THE GERUND AND GERUNDIVE 175
405. Compare the following parallel uses of the gerund and gerundive:
| Gerund | Gerundive | |
|---|---|---|
| Gen. | Spēs faciendī pācem The hope of making peace |
Spēs faciendae pācis The hope of making peace |
| Dat. | Locus idōneus pugnandō A place suitable for fighting |
Locus idōneus castrīs pōnendīs A place suitable for pitching camp |
| Acc. | Mīsit equitēs ad īnsequendum He sent horsemen to pursue |
Mīsit equitēs ad īnsequendōs hostīs He sent horsemen to pursue the enemy |
| Abl. | Nārrandō fābulās magister puerīs placuit The teacher pleased the boys by telling stories |
Nārrandīs fābulīs magister puerīs placuit The teacher pleased the boys by telling stories |
a. We observe
- That the gerund is a noun and the gerundive an adjective.
- That the gerund, being a noun, may stand alone or with an object.
- That the gerundive, being an adjective, is used only in agreement with a noun.
406. Rule. Gerund and Gerundive.
- The Gerund is a verbal noun and is used only in the genitive, dative, accusative, and ablative singular. The constructions of these cases are in general the same as those of other nouns.
- The Gerundive is a verbal adjective and must be used instead of gerund + object excepting in the genitive and in the ablative without a preposition. Even in these instances the gerundive construction is more usual.
407. Rule. Gerund or Gerundive of Purpose. The accusative of the gerund or gerundive with ad, or the genitive with causā[1] (= for the sake of), is used to express purpose.
| Gerund | Gerundive |
|---|---|
|
Ad audiendum vēnērunt or Audiendī causā vēnērunt They came to hear |
Ad urbem videndam vēnērunt or Urbis videndae causā vēnērunt They came to see the city |
- ↑ causā always follows the genitive.
