IX. Third-Declension Nouns - Latin in Layman's (REVAMPED)

We’ve already encountered first- and second-declension nouns. Now we’ll address the third. A fair question to ask, and one which some of you may be asking, is why is there a third declension at all? Third declension is Latin’s “catch-all” category for nouns. Here are the endings in both the singular an plural, for reference:  1. Nominative (sing.) --- (pl.) -es 2. Gentive (sing.) -is (pl.) -um 3. Dative (sing.) -i (pl.) -ibus 4. Accusative (sing.) -em (pl.) -es 5. Ablative (sing.) -e (pl.) -ibus