Gerundives

A gerundive is a future passive participle. Notice the spelling of gerundive. It ends in the letters -ive, just like the part of speech it represents - the adjective. It is rarely used literally as an adjective (about to be -ed), but instead serves an important role in expressing an obligation or the purpose of an action. Before discussing the ways it is used, however, let us learn how to form gerundives.

The image depicts an ancient orator, addressing a crowd. In Roman times, being able to speak publicly was a highly sought after skill. A client inveniendus erat (had to find) a good orator to prosecute their case. Had to find is an example of the sort of construction that is possible with gerundives.

Present Stem Review

To be able to successfully form the gerundive, please review the methods required to obtain the present stem.

Obtaining the Present Stem

Conjugation

Obtaining the Stem

Examples

1st, 2nd, 4th

Regular:

2nd principal part - re

Deponent:

2nd principal part - ri

amare - re = ama-
videre - re = vide-
audire - re = audi-
conari - ri = cona-
vereri - ri = vere-

3rd, 3rd -io

Regular:

1st principal part -o

Deponent:

1st principal part - or

duco - o = duc-
capio - o = capi-
sequor - or = sequ-
gradior - or = gradi-

Formation

Gerundives are 1st/2nd declension adjectives. The nominative form of the gerundive is created by adding the following endings to the present stem:

1st/2nd conjugation: -nd-
3rd/4th conjugation: -end-

To this, the 1st/2nd declension adjective endings -us, -a, -um are added:

1st/2nd conjugation: -ndus, nda, ndum
3rd/4th conjugation: -endus, enda, endum

The dictionary entry for the gerundive will be written:

amandus, amanda, amandum - about to be loved

To obtain the base for the gerundive, remove -a from the feminine form.

Forming the Gerundive

Conjugation

Gerundive

Gerundive Base

1st Conjugation: amo, amare, amavi, amatus

2nd Conjugation: video, videre, vidi, visus

add -ndus, nda, ndum to the present stem

1st Conjugation Present stem: ama-
- amandus, amanda, amandum
2nd Conjugation Present stem: vide-
- videndus, videnda, videndum

Remove -is from genitive form

amanda - a
- amand-
videnda - a
- vidend-

3rd Conjugation: duco, ducere, duxi, ductus

3rd-io Conjguation: capio, capere, cepi, captus

4th Conjugation: audio, audire, audivi, auditus

add -endus, enda, endum to the present stem

3rd Conjugation Present stem: duc-
- ducendus, ducenda, ducendum
3rd-io Conjugation Present stem: capi-
- capiendus, capienda, capiendum
4th Conjugation Present stem: audi-
- audiendus, audienda, audiendum

Remove -is from genitive form

ducenda - a
- ducend-
capiend - a
- capiend-
audiend - a
- audiend-

N.B. GeruNDives have an adjective base ending in -ND. In fact, the English word gerundive is a derivative of a Latin gerundive: gerendus, gerenda, gerendum - about to be done, from the verb gero, gerere, gessi, gestus - to bear, carry on, wage.

Gerundive Endings

Gerundives use 1st/2nd declension adjective endings. These endings are added to the base.

The chart below contains a full list of forms of the gerundive for amo, amare, amavi, amatus - to love

Gerundive
Gerundive Entry: amandus, amanda, amandum Gerundive Base: amanda - a amand-	Masculine		Feminine		Neuter
	singular	plural	singular	plural	singular	plural
Nominative	amandus	amandi	amanda	amandae	amandum	amanda
Genitive	amandi	amandorum	amandae	amandarum	amandi	amandorum
Dative	amando	amandis	amandae	amandis	amando	amandis
Accusative	amandum	amandos	amandam	amandas	amandum	amanda
Ablative	amando	amandis	amanda	amandis	amando	amandis