What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
declension
Example
The declension of the Latin noun 'puer' (boy) includes six cases: nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative, and vocative. [declension: noun]
Example
In Russian, the declension of adjectives depends on the gender, number, and case of the noun they modify. [declension: noun]
inflection
Example
In English, the verb 'to be' has several inflected forms, such as 'am', 'is', 'are', 'was', and 'were'. [inflected: verb]
Example
In Spanish, the inflection of regular verbs depends on the tense, aspect, and person of the subject. [inflection: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Inflection is a more common term than declension in modern English, as it is used to describe the modification of words in a broader sense. However, declension is still commonly used in the context of languages with grammatical cases.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between declension and inflection?
Both declension and inflection are formal terms used in the study of grammar and linguistics, and are not typically used in everyday conversation.
