The Genitive of the Gerund and Gerundive is used after nouns or adjectives, either as
subjective
or
objective
genitive:—
-
vīvendī
fīnis est optimus
(Cat. M. 72)
,
it is the best end of living.
[Subjective.]
-
neque
cōnsilī habendī
neque arma
capiendī
spatiō datō
;
(
B. G. 4.14
),
time being given neither for forming plans nor for taking arms.
[Objective.]
-
nōn tam
commūtandārum
quam
ēvertendārum rērum
cupidōs
(Off. 2.3)
,
desirous not so much of changing as of destroying the state.
[Objective.]
In these uses the gerund and the gerundive are about equally common.
In a few phrases the Infinitive is used with nouns which ordinarily have the genitive of the gerund or gerundive:
as
,—
tempus est abīre
,
it is time to go.
The genitive of the gerund sometimes takes a direct object, especially a neuter pronoun or a neuter adjective used substantively:—
-
nūlla causa iūsta cuiquam esse potest contrā patriam
arma
capiendī
;
(
Phil. 2.53
),
no one can have a just cause for taking up arms against his country.
-
artem
vēra
ac
falsa
dīiūdicandī
;
(
De Or. 2.157
),
the art of distinguishing true from false.
The genitive of the gerund or gerundive is used (especially in later Latin) as a predicate genitive. When so used it often expresses purpose:—
-
quae postquam glōriōsa modo neque
bellī patrandī
cōgnōvit
(Iug. 88)
,
when he perceived that these were only brilliant deeds and not likely to end the war.
-
Aegyptum proficīscitur
cōgnōscendae antīquitātis
(Tac. Ann. 2.59)
,
he sets out for Egypt to study old times.
The genitive of the gerund or gerundive with
causā
or
gratiā
expresses purpose (§
533
.
b
):—
-
pābulandī
aut
frūmentandī
causā prōgressī
;
(
B. C. 1.48
),
having advanced for the purpose of collecting fodder or supplies.
-
vītandae suspīcionis
causā
;
(
Cat. 1.19
),
in order to avoid suspicion.
-
simulandī
grātiā
;
(
Iug. 37
),
in order to deceive.
-
exercendae memōriae
grātiā
;
(
Cat. M. 38
),
for the sake of training the memory.
The genitive of the gerund is occasionally limited by a noun or pronoun (especially a personal pronoun in the plural) in the objective genitive instead of taking a direct object:—
-
rêiciendī
trium iūdicum
potestās
(Verr. 2.77)
,
the power of challenging three jurors
(of the rejecting of three jurors).
-
suī
colligendī facultās
(B. G. 3.6)
,
the opportunity to recover themselves.
Dative of the Gerund and Gerundive
[XML File](XML\Chapter-504.xml)