The Gerundive: amandus, -a, -um

The Gerundive: Must Be Done

Level 5

A -ndus adjective: to be done, must be done.

How It Works

MasculineFeminineNeuter
amareamandusamandaamandum
legerelegenduslegendalegendum
deleredelendusdelendadelendum

The gerundive looks like the gerund, but the gerund is a noun that is always neuter and never changes to agree. The gerundive is an adjective and always has a noun to agree with: liber legendus, res mirandae (things worth wondering at).

The gerundive can stand beside its noun (liber legendus) or after est (liber legendus est, the book must be read). The second pattern is the one the next entry explains.

The saying Carthago delenda est is linked with Cato the Elder, who is said to have asked the Senate to destroy Carthage.

Examples (5)

  1. Hic est liber legendus.

    This is a book to be read.

    Legendus agrees with liber, masculine singular nominative.

  2. Carthago delenda est.

    Carthage must be destroyed.

    Delenda is feminine to agree with Carthago. The gerundive with est says must.

  3. Vidimus res mirandas.

    We saw things worth wondering at.

    Mirandas is feminine accusative plural and agrees with res.

  4. Dies festus celebrandus est.

    The feast day must be celebrated.

    Celebrandus agrees with dies, masculine in this sentence.

  5. Pax semper quaerenda est.

    Peace must always be sought.

    Quaerenda agrees with pax, feminine.

Common Mistakes

  • Not matching the gerundive to its noun.

    Carthago delendus est.
    Carthago delenda est.

    The gerundive agrees with its noun. Carthago is feminine, so the form is delenda.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

The Gerundive: amandus, -a, -umLevel 5The Gerundive: Must Be Done

Learn This First

The gerundive is formed like the gerund and agrees like an adjective.

Words in This Pattern

amoamandus-andus-endus