amandī, ad urbem videndam: gerund and gerundive
The verbal noun "-ing" and its adjective partner, purpose with ad or causā, and the predicate genitive.
LatinAdvanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbsAbout 4 min: 2 reading, 2 practiceUpdated
- Form and decline the gerund
- Use the gerundive in agreement with a noun instead of gerund + object
- Express purpose with ad + accusative or causā + genitive
- Use the predicate genitive
Latin Level 3: constructions: lesson 11 of 14
- Advanced Latin · The subjunctive
- amem, regam, sim: the present subjunctive 4 min
- ut, nē, quī: purpose clauses 3 min
- amārem, essem: the imperfect subjunctive and the sequence of tenses 4 min
- amāverim, amāvissem; indirect commands 3 min
- possim; "I fear that …" 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amāns, amātus, amātūrus, amandus: participles 3 min
- volō, nōlō, mālō; the ablative absolute 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- fīō; "so … that": result clauses 4 min
- "The man to lead us": clauses of characteristic 3 min
- cum: when, since, although 3 min
- Advanced Latin · Participles and irregular verbs
- amandī, ad urbem videndam: gerund and gerundive 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Clauses
- eō; "he said that …": indirect statement 4 min
- ferō; the dative with compounds; indirect questions 4 min
- Advanced Latin · Review
- The cases and the moods: a review 4 min
Try first
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lesson LXXI ("Vocabulary Review · The Gerund and Gerundive · The Predicate Genitive"), §§ 401–410
What it is
The gerund is a verbal noun, English "-ing". The infinitive covers the nominative; the gerund supplies the other cases (singular, neuter):
| Case | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Nom. | superāre (infinitive) | overcoming, to overcome |
| Gen. | superandī | of overcoming |
| Dat. | superandō | for overcoming |
| Acc. | superandum | overcoming (after ad) |
| Abl. | superandō | by overcoming |
So monendī, regendī, capiendī, audiendī. Deponents have it too: cōnandī, of trying.
Superandō Gallōs Caesar magnam glōriam reportāvit. → By overcoming the Gauls Caesar won great glory.
The gerundive (-ndus, -a, -um) is the adjective form. Instead of gerund + object, Latin usually puts the noun in the case and makes the gerundive agree with it:
- gerund: cōnsilium gerendī bellum → the plan of waging war
- gerundive (more usual): cōnsilium bellī gerendī → the same
With any preposition (ad, in, inter …) and in the dative, the gerundive is required when there is an object.
Purpose: ad + accusative, or genitive + causā (which always comes after):
- Ad urbem videndam vēnērunt. = Urbis videndae causā vēnērunt. → They came to see the city.
Predicate genitive: possession in the predicate: Equus est Galbae. → The horse is Galba's.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
"They came to see the city." Which is right?
- Not the infinitive for purpose
Show answer
Ad urbem videndam vēnērunt.. ad + gerundive agreeing with urbem.
Why it matters
Gerunds and gerundives are among the most frequent features of Latin prose: "for the sake of seeking peace", "a place suitable for pitching camp", "by fighting". English "-ing" covers them, but Latin keeps them neatly apart.
Worked example
- Puerī pugnandī causā vēnērunt. → The boys came for the sake of fighting.
- Mīlitēs ad oppidum oppugnandum missī sunt. → The soldiers were sent to attack the town.
- Labōrandō magister puerīs placuit. → The teacher pleased the boys by working.
Common mistake
Keeping gerund + object after ad: wrong: ad videndum urbem. With an object, use the gerundive in agreement: ad urbem videndam.
Key terms
- gerund
- verbal noun: -ndī, -ndō, -ndum, -ndō
- gerundive
- verbal adjective -ndus, agreeing with a noun
- causā (after a genitive)
- for the sake of
- ad + gerund/gerundive
- to, for the purpose of
- predicate genitive
- equus est Galbae: the horse is Galba's
- placeō, placēre (+ dat.)
- please
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 6 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| gerund | verbal noun: -ndī, -ndō, -ndum, -ndō |
| gerundive | verbal adjective -ndus, agreeing with a noun |
| causā (after a genitive) | for the sake of |
| ad + gerund/gerundive | to, for the purpose of |
| predicate genitive | equus est Galbae: the horse is Galba's |
| placeō, placēre (+ dat.) | please |
Practice
Recognition drill
Pick the right answer, as fast as you can.
All pairs
Tap a card to turn it over. 6 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| amō | amandī |
| moneō | monendī |
| regō | regendī |
| capiō | capiendī |
| audiō | audiendī |
| cōnor | cōnandī |
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
"for the sake of taking the town"
- causā follows the genitive, and the gerundive agrees with oppidī
Show answer
oppidī capiendī causā. Gerundive agreeing with oppidī, then causā.
Superandō in Superandō Gallōs glōriam reportāvit means …
- That would be the infinitive
Show answer
by overcoming. Ablative of the gerund: means.
Practise speaking
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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: ad, causā, urbem videndam, oppidum oppugnandum, oppidī capiendī, urbis videndae, oppidī oppugnandī, pugnandī, superandō, vēnērunt, missī sunt, mīlitēs, puerī, Galbae, est, equus. Say English like 'they came to see the city', 'the soldiers were sent to attack the town' or 'they came for the sake of fighting', and I will say it in Latin with a gerund or gerundive, once with ad and once with causā where possible. Do 8 sentences. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.
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Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. This course teaches the classical pronunciation (see lesson 1); AI voices may mix it with the Church (Italian-style) one, so ask for classical and check against lesson 1. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
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In short
- Gerund: -ndī, -ndō, -ndum, -ndō; a noun.
- Gerundive: -ndus, -a, -um; agrees with a noun; preferred with an object.
- Purpose: ad + acc. or gen. + causā.
- Predicate genitive: equus est Galbae.
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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Give the ablative gerund of labōrō.
Show answer
labōrandō, by working.
Translate Ad pācem petendam vēnērunt (pāx = peace).
Show answer
They came to seek peace.
Where does causā stand?
Show answer
After the genitive it governs.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lesson LXXI, §§ 401–410. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
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