What is the difference between a gerund and a gerundive?
A gerund is a verbal noun which has an active force.
For example: Portare facile est = Carrying is easy, to carry is easy.
Gerund have no plurals, and decline in the other cases (where portare is nominative) by adding nd to the verb before and the neuter singular 2nd declension endings.
For example: Amphoram portando, nos vires crescimus = By carrying the jar, we are increasing our strength.
A gerundive on the other hand is a verbal adjective which always has a passive force and usually agrees with another noun. Unlike the gerund it can be plural and declines just like a 1st or second declension adjective.
For example: Amphoras portandas habeo = I have amphorae to carry.
Gerunds = verbal nouns, gerundives = verbal adjectives.
EL
Related Latin GCSE answers
All answers ▸largior ... dicunt (lines 1–5): how does Virgil present Elysium as an attractive and appealing place? Make three points, each referring to the Latin.
'dux militibus imperavit ut summa virtute pugnarent.' What construction is this? Parse 'militibus' and explain why it is like this. With the same construction, rewrite this sentence using 'iubeo' instead of 'imperare'.
What's a good method to translate a sentence from Latin into English?
What is the subjunctive and when is it used?