William of Ockham

On Logic

Latin Grammar: Gerunds

Aliter accipitur hoc nomen 'singulare' pro omni illo quod est unum et non plura, nec est natum esse signum plurium. Et sic accipiendo 'singulare' nullum universale est singulare, quia quodlibet universale natum est esse signum plurium et natum est praedicari de pluribus. Unde vocando universale aliquid quod non est unum numero, —quam acceptionem multi attribuunt universali—, dico quod nihil est universale nisi forte abuteris isto vocabulo, dicendo populum esse unum universale, quia non est unum sed multa; sed illud puerile esset.

The gerund is a noun formed from a verb, that corresponds to the English "-ing." So above we have accipiendo, "by understanding." The gerund is never found in the nominative (the nominative verbal noun is supplied by the infinitive), and only in the singular of the oblique cases. Most situations where English would use a verbal noun are handled in Latin by the gerundive rather than the gerund.

Exercise: Fill in the correct form of the gerundive for the given verb.

1. causa (accipere), gen.    |    

2. gratia (scire), gen.    |    

3. (nominare), abl.    |    

4. ars (dicere), gen.    |    

5. cupido (habere), gen.    |    

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