WordGarden.ioconjugation
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kˌɒndʒuːɡˈeɪʃən/
US
- /ˌkɑndʒəˈɡeɪʃən/
Meanings
Noun
the system or process of changing a verb's forms
a biological joining or exchange of genetic material between cells
electron delocalization across connected bonds in a molecule
More meaningsFewer meanings
a mathematical operation that forms or relates conjugate objects
Beyond the definition
Imagine you're telling a story about what you did versus what she did, or what happened yesterday versus what will happen tomorrow. You don't say "I goed to the store" – you say "I went." That change from "go" to "went" is part of conjugation.
Conjugation is all about how verbs (action words) change their form to match who is doing the action (like I, you, he, she, we, they) and when the action happened (past, present, future). It's a fundamental part of grammar that helps your sentences make sense. Different languages conjugate verbs in different ways—Spanish verb forms are famously complex! Even English has rules for it. For example: I go, but she goes; I am, you are, he/she/it is. That's conjugation at work!
Conjugation refers to the changes in the form of a verb that indicate tense (past, present, future), person (who is doing the action – I, you, he/she/it, we, they), number (singular or plural), and mood (indicative, subjunctive, imperative). It's essentially how verbs "agree" with their subjects in a sentence.
While English conjugation isn't as elaborate as in some other languages like Spanish, French, or Latin, it still plays a crucial role in clear communication. Consider the verb "to walk." We can conjugate it to create forms like: walk, walks, walked, walking, will walk. Each form conveys different information about who is walking and when they are doing it.
The concept of conjugation isn't limited to just verbs changing their endings. It also includes irregular verbs, which don't follow standard patterns (like "go" becoming "went"). These require memorization!
Outside of grammar, conjugation can also mean a kind of linking or pairing. In biology, it can describe processes like bacterial conjugation (when genetic material is passed between cells). In chemistry, it can describe a chain of alternating bonds (a “conjugated” system) that changes how a molecule behaves. In math, you may hear about the complex conjugate of a number.
In linguistics, understanding verb conjugation helps us analyze the structure of languages and how they evolve over time. For language learners, mastering conjugation is essential for speaking and writing correctly. It's a key element in building fluency and avoiding grammatical errors. So next time you change a verb to fit your sentence, remember – you're conjugating!
Examples
- 1
Language learning
Spanish verb conjugation takes a lot of practice at first.
- 2
Grammar book
The book explains the conjugation of irregular verbs very clearly.
- 3
School quiz
We had to memorize all the present-tense conjugations before the quiz.
- 4
Verb pattern
If you know the pattern, you can guess the correct conjugation.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Speaking practice
I understand the rule, but I still get the conjugation wrong when I speak quickly.
See also
Similar
- verb inflection
- inflection
Shades of meaning
- paradigm
- verb form
Contrast
- declension
- base form
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- verb conjugation
- conjugation chart
- regular conjugation
- irregular conjugation
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- conjugationnoun
Forms
- conjugationspluralnoun