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G08 · Grammar

The Gerundive — En + Participe Présent

Express simultaneous actions, manner, and conditions with en + -ant

Formation

The gerundive is formed with en + the present participle. The present participle is formed from the nous form of the present tense: drop -ons, add -ant.

VerbNous formParticipeGérondif
parlerparlonsparlanten parlant
finirfinissonsfinissanten finissant
fairefaisonsfaisanten faisant
avoiravonsayanten ayant
êtresommesétanten étant

Uses: Simultaneous Action and Manner

The gerundive most commonly expresses two actions happening at the same time by the SAME subject, or the manner in which something is done.

  • Simultaneous: Il chante en travaillant. (He sings while working.)
  • Manner: Elle a répondu en souriant. (She answered smiling / with a smile.)
  • Manner: J'ai appris le français en regardant des films. (by watching films)
  • Key rule: the subject of the gerundive MUST be the same as the main clause subject.

Uses: Condition and Concession

The gerundive can also express a condition (if/by doing) or concession with tout en (even though / while at the same time).

  • Condition: En travaillant dur, tu réussiras. (By working hard, you will succeed.)
  • Condition: En partant tôt, nous éviterons les embouteillages.
  • Concession (tout en): Tout en comprenant ton point de vue, je ne suis pas d'accord. (While understanding your POV, I disagree.)
  • Tout en emphasises a contrast or paradox between the two actions.

Common Mistakes

AvoidUseWhy
En mangeant, il a regardé la télé et son chien a aboyé.En mangeant, il a regardé la télé. (same subject)The subject of the gérondif MUST match the main clause subject. His dog is a different subject.
Il a répondu souriant. (missing en)Il a répondu en souriant.The gerundive always requires en before the present participle.
En ayant travaillé dur... (past participle)En travaillant dur...The gérondif uses the present participle (-ant), not the past participle. There is no passé gérondif in standard B1 usage.
Etant = being (invariable)étant (no agreement)The present participle used in a gérondif is invariable — no gender/number agreement.

Summary

PointFormExample
formationnous form − ons + antparlons → parlant → en parlant
irregularêtre / avoir / savoirétant / ayant / sachant
simultaneouswhile doingIl travaille en écoutant de la musique.
mannerby doing / howJ'ai appris en pratiquant.
conditionby doing (if)En partant tôt, tu éviteras les bouchons.
tout eneven though / whileTout en comprenant, je ne suis pas d'accord.
same subject rulesubject must match main clauseEn arrivant, il a vu Marie. (il = he for both)
invariableno gender/number agreementElle a répondu en souriant. (not souriante)