Gerundive: Difference between revisions

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See also a Gerund, which is capable of social snobbery.
{{a|plainenglish|[[File:Gerund_cuts_gerundive.PNG]]}}A [[gerundive]] is a form of a [[Latin]] [[verb]], having the (declinable) ending ''-ndus'' which functions as an [[adjective]] meaning ''“that should or must be done”''.
 
''There is no [[gerundive]] in English; the closest you get is a [[passive]] [[infinitive]] like “books to be read”, combining a [[transitive verb]] and its object with a sense of obligation. But wouldn’t you just use the [[active]] infinitive and avoid that ugly passive: "books to read".''
 
===[[Latin]] examples ===
*[[quod erat demonstrandum]] — ''because that is the very thing one seeks to prove'';
*[[mutatis mutandis]] — ''changed in ways that must be changed''.
 
See also [[gerund]], which is capable of social snobbery.<br />
 
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Latest revision as of 13:30, 14 August 2024

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A gerundive is a form of a Latin verb, having the (declinable) ending -ndus which functions as an adjective meaning “that should or must be done”.

There is no gerundive in English; the closest you get is a passive infinitive like “books to be read”, combining a transitive verb and its object with a sense of obligation. But wouldn’t you just use the active infinitive and avoid that ugly passive: "books to read".

Latin examples

See also gerund, which is capable of social snobbery.