ParticiplesA participle is an adjective that has been created out of a verb!

Present Active Participle

Use the second principal part…remove the -re to getthe present stem

add “-ns” = “-ing” amans = loving

after the nominative, “-ns” becomes “-nt + third declensionendings” … hence, amantem = loving amantes = loving

The action of the present active participle always happens atthe same time as the action of the main verb…and indicateswhat someone is doing.All present active participles are third declension adjectives.

Puer, currens ad villam, canem amisit.

The boy, [while] running towards the house, lost the dog.

The running happened at the same time as the losing.

Perfect Passive ParticipleThe Perfect Passive Participle is the fourth principal

part!

amo, amare, amavi, amatus –a –um = having been loved

The Perfect Passive Participle indicates action that

has happened to a noun (rather than something the

noun has done).

The action of the Perfect Passive Participle always

happens before the action of the main verb.

Puer, a matre laudatus, laetissimus erat.(n.b. laudatus modifies puer)

The boy, [having been] praised by his mother, was very happy.

Femina, a maritō amata, ei cenam optimam paravit.

(n.b. amata modifies femina)

The woman, loved by her husband, prepared an excellent dinner for him.

Perfect Active ParticiplePerfect Active Participles are the last principal parts of ‘deponent’ verbs

They are formed just like perfect passive participles, but they always have an active meaning and always indicate action that happened before the action of the main verb.

precatus –a –um = having prayed

locutus –a –um = having spoken

profectus –a –um = having set out

Senex, deam precatus, e templo exiit.(n.b. precatus modifies senex)

The old man, having prayed to the goddess, left the temple.

Milites, ad proelium profecti, celeriter incesserunt.(n.b. prefecti modifies milites)

The soldiers, having set out to the battle, marched quickly.

Future Active Participle

The Future Active Participle uses the participial base from the fourth principal part, and adds –urus, -a, -um from the fourth principal part of the verb “to be”:

sum, esse, fui, futurus –a –um

Take amo, amare, amavi, amatus –a –um and

replace –us –a –um with –urus –a –um

amaturus = about to love/going to love

moriturus sum

I [a man is speaking] am going to die.

feminae, cursurae ad metam, se parabant.

The women, about to run to the turning post, were preparing themselves.

Gerunds

Gerunds are nouns made out of verbs

Take the present stem from the second principal part and add “-nd- + -i, -o, -um, and –o)

i.e. gerunds are found only in the gen., dat., acc. and abl. neuter singular – no nom., no pl.!

Uses of the gerund

The gerund may be just a noun:

Amo currendum – I like running.

Ad + gerund = purposead currendum veni. I came for the running.

i.e. I came to run.

Gerundives

Gerundives are formed the same way as gerunds, but where gerunds are nouns, gerundives are adjectives, and use all numbers, genders and cases.

Hence, currendus –a –um, etc. (the gerundive may also be called the future passive participle – there is no English equivalent)

Uses of the gerundive The gerundive may be just an adjective:

de Roma constituenda – about Rome to be founded

i.e., about the founding of Rome.

with sum = necessity or obligation:

Caesari omnia sunt agenda – all things must be done

by Caesar – i.e. Caesar has to do all things.

With ad + acc. = purpose:

Ad naves videndas veni = I came for the ships to be

seen – i.e., I came to see the ships.