gerundclitic

A gerundclitic, or gerund-clitic, is a clitic that attaches to a gerund, a non-finite verb form derived from a verb’s present participle and used as a noun or adverbial form. This construction is most commonly discussed in Romance languages, where the gerund can bear clitics that encode object, recipient, or other role elements, producing a compact verb-plus-clitic sequence.

Morphology and syntax of gerundclitics vary by language, but a common pattern is that the clitic attaches to the end of the gerund, forming a single word or a tight cluster. Examples include mangiandolo (Italian for “eating it”), dándolo (Spanish for “giving it”), and fazendo-o (Portuguese for “doing it”). In these forms, the clitic pronouns lo/la (Spanish/Portuguese) or lo (Italian) attach to the gerund to indicate the direct object, while other pronouns can express indirect objects or beneficiaries. The exact pronoun inventory and word order differ across languages, but the general idea is a non-finite verb form bearing a dependent clitic.

Cross-linguistic usage and function: Gerundclitics are especially common in languages with robust clitic systems, where the non-finite verb form remains the core of the predicate and the clitic supplies the object or other grammatical relation. They allow efficient expression of ongoing or simultaneous actions with explicit object marking, without requiring a separate finite verb. In languages where the gerund is used for aspect or adverbial purposes, gerundclitics often appear in formal or colloquial constructions alike.

See also: clitic, gerund, non-finite verbs, Romance languages.