This French 3 lesson explains French gérondif step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on French gérondif and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: The French present participle ends in -ant and is built from the nous form of the present tense: nous parlons gives parlant. With en in front, it becomes the gérondif, which says that two actions happen at the same time or shows how something is done: Elle chante en cuisinant. Only être, avoir and savoir are irregular: étant, ayant, sachant.
Level: French 3 (high school, ACTFL Intermediate Low) · Standards: ACTFL Intermediate Low, WL 1.1 Interpersonal, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational
French gérondif: the lesson
How do you form the present participle?
Take the nous form of the present tense, remove -ons, and add -ant.
| Infinitive | Participle | Gérondif |
|---|---|---|
| parler | parlant | en parlant |
| finir | finissant | en finissant |
| prendre | prenant | en prenant |
| manger | mangeant | en mangeant |
| faire | faisant | en faisant |
| être | étant | en étant |
| avoir | ayant | en ayant |
| savoir | sachant | en sachant |
What does the gérondif express?
Rule
The gérondif (en + -ant) never changes and refers to the subject of the main verb. It answers while doing what? or how?
Examples
- Elle révise en écoutant du jazz. — She studies while listening to jazz. (simultaneity)
- Il a appris le français en regardant des séries. — He learned French by watching shows. (means)
- En partant maintenant, tu seras à l’heure. — If you leave now, you will be on time. (condition)
- Tout en riant, elle a corrigé l’erreur. — Laughing all the while, she fixed the mistake. (tout en stresses the contrast)
- Elle sourit en ne disant rien. — negative: ne and pas surround the participle.
The gérondif is lighter than a full clause. Instead of Elle mange pendant qu’elle lit, French speakers say Elle mange en lisant. It saves a subject and a conjugated verb, which is why it is so common in speech, in news writing and in instructions. Remember the limit: if two different people act, you must keep pendant que.
Pronouns go before the participle: en se levant, en le voyant.
What about the participle without en?
The participle can also open a written sentence to give a reason. Étant malade, Inès est restée au lit. — Being sick, Inès stayed in bed. The compound form uses ayant or étant plus a participle: Ayant fini son projet, Malik est sorti. — Having finished.
Common mistake
English uses -ing everywhere, but French does not. I am reading is Je lis or Je suis en train de lire, never Je suis lisant. After a preposition other than en, use the infinitive: sans dire, avant de partir, après avoir mangé.
A proverb
French speakers love this structure in sayings: C’est en forgeant qu’on devient forgeron. — You become a blacksmith by forging. It means that you improve by doing.
Zoé’s tip
Before writing -ant, ask: is the doer the same person as the main subject? If yes, use en + -ant; if not, use a clause with pendant que.
Key points to remember
- Formation: nous form minus -ons, plus -ant (finissons gives finissant).
- Three irregular participles: étant, ayant, sachant.
- En + participle (gérondif) is invariable and shares the subject of the main verb.
- It expresses simultaneity, manner or means, and sometimes cause or condition.
- English -ing is not always -ant: after a preposition other than en, French uses the infinitive.
Doing Two Things at Once With -ant: frequently asked questions
How do you form the present participle in French?
Take the nous form of the present tense, drop -ons and add -ant: nous finissons gives finissant. Only être (étant), avoir (ayant) and savoir (sachant) are irregular.
What does the gérondif express?
The gérondif, en + participle, expresses an action happening at the same time as the main verb, the means or manner, and sometimes cause or condition. Il lit en marchant.
Does the gérondif agree with the subject?
No. After en the participle is invariable: elles chantent en dansant. It must describe the same subject as the main verb.
What is the difference between the gérondif and the participle alone?
The participle alone, often in writing, gives a reason: étant malade, ayant fini. Some participles also work as adjectives and agree: une histoire amusante.
When do I use the infinitive instead of the English -ing?
Use the infinitive after prepositions other than en and after most verbs: sans parler, avant de partir, j’aime nager. Use the progressive être en train de for an action in progress.