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Gerund & Present Participle

The -ant forms

Present participle: stem + -ant

Built from the nous-stem.

💬 Examples
parlant
speaking
📝 parler → parl- + ant
finissant
finishing
📝 From nous finissons
Gerund: en + present participle

Meaning 'while/by doing'.

📊 -ant forms
Form Use Example
present participle adjective / clause un livre amusant
gerund (en + -ant) while / by doing en lisant
irregular être→étant, avoir→ayant étant
💬 Examples
en mangeant
while eating
📝 en + -ant = simultaneous action
en travaillant
by working
📝 en + -ant = by means of
The gerund shares the main subject

Its action belongs to the same subject.

💬 Examples
Il chante en cuisinant.
He sings while cooking.
📝 Both actions = same subject
On apprend en pratiquant.
One learns by practising.
📝 Means / method