ABSTRACT
The Latin gerund is a neuter singular noun formed from a verb, e.g. parandum (preparing), videndum (seeing). It is not used in the nominative - instead the Romans used the infinitive:
e.g. videre est credere to see is to believe/seeing is believing
In other cases, the gerund is used:
e.g. videndo credimus by seeing we believe servus est ad laborandum aptus the slave is fit for working
The gerund is similar to the gerundive (see Chapter 11) except that the gerund is active, and not an adjective but a noun:
acc. videndum seeing gen. videndi of seeing dat. videndo for seeing abl. videndo by seeing
A gerund is sometimes used in place of a gerundive:
Gerundive: Romae videndae causa venimus we came for the sake of Rome-to-be-seen
Gerund: Romam videndi causa venimus we came for the sake of seeing Rome
Note that a gerundive is passive and an adjective, while a gerund is active and a noun.
