222
Syntax.
2. The Gerundive Construction must be used to avoid a Direct Object with the Dative of the Gerund, or with a case dependent upon a Preposition; as,-
locus caatrfs miiniendis aptus, a place adapted tofortifying a camp; ad pacem petendam venerunt, they came to ask peace; multum temporis consiimo in legendis poetis, I spend much tz'me in reading tlte poets. 3. In order to avoid ambiguity (see 搂 236, 2), the Gerundive Construction must not be employed in case of Neuter Adjectives used substantively. Thus regularlyphilosophi cupidi sunt verum investigandi, phtlosophers are eager for discovering truth (rarely veri investigandi) ; studium pliira cognoscendt, a desire of knowing more (not pliirium cogndscendorum) . I
4. From the nature of the case only Transitive Verbs can be used in the Gerundive Construction; but iitor, fruor, fungor, potior (originally transitive) regularly admit it; as,hoates
in spem potdundorum caatrdrum venerant, the enemy had conceived the hope of gaitting possession of the camp.
5. The Genitives mei, tui, sui, nostri, vestri, when used in the Gerundive Construction, are regularly employed without reference to Gender or Number, since they were originally Neuter Singular Adjectives used substantively. Thus:mulier sui servandi causa aufiigit, the woman fled for the sake of saving herself; legati in castra venerunt sui piirgandi causa, the envoys came into camp for the purpose of clearing themselves. So nostri servandi causa,for the sake of sauing ourselves. 6. Occasionally the Genitive of the Gerundive Construction is used to denote purpose; as,quae ille cepit legum ac libertatis subvertundae, which he undertook for the purpose of overthrowing the laws and liberty. 7路 The Dative of the Gerundive Construction occurs in some expressions which have the character of formulas; as,decemvirI U!gibus scribundis, decemuirs for codifying the laws; quindecimvirl sacris faciundis, q'uittdecemvirs for performing sacrifices.
the