Gerunds
A gerund is what is called a verbal noun. This means that it occupies a middle ground between a verb and a noun and shows characteristics of both. It is active in meaning and only exists in the singular form.
Gerund: Verbal noun
| Verb properties | Noun properties |
|---|---|
| A gerund is formed from a verb
A gerund can be described using an adverb A gerund can govern a case |
A gerund declines like a neuter singular noun |
The gerund is formed by removing the ‘-s’ from the present participle, adding ‘-d’, and then the relevant ending and is translated in English by ‘-ing’
| Verb | Present participle (adjective) | Gerund (noun) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latin | English | Latin | English | Latin | English |
| vocare (1) | to call | vocans | calling | vocandum | calling |
| habere (2) | to have | habens | having | habendum | having |
| mittere (3) | to send | mittens | sending | mittendum | sending |
| audire (4) | to hear | audiens | hearing | audiendum | hearing |
Deponent verbs also have gerunds that are formed in a similar way.
For example:
| Verb | Present participle | Gerund | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latin | English | Latin | English | Latin | English |
| ingredior (3) | to enter | ingrediens | entering | ingrediendum | entering |
When you decline a gerund, it will look like a neuter singular noun in Group 2 across all
the cases, except for the nominative, where it will rarely appear.
| Conjugation 1 | Conjugation 2 | Conjugation 3 | Conjugation 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | – | – | – | – |
| Accusative | vocandum | habendum | mittendum | audiendum |
| Genitive | vocandi | habendi | mitendi | audiendi |
| Dative | vocando | habendo | mittendo | audiendo |
| Ablative | vocando | habendo | mittendo | audiendo |
In each case the gerund is translated slightly differently and is often preceded by a particular preposition.
| Preposition | Gerund | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | – | – | – |
| Accusative | ad | vocandum | with a view to calling, towards calling |
| Genitive | causa | vocandi | of calling, for the sake of calling |
| Dative | – | vocando | to/for calling |
| Ablative | ab, de, ex, in, pro | vocando | about/by/from/in/concerning calling |
Handy hint
You will notice examples of Latin gerunds still in use in modern English today.
For example:
Modus vivendi – a way/style of living
Modus operandi – a way/style of working
Gerundives
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.
Handy hint
It is important to note that the gerundive does not have an exact translation into English, and in order to convey the idea of obligation or suitability inherent in its meaning, translations can include such forms as ‘fit to be’, ‘must be’ and ‘ought to be’.
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
Handy hint
You will notice examples of Latin gerundives still in use in modern English today.
For example:
Amanda – (a girl) fit to be loved
Miranda – (a girl) fit to be admired
Memoranda – things to be remembered
Agenda – things to be done
Checklist
Are you confident with:
- The meaning of a gerund?
- The form of a gerund?
- The meaning of a gerundive?
- The form of a gerundive?