Nōmen:
Class Notes
Diēs est_____________
Latin II, R___
GERUNDS
Gerunds are words which describe actions, a.k.a. verbs, but function as nouns. In English, we usually
express gerunds (aka ‘verbnouns’) with _________ing. In Latin, we express “verbnouns” with either
an 1) infinitives or 2) gerund.
I.
INFINITIVES as Nouns
_____________________________: these infinitives replace the subject.
➔ Ex. It is bad to fight./ Fighting is bad.
➔ To see is to believe/ Seeing is believing
➔ It is good to smile./ Smiling is good for you.
➔ What case would these “verbnouns” be in if they were Latin nouns?
__________________
II.
GERUNDS as “verbnouns”: Can function like any noun and therefore take a CASE (genitive,
dative, accusative or ablative), just like any other noun would:
Case of Gerund in Latin
Examples
By singing she impresses the audience.
The art of singing is beautiful.
She pays attention to singing.
The ACCUSATIVE gerund is used after the preposition “ad” to express purpose.
◆
It is NOT used as a direct object. If a Roman were to say “I love singing”, he/she
would NOT use a gerund for singing. Instead he/she would use an
__________________________. (Ex. amō cantāre)
◆
The ACCUSATIVE gerund is mainly used to express purpose:
●
dux ad pugnandum abiit. = The leader went away for the purpose of fighting/
to fight.
**N.B. Gerunds are translated as “____ing”. Make sure to translate them according to their case.
The gerund has the 2nd declension noun endings in neuter singular.
Examine the chart below, then complete the formula for forming the gerund:
GERUND FORMATION = ___________ + ________ + 2nd. Decl. Neuter Singular Endings
Nōmen:
Class Notes
Diēs est_____________
Latin II, R___
Fighting is bad.
NOM
pugnāre (2 PP)
The hope of fighting excited the troops.
GEN
pugnandī
They paid attention to fighting.
DAT
pugnandō
They left their families and marched on for the
purpose of fighting.
ACC
pugnandum
By fighting bravely, the soldiers conquered the
enemy.
ABL
pugnandō
Exerceāmus! Annotate and translate the sentences below.
/1/ officium est omnī cīvī Rōmānō patriam dēfendere.
TRANSLATION:

The verbnoun is ____________________ and its case is _____________________. Because it is the
________________ of the sentence, it is also called a ________________________.
/2/ quīcumque artem bellum gerendī nōn noscit, ille debet auxilium ā patriā petere.
(quīcumque whoever | nōscō, -ere, nōvī, nōtus to know | ille that (nom. sg. m.) | patria, -ae f. fatherland, homeland)
TRANSLATION:


The gerund is ____________________ and its case is _____________________.
petere is a ____________________ infinitive.
/3/ Punicus per Ītaliam ad adquirendum societatēs iter faciēbat.
TRANSLATION:

The gerund is ____________________ and its case is _____________________.
/4/ The Carthaginians were able to receive their prisoners by giving money to the Romans.
(accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptus to receive | captivus, -ī, m. prisoner | do, dare, dedī, datus to give)
TRANSLATION: