Lesson 11: Gerunds and Gerundives - part 1 | 1 2

Gerundive

A gerundive is what is called a verbal adjective. This means that it occupies a middle ground between a verb and an adjective and shows characteristics of both. It is passive in meaning and exists in both the singular and plural form.

Gerundive: Verbal adjective

Verb properties	Noun properties
A gerundive is formed from a verb.	A gerundive changes in form to agree in gender, number and case with the noun it is associated with.

The gerundive is formed by removing the '-m' from the gerund and adding '-s'.

Gerund		Gerundive
Latin	English	Latin	English
vocandum	calling	vocandus, -a, -um	to be called
habendum	having	habendus, -a, -um	to be had
mittendum	sending	mittendus, -a, -um	to be sent
audiendum	hearing	audiendus, -a, -um	to be heard

The gerundive has the same endings as a Group 1 and 2 adjective, such as ‘bonus, -a, -um’, and is usually translated into English with the words ‘to be’ followed by the past participle.

Uses of the gerundive

(1) One of the most common uses of the gerundive in medieval documents is the phrase 'habendum et tenendum', which you may well come across abbreviated to 'habend et tenend'.

For example:

Dedit messuagium habendum et tenendum Barnabe
He gave the messuage to be had and to be held to Barnabas

Or in a more recognisable construction:

He gave the messuage to have and to hold to Barnabas

(2) It is often used with the verb 'esse' to convey necessity or obligation.

For example:

Cultura danda est
The furlong must be/should be/ought to be given