Latin” (Cambridge). The problem with this specific source is that it does not split up the words, no distinction is made between the root of a word and its ending.
With respect to the Rusty Mason source, I see that –s is the ending of the third declension nominative singular (or, if we take a specific example, “fur”). On http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/latin/advanced/popup/grammar-table.htm, on the other hand, I see that there is no ending. The same goes for http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/latin/advanced/popup/grammar-table.htm.
Which is right? One, both, none? Is it due to a difference in gender?
Another question in this respect relates to “aedes” or the third declension feminine i-stem. Why is the nom. sing. “aedes” and the gen. sing. “aedis”? On http://rustymason.com/edu/lang/latin/latin_chants.pdf it says that the ending in nom. sing. is a -s. If so, should it not be just “aeds”? The gen. sing. according to the same source is -is, aedis, which makes sense? “Aeds” is of course wrong according to both http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0059%3Aentry%3Daedes & “Reading Latin”, but I am trying to understand why. Also, the confusion is complete, when, in Charlton T. Lewis, Charles Short, A Latin Dictionary, it says: “aedes is found in Liv. 2, 21, 7; 2, 8, 14; 2, 9, 43 al., and now and then in other writers, but aedis is more common”. Now “aedis” is suddenly the nom. sing.
Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance.