Editing Latin conjugation (section)

=== Gerund {{anchor|The gerund}} ===
{{See also|Gerund|Latin syntax#The gerund}}

The gerund is formed similarly to the present active participle. However, the ''-ns'' becomes an ''-ndus'', and the preceding ''ā'' or ''ē'' is shortened. Gerunds are neuter nouns of the [[Latin declension#Second declension (o)|second declension]], but the nominative case is not present. The gerund is a noun, meaning "the act of doing (the verb)", and forms a suppletive paradigm to the infinitive, which cannot be declined. For example, the genitive form {{lang|la|laudandī}} can mean "of praising", the dative form {{lang|la|laudandō}} can mean "for praising", the accusative form {{lang|la|laudandum}} can mean "praising", and the ablative form {{lang|la|laudandō}} can mean "by praising", "in respect to praising", etc.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!rowspan="2"|
!colspan="6"| Gerund
|-
! {{lang|la|laudāre|italic=no}}
! {{lang|la|terrēre|italic=no}}
! {{lang|la|petere|italic=no}}
! {{lang|la|capere|italic=no}}
! {{lang|la|audīre|italic=no}}
|-
! Accusative
| {{lang|la|laudandum|italic=no}} || {{lang|la|terrendum|italic=no}} || {{lang|la|petendum|italic=no}} || {{lang|la|capiendum|italic=no}} || {{lang|la|audiendum|italic=no}}
|-
! Genitive
| {{lang|la|laudandī|italic=no}} || {{lang|la|terrendī|italic=no}} || {{lang|la|petendī|italic=no}} || {{lang|la|capiendī|italic=no}} || {{lang|la|audiendī|italic=no}}
|-
! Dative
| rowspan="2" | {{lang|la|laudandō|italic=no}} || rowspan="2" | {{lang|la|terrendō|italic=no}} || rowspan="2" | {{lang|la|petendō|italic=no}} || rowspan="2" | {{lang|la|capiendō|italic=no}} || rowspan="2" | {{lang|la|audiendō|italic=no}}
|-
! Ablative
|}

One common use of the gerund is with the preposition {{lang|la|ad}} to indicate purpose. For example, {{lang|la|paratus ad oppugnandum}} could be translated as "ready to attack". However the gerund was avoided when an object was introduced, and a passive construction with the gerundive was preferred. For example, for "ready to attack the enemy" the construction {{lang|la|paratus ad hostes oppugnandos}} is preferred over {{lang|la|paratus ad hostes oppugnandum}}.<ref name="eitrem">{{cite book|last=Eitrem|first=S.|title=Latinsk grammatikk|publisher=Aschehoug|location=Oslo|year=2006|edition=3|pages=111}}</ref>