For the Sake of Studying: studendi causa

For the Sake of

Level 5

A short phrase of purpose: ad plus the gerundive, or causa after a genitive.

How It Works

PatternExampleMeaning
ad and the gerundivead urbem delendamto destroy the city
gerundive and causapacis petendae causafor the sake of asking for peace
gerund and causastudendi causafor the sake of studying
ad and the gerundad discendumfor learning

Latin prefers the gerundive phrase when there is a noun to act on. Notice that urbem and delendam are both feminine accusative, and that pacis and petendae are both feminine genitive.

Causa stands after the words it goes with. The phrase is not a clause, so it has no verb of its own.

Examples (5)

  1. Exercitus ad urbem delendam venit.

    The army came to destroy the city.

    Delendam agrees with urbem, feminine accusative singular, after ad.

  2. Pacis petendae causa legatos mittit.

    He sends ambassadors to ask for peace.

    Pacis petendae are both genitive, and causa follows them.

  3. Marcus Athenas venit studendi causa.

    Marcus came to Athens to study.

    Studendi is the genitive gerund, with no object, before causa.

  4. Populus in ecclesiam convenit ad Deum laudandum.

    The people gather in the church to praise God.

    Laudandum agrees with Deum, masculine accusative singular.

  5. Iulia in hortum it ad libros legendos.

    Iulia goes into the garden to read books.

    Legendos agrees with libros, masculine accusative plural.

Common Mistakes

  • Not matching the gerundive to its noun.

    Exercitus ad urbem delendum venit.
    Exercitus ad urbem delendam venit.

    The gerundive agrees with its noun urbem, so it is feminine accusative: delendam.

How It Connects

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For the Sake of Studying: studendi causaLevel 5For the Sake of

Learn This First

These forms can say a purpose, so the gerundive and purpose clauses come first.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

causaad