CLT: Lesson - Gerunds - Formation
Gerunds - Formation
A gerund is a verbal noun. Gerunds are the substantive (noun) form of the gerundive, are only singular and only appear in the neuter gender, but do not include a nominative form. Before discussing the ways the gerund is used, let us learn how to form gerunds.
The iconic initialism SPQR stood for SENATUS POPULUSQUE ROMANUS - the Senate and People of Rome. Romans would stamp this on any buildings or public works. Even a bench, constructed sedendi causa (for the sake of sitting), would have these famous letters on it to remind people of all the good the Roman state had done. The form sedendi is an example of a gerund in Latin.
Formation
Gerunds are 2nd declension neuter singular nouns. To form the gerund, add the following endings to the present stem:
- 1st/2nd conjugation: -nd-
- 3rd/4th conjugation: -end-
The gerund does not appear in the nominative case, which is instead handled with an infinitive. Therefore, the gerund has just four forms:
| Case | 1st/2nd Conjugation | 3rd/4th Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | NONE | NONE |
| Genitive | -ndi | -endi |
| Dative | -ndo | -endo |
| Accusative | -ndum | -endum |
| Ablative | -ndo | -endo |
Gerund Examples
The chart below contains a full list of forms of the gerund for amo, amare, amavi, amatus - to love and for ago, agere, egi, actus - to do, drive
- amo, amare, amavi, amatus - to love
- Present stem: ama- (add -nd + neuter singular endings)
- ago, agere, egi, actus - to do, drive
- Present stem: ag- (add -end + neuter singular endings)
| Case | 1st Conjugation Example: amare | 3rd Conjugation Example: agere |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | N/A | N/A |
| Genitive | amandi | agendi |
| Dative | amando | agendo |
| Accusative | amandum | agendum |
| Ablative | amando | agendo |