Le Gérondif (Gerunt)

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le gérondif
gerunt
Author

Kunal Khurana

Published

April 19, 2025

The gérondif is a verb form used when two actions happen at the same time. It’s formed with “en” + verb (ending -ant), and never changes (invariable). To emphasize, add “tout” (“tout en marchant” = “while walking”).

Examples:

• Il mange en marchant (= He eats while walking). • C’est en travaillant qu’il réussira (= By working, he will succeed).

How to form it?

  1. Use the verb’s base (parler → en parlant).
  2. For irregular verbs, use the “nous” present form (nous prenons → en prenant).
  3. Exceptions: être → en étant (“being”), avoir → en ayant (“having”), savoir → en sachant (“knowing”).

You may look at this pdf for more details.