CLT: Lesson - Grammar Review - Participles and Gerunds

Grammar Review - Participles and Gerunds

This module's focus was on a new type of participle, called a gerundive (future passive participle). Let's take one final look at participles, including the gerundive.

Participle Review - the four participles

Let's form the dictionary entries for each participle, then decline the gerundive for the verb capio, capere, cepi, captus - to take. First, we need to establish the three indicative stems for the verb.

  • Stems:
    • Present Stem: Used for present participle and gerundive
      • capere = 3rd conjugation: 1st PP - o
      • capio - o = capi-
    • Perfect Stem: (not used for a participle, but good to review!)
      • 3rd PP - i
      • cepi - i = cep-
    • Participle Stem: Used for perfect passive and future active participles
      • 4th PP - us
      • captus - us = capt-

Now that we have those stems, we can follow the formation rules to create the dictionary entry for each participle.

Participle Dictionary Entries
Participle Stem Needed

Rules for Formation

 Dictionary Entry
Present Active Present (capi)

3rd/4th Conjugation: Present Stem + ens (gen. entis)

 capiens (gen. capientis)
Perfect Participle (capt)

Participle Stem + us, a, um

 captus, capta, captum
Future Active Participle (capt)

Participle Stem + ur + us, a, um

 capturus, captura, capturum
Gerundive (Future Passive) Present (capi) 3rd/4th Conjugation: Present Stem + end + us, a, um capiendus, capienda, capiendum

Now, let's obtain the base for each participle:

  • Present Participle: remove -is from the provided genitive form:
    • capientis - is = capient-
  • All others: remove -a from the middle (feminine) form:
    • Perfect: capta - a = capt-
    • Future Active: captura - a = captur-
    • Gerundive: capienda - a = capiend-

Finally, let's practice declining the gerundive (you may want to practice declining the other participle forms as well, just as a review of adjective endings). The gerundive uses 1st/2nd declension adjective endings. Additionally, the forms of the gerund (neuter singular, except nominative) are highlighted in bold.

  • capio, capere, cepi, captus - to take
    • Gerundive: capiendus, capienda, capiendum
Gerundive Forms Example - capere
Case Masculine Feminine Neuter
Number Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative capiendus capiendi capienda capiendae capiendum capienda
Genitive capiendi capiendorum capiendae capiendarum capiendi capiendorum
Dative capiendo capiendis capiendae capiendis capiendo capiendis
Accusative capiendum capiendos capiendam capiendas capiendum capienda
Ablative capiendo capiendis capienda capiendis capiendo capiendis

Gerunds and Gerundives - Use Comparison

Gerunds are nouns, while gerundives are adjectives. Gerunds likely developed as a substantive form of the gerundive, which is also called the future passive participle. Review the comparison chart below.

Gerund and Gerundive Comparison
Characteristics

Gerunds

Gerundives

Part of Speech

Noun

Adjective

Forms

2nd declension, neuter, singular only

No nominative form

1st/2nd Declension Adjective

All cases, genders, numbers

Uses

Generally used without a direct object

Generally used to agree with a noun, that acts as the direct object of the gerundive

Function

Never used in the nominative case. Otherwise, used the same a gerundive (expresses purpose).

Nominative Use: obligation (passive periphrastic)

Other Cases: generally used to express purpose

Example Sentences - Gerundive and Gerund

Let's use our newly formed gerundive and gerund forms to form a simple example of how gerundives and gerunds are used.

Example Sentences - Gerunds and Gerundives

Type

Latin

Translation

Gerundive (passive periphrastic)

Oppidum Caesari capiendum est.

The town must be captured by Caesar.

Caesar must capture the town.

Gerundive (purpose with ad + accusative)

Caesar hostes ad oppidum capiendum oppugnavit.

Caesar attacked the enemy to take their town.

Gerund (purpose with dative adjective)

Caesar putavit oppidum esse utile capiendo.

Caesar thought that the town was useful for taking.