Questions & Answers about Lutum e pavimento tollendum est.
What is tollendum est grammatically?
It is a gerundive of obligation (also often called the passive periphrastic):
- tollendum = the gerundive of tollere
- est = is
Together, tollendum est means something like must be removed / has to be picked up.
So this is not just a plain passive like is removed. It specifically adds the idea of necessity or duty.
Why is it tollendum and not some other form like tollendus or tollendam?
Because the gerundive has to agree with the noun it goes with.
Here the noun is lutum:
- lutum is neuter
- singular
- nominative here
So the gerundive must also be:
- neuter
- singular
- nominative
That gives tollendum.
If the noun were masculine singular, you would expect tollendus.
If feminine singular, tollenda.
Is lutum the subject of the sentence?