The Gerund: amandi, amando, amandum
The Gerund: A Verb as a Noun
A verb that acts as a noun: amandi, amando, amandum.
How It Works
| Case | Ending | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| genitive | -ndi | ars amandi | the art of loving |
| dative | -ndo | rare | |
| accusative | -ndum | ad discendum | for learning |
| ablative | -ndo | legendo | by reading |
Add -ndi, -ndo, -ndum to the present stem, with an e in the third and fourth conjugations: amandi, monendi, legendi, audiendi.
The accusative gerund appears only after a preposition such as ad. The ablative can stand alone for by, or follow in, de, ex or ab: in scribendo.
Church Latin uses the same forms. The versicle that opens the Hours has one: Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina (O Lord, make haste to help me).
Examples (5)
- Ars amandi difficilis est.
The art of loving is difficult.
Amandi is the genitive of the gerund and depends on ars.
- Pueri ad discendum veniunt.
The boys come to learn.
Ad takes the accusative, so the gerund is discendum.
- Legendo discimus.
We learn by reading.
Legendo is the ablative of the gerund and means by reading.
- Tempus tacendi, et tempus loquendi.
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
Ecclesiastes 3:7. Tacendi and loquendi are genitive gerunds depending on tempus.
- Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
Psalm 69:2. Ad adiuvandum is the accusative gerund of purpose, and me is its object.
Common Mistakes
Using the infinitive after a preposition.
Pueri ad discere veniunt.Pueri ad discendum veniunt.After a preposition Latin uses the gerund, not the infinitive. Ad needs the accusative discendum.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The gerund is a verb used as a neuter noun.
Related Patterns
- The Gerundive: amandus, -a, -umThe Gerundive: Must Be Done
The adjective that looks like the gerund.
Level 5 - For the Sake of Studying: studendi causaFor the Sake of
The gerund after ad and causa.
Level 5 - To Err Is Human
The infinitive does the job of the missing nominative.
Level 4 - By Means Of: the ablative
The ablative gerund means by.
Level 3 - The Infinitive: -are, -ereThe Infinitive
The verb form the gerund replaces.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice The Gerund: amandi, amando, amandum in Bubblegum
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