FAWM: "How the gerundive was exiled [FT]"

How the gerundive was exiled [FT]

2025 by @timfatchenMod

Liner Notes

One for the grammarnerds. I should be ashamed of myself but...too late. Improvised melody and accompaniment, but I was very careful with the grammarly construction of this joke.

And demonstrating how Nigel Molesworth deformed my character: https://jollycontrarian.com/index.php?title=Gerund

Alternative title: "this should stop you pestering my gerunds, @stephenwordsmith"

#nerd #grammar #guy-with-piano #acousticonetake #improvisation #feast

Lyrics

The gerundive: it's said to be a passive participle; Between a verb and adjective, it takes the middle ground. In Latin you will find it ranging, very concupiscible, But when it comes to English, well, it pleads to be found.

For when the Latin gerundive addressed the Anglo-Saxons, They misconstrued its evidence in all their talking. So when it came to Middle English grammarly contractions, It was the Noble Gerund that they set to walking.

Gerundives were fresh abused, accused of merit lacking. The Anglo-Saxons scorned it --they were not for turning. The gerundive into the darkness they sent packing, Infinitely exiled by the English spurning.

So that is why, my English friends, the gerund stands by you, While languish lonely gerundives, their fate bewailing; And if by chance a gerundive might come into your view, Order it to cease to be, or stand accused of failing.

Comments

@motorcitymusicman 2025

This is an amazingly clever set of lyrics, with some great allusions and references. As a fellow gammarnerd, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Also admired your singing and your performing. My favorite Tom Stoppard quote: "save the gerund and screw the whale."

@sunnymae 2025

having absolutely no idea what any of this means, I will say I love your performance! Theatrical, dramatic, sarcastic and righteous to the bone.
I shall have to look up all these fancy $10 words in order to carry on a more intelligent discourse on the subject! Well done!

@karan 2025

A feast for every language nerd! 😊

@katestantonsings 2025

I'm imagining an entire School House Rock animation in my head to this clever tune! Seriously, this could be an animation or theater number. So creative!