Basic Details
Word: Conjugate
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To give the different forms of a verb, for example for I, you, he and they, or for different tenses.
Synonyms: inflect
How to Spell Conjugate
Syllables: con - ju - gate
Tricky part: The middle has a j and then a g, and the two are easy to swap. The word ends in gate.
Watch out for: congugate, conjegate, conjugait
Memory tip: Find the jug inside con-jug-ate: the j of jug comes first, then its g.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Can you conjugate the verb 'to be' in the past tense?
Example 2: In Hindi class we learnt to conjugate khana for every tense.
Example 3: Spanish verbs are harder to conjugate than English ones.
Fun Fact
The word turns up in maths too: the conjugate of the complex number 3 + 4i is 3 - 4i, the same number with the sign of its second part changed.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. conjugate 2. tence 3. partisiple 4. infinative
a) a verb form such as walking or walked
b) the basic form of a verb, often used with to
c) the form of a verb that shows time
d) to give the different forms of a verb
Show answer
d) to give the different forms of a verb. Conjugate is the only one spelt right; infinitive, participle and tense are the correct forms.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The French teacher asked us to ugajecont the verb aller in the present tense.
a) conjure
b) conjugal
c) conjugate
d) congregate
Show answer
c) conjugate. Conjugal ends in l, congregate needs r and a second g, and conjure is too short.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
con_u_ate
a) g, g
b) g, j
c) j, g
d) j, j
Show answer
c) j, g. The j comes before the u, and the g belongs to gate.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. When you conjugate 'to be' in the present tense, you get ____.
a) am, is, are
b) be, being
c) was, were
d) will, shall
Show answer
a) am, is, are
2. The Latin word behind conjugate meant to ____.
a) write quickly
b) yoke together
c) speak loudly
d) cut short
Show answer
b) yoke together
