Chapter 39 Grammar

Question 1

State the gerund forms of “amāre” (to love).

Answer 1

• genitive: amandī (of loving)
• dative: amandō (to/for loving)
• accusative: amandum (loving)
• ablative: amandō (by/with/from loving)

The gerund is the same as the gerundive (future passive participle), but it exists only in the singular neuter, has no nominative, and is translated in the active.

Question 2

Which translation of “eagerness for reading books” is more idiomatic?

1. studium legendi libros (gerund)
2. studium legendorum librorum (gerundive)

Answer 2

2. gerundive

When a gerund would take an accusative direct object, Romans would use the gerundive instead.