Gerundive

In Latin grammar, a gerundive () is a verb form that functions as a verbal adjective.

In Classical Latin, the gerundive has the same form as the gerund, but is distinct from the present active participle. In Late Latin, the differences were largely lost, resulting in a form derived from the gerund or gerundive but functioning more like a participle. The adjectival gerundive form survives in the formation of progressive aspect forms in Italian, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese and some southern/insular dialects of European Portuguese. In French the adjectival gerundive and participle forms merged completely, and the term gérondif is used for adverbial use of -ant forms.

There is no true equivalent to the gerundive in English, but it can be interpreted as a future passive participle, used adjectivally or adverbially; the closest translation is a passive to-infinitive non-finite clause such as books to be read. That reflects the most common use of the Latin gerundive, to combine a transitive verb (such as read) and its object (such as books), usually with a sense of obligation.

Another translation is the recent development of the must- prefix as in a must-read book.

Latin

Form

The Latin gerundive is a form of the verb. It is composed of:

the infectum stem (the stem used to form Present and Imperfect tense forms)

a vowel appropriate to the verb class or conjugation of the verb

the suffix -nd-

an adjectival Inflectional ending

For example:

Related gerund forms are composed in a similar way with nominal inflexional endings.