What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
conjugation
Example
In Spanish, the verb 'hablar' is conjugated as 'hablo', 'hablas', 'habla', etc. depending on the subject and tense. [conjugated: past participle]
Example
Can you conjugate the verb 'to be' in the present tense? [conjugate: verb]
Example
She conjugates the verb 'to run' correctly every time. [conjugates: present tense]
inflection
Example
In Latin, the noun 'puella' changes its form to 'puellae', 'puellam', 'puellarum', etc. depending on the case and number. [inflected: past participle]
Example
Can you identify the inflection of the adjective 'big' in the sentence 'The big dog barked loudly'? [inflection: noun]
Example
He understands the inflection of verbs in different tenses and moods. [inflection: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Conjugation is more commonly used in the context of verbs and verb tenses, while inflection is a more general term used across different parts of speech and grammatical categories.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between conjugation and inflection?
Both conjugation and inflection are formal terms used in linguistic analysis and language learning, but they can also be used in everyday language to describe the way words change their form in different contexts.
