← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
This lesson introduces the irregular verb "eō" (to go), one of the most common verbs in Latin. The verb has an unusual conjugation pattern and appears frequently in all types of Latin texts.
97.1 Lēgātī ambassadors Rōmam to Rome eunt go pācis of peace causā for the sake
97.2 Iter journey per through Alpēs Alps īre to go perīculōsum dangerous erat was
97.3 Quō where nunc now īs are you going tam so celeriter quickly
97.4 Ad to forum forum īre to go māne in morning solēbat he used
97.5 Pater father ad to bellum war iit went nec and not rediit returned
97.6 Senātōrēs senators domum homeward eunt go post after longam long sessionem session
97.7 Dux leader in into hostium of enemies terrās lands īre to go timet fears
97.8 Mīles soldier fortis brave prīmus first in into pugnam battle iit went
97.9 Quō where iērunt went nautae sailors post after tempestātem storm
97.10 Eāmus let us go nunc now ad to templum temple deōrum of gods
97.11 Multī many poētae poets Athēnās to Athens studiōrum of studies causā for sake iērunt went
97.12 Populus people tōtus whole ad to theātrum theater iit went spectandī of watching causā for sake
97.13 Cum when sōl sun occideret was setting domum homeward īre to go incipiēbant they were beginning
97.14 Mercātōrēs merchants per through perīcula dangers multa many eunt go lucrī of profit causā for sake
97.15 Quandō when Rōmā from Rome in into Galliam Gaul ībitis will you go
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97.1 Lēgātī Rōmam pācis causā eunt. The ambassadors are going to Rome for the sake of peace.
97.2 Iter per Alpēs īre perīculōsum erat. To journey through the Alps was dangerous.
97.3 Quō nunc tam celeriter īs? Where are you going now so quickly?
97.4 Māne ad forum īre solēbat. He used to go to the forum in the morning.
97.5 Pater ad bellum iit nec rediit. Father went to war and did not return.
97.6 Post longam sessionem senātōrēs domum eunt. After the long session, the senators go home.
97.7 Dux in hostium terrās īre timet. The leader fears to go into enemy lands.
97.8 Mīles fortis prīmus in pugnam iit. The brave soldier went first into battle.
97.9 Quō nautae post tempestātem iērunt? Where did the sailors go after the storm?
97.10 Eāmus nunc ad templum deōrum. Let us go now to the temple of the gods.
97.11 Multī poētae Athēnās studiōrum causā iērunt. Many poets went to Athens for the sake of studies.
97.12 Ad theātrum populus tōtus spectandī causā iit. The whole people went to the theater for the sake of watching.
97.13 Cum sōl occideret, domum īre incipiēbant. When the sun was setting, they were beginning to go home.
97.14 Per perīcula multa mercātōrēs lucrī causā eunt. The merchants go through many dangers for the sake of profit.
97.15 Quandō Rōmā in Galliam ībitis? When will you go from Rome into Gaul?
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97.1 Lēgātī Rōmam pācis causā eunt.
97.2 Iter per Alpēs īre perīculōsum erat.
97.3 Quō nunc tam celeriter īs?
97.4 Māne ad forum īre solēbat.
97.5 Pater ad bellum iit nec rediit.
97.6 Post longam sessionem senātōrēs domum eunt.
97.7 Dux in hostium terrās īre timet.
97.8 Mīles fortis prīmus in pugnam iit.
97.9 Quō nautae post tempestātem iērunt?
97.10 Eāmus nunc ad templum deōrum.
97.11 Multī poētae Athēnās studiōrum causā iērunt.
97.12 Ad theātrum populus tōtus spectandī causā iit.
97.13 Cum sōl occideret, domum īre incipiēbant.
97.14 Per perīcula multa mercātōrēs lucrī causā eunt.
97.15 Quandō Rōmā in Galliam ībitis?
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The verb "eō" is one of the most important irregular verbs in Latin. For English speakers, understanding its forms and uses requires attention to several key points: -
Principal Parts: -
Present: eō -
Infinitive: īre -
Perfect: iī/īvī -
Supine: itum -
Present System Forms: Singular: -
eō (I go) -
īs (you go) -
it (he/she/it goes)
Plural: -
īmus (we go) -
ītis (you go) -
eunt (they go) -
Common Constructions: -
With accusative of place to which: "Rōmam eō" (I go to Rome) -
With supine: "spectātum eunt" (they go to watch) -
With infinitive: "īre incipit" (he begins to go) -
In commands: "ī!" (go!), "īte!" (go!, plural) -
Special Features: -
Short 'i' in some forms (it, imus, itis) -
Long 'ī' in others (īre, īs) -
Unique perfect forms (iī or īvī) -
Common compound verbs (abeō, adeō, etc.)
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For English speakers, understanding how Romans used "eō" requires cultural context: -
Travel in Roman World: -
Walking was primary mode of transport -
Distances measured in days' journey -
Road system (via Appia, etc.) -
Travel mainly in good weather -
Social Implications: -
Going to forum daily ritual -
Travel for education common -
Military campaigns involved long marches -
Religious processions important -
Literary Uses: -
Common in epic poetry for journeys -
Used in historical narratives -
Frequent in military accounts -
Important in religious texts -
Modern Connections: -
Source of words like "exit" -
Similar to "go" in flexibility -
Used in common Latin phrases -
Important in scientific terms
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From Caesar's "De Bello Gallico" (1.6):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Helvētiī the Helvetii iam now per through angustiās narrow passes et and fīnēs territories Sēquanōrum of the Sequani suās their cōpiās forces trādūxerant had led across, et and in into Aeduōrum of the Aedui fīnēs territories pervēnerant had arrived eōrumque and their agrōs fields populābantur were ravaging.
"Helvētiī iam per angustiās et fīnēs Sēquanōrum suās cōpiās trādūxerant, et in Aeduōrum fīnēs pervēnerant eōrumque agrōs populābantur."
The Helvetii had already led their forces through the narrow passes and territories of the Sequani, and had arrived in the territories of the Aedui and were ravaging their fields.
Caesar uses compound verbs of motion (trādūxerant, pervēnerant) to describe the Helvetii's movement. The passage shows typical features of Caesar's style: -
Clear sequence of events -
Military precision in description -
Geographic detail -
Focus on territorial boundaries
-
Perfect active verbs: trādūxerant, pervēnerant -
Imperfect: populābantur (ongoing action) -
Compound verb formation -
Uses of accusative for motion toward -
Genitive of possession -
Demonstrative pronouns
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97.16 Imperātor commander ipse himself ad to castra camp hostium of enemies iit went explōrandī of reconnoitering causā for sake
97.17 Equitēs cavalry nostrī our per through silvās forests obscūrās dark īre to go nōn not audēbant were daring
97.18 Cum when nox night venīret was coming mīlitēs soldiers in into castra camp redīre to return coepērunt began
97.19 Dux leader fortis brave prīmus first in into hostium of enemies agrōs fields iit went
97.20 Omnēs all cōpiae forces per through montēs mountains altōs high magnō with great labōre effort iērunt went
97.21 Lēgātī ambassadors ad to senātum senate Rōmānum Roman pācis of peace petendae of seeking causā for sake iērunt went
97.22 Eunt go explōrātōrēs scouts per through noctem night obscūram dark hostēs enemies quaerentes seeking
97.23 Ad to portam gate urbis of city māne in morning prīmā first lūce at light iimus we went
97.24 Mīlitēs soldiers fessī tired domum homeward post after victōriam victory māgnam great iērunt went
97.25 Imperātor commander cum with duābus two legiōnibus legions in into Galliam Gaul īre to go parātus prepared erat was
97.26 Equitēs cavalry per through campōs plains lātōs wide celeriter swiftly iērunt went
97.27 Auxiliā auxiliaries nostra our nōn not longē far ab from urbe city iērunt went
97.28 Centuriō centurion fortis brave ad to proximum nearest collem hill explōrandī of scouting causā for sake iit went
97.29 Hostēs enemies iam now trāns across flūmen river magnum great iērunt went
97.30 Imperātor commander suōs his own mīlitēs soldiers in into proelium battle īre to go iussit ordered
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97.16 Imperātor ipse ad castra hostium explōrandī causā iit. The commander himself went to the enemy camp for the purpose of reconnoitering.
97.17 Equitēs nostrī per silvās obscūrās īre nōn audēbant. Our cavalry did not dare to go through the dark forests.
97.18 Cum nox venīret, mīlitēs in castra redīre coepērunt. When night was coming, the soldiers began to return to camp.
97.19 Dux fortis prīmus in hostium agrōs iit. The brave leader went first into the enemy's fields.
97.20 Omnēs cōpiae per montēs altōs magnō labōre iērunt. All the forces went through the high mountains with great effort.
97.21 Lēgātī ad senātum Rōmānum pācis petendae causā iērunt. The ambassadors went to the Roman senate for the purpose of seeking peace.
97.22 Eunt explōrātōrēs per noctem obscūram hostēs quaerentēs. The scouts go through the dark night seeking the enemy.
97.23 Ad portam urbis māne prīmā lūce iimus. We went to the city gate early in the morning at first light.
97.24 Mīlitēs fessī domum post victōriam māgnam iērunt. The tired soldiers went home after the great victory.
97.25 Imperātor cum duābus legiōnibus in Galliam īre parātus erat. The commander was prepared to go into Gaul with two legions.
97.26 Equitēs per campōs lātōs celeriter iērunt. The cavalry went swiftly through the wide plains.
97.27 Auxiliā nostra nōn longē ab urbe iērunt. Our auxiliaries did not go far from the city.
97.28 Centuriō fortis ad proximum collem explōrandī causā iit. The brave centurion went to the nearest hill for the purpose of scouting.
97.29 Hostēs iam trāns flūmen magnum iērunt. The enemies had already gone across the great river.
97.30 Imperātor suōs mīlitēs in proelium īre iussit. The commander ordered his soldiers to go into battle.
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97.16 Imperātor ipse ad castra hostium explōrandī causā iit.
97.17 Equitēs nostrī per silvās obscūrās īre nōn audēbant.
97.18 Cum nox venīret, mīlitēs in castra redīre coepērunt.
97.19 Dux fortis prīmus in hostium agrōs iit.
97.20 Omnēs cōpiae per montēs altōs magnō labōre iērunt.
97.21 Lēgātī ad senātum Rōmānum pācis petendae causā iērunt.
97.22 Eunt explōrātōrēs per noctem obscūram hostēs quaerentēs.
97.23 Ad portam urbis māne prīmā lūce iimus.
97.24 Mīlitēs fessī domum post victōriam māgnam iērunt.
97.25 Imperātor cum duābus legiōnibus in Galliam īre parātus erat.
97.26 Equitēs per campōs lātōs celeriter iērunt.
97.27 Auxiliā nostra nōn longē ab urbe iērunt.
97.28 Centuriō fortis ad proximum collem explōrandī causā iit.
97.29 Hostēs iam trāns flūmen magnum iērunt.
97.30 Imperātor suōs mīlitēs in proelium īre iussit.
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In military contexts, the verb "eō" appears in several specific constructions: -
Purpose Clauses with Gerund: -
"explōrandī causā" (for the purpose of scouting) -
Used frequently in military dispatches -
Often with verbs of motion Example: "ad castra hostium explōrandī causā iit" -
Military Commands: -
Imperative forms common -
Often with complementary infinitive -
Used in battle orders Example: "mīlitēs in proelium īre iussit" -
Movement Descriptions: -
With prepositions showing direction: -
ad + acc. (toward) -
in + acc. (into) -
per + acc. (through) -
trāns + acc. (across) Example: "per montēs altōs magnō labōre iērunt" -
Time Expressions: -
Ablative of time when -
Temporal cum clauses -
References to daylight/darkness Example: "māne prīmā lūce iimus" -
Military Vocabulary Combinations: -
With castra (camp) -
With proelium (battle) -
With collis (hill) -
With explōrātōrēs (scouts) Example: "in castra redīre coepērunt" -
Special Military Usages: -
Reconnaissance missions -
Troop movements -
Battle formations -
Strategic retreats Example: "Auxiliā nostra nōn longē ab urbe iērunt"
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