Gerund – en + -ant
En marchant, en mangeant
The gérondif is en + present participle. It's equivalent to English while doing or by doing.
Forming the present participle
Take the nous form of the present, remove -ons, add -ant:
- nous parlons → parlant
- nous finissons → finissant
- nous faisons → faisant
- nous mangeons → mangeant
Three irregulars: être → étant, avoir → ayant, savoir → sachant.
Uses of en + -ant
Simultaneous actions (while): > Il chante en se douchant. = He sings in the shower. > Ne parle pas en mangeant ! = Don't talk while eating! > Je l'ai vu en sortant. = I saw him as I was leaving.
Manner or means (by): > On apprend en pratiquant. = You learn by practising. > Il a réussi en travaillant dur. = He succeeded by working hard.
Condition (if): > En partant maintenant, tu arriveras à l'heure. = If you leave now, you'll arrive on time.
Same subject
The gerund must refer to the subject of the main verb:
- En traversant la rue, il est tombé.He fell while crossing the street. (he crossed)
Emphasis: tout en
Tout en + gerund stresses simultaneity or contrast: Il travaille tout en écoutant de la musique. Tout en étant riche, il vit simplement. (Although rich…)
The gerund never changes form. The present participle without en is more formal: see Present participle vs verbal adjective.
Practice
- Il lit en _____. (manger)
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mangeant
- Elle est tombée en _____. (courir)
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courant
- en _____ (faire)Options: faisant · fesant · faiant
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faisant
- en _____ (finir)Options: finissant · finant · finisant
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finissant