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Gerund & Present Participle (le Gérondif)

Form and use the gerund (en + present participle) to express simultaneous actions means and conditions.
The present participle is formed from the nous present tense stem + -ant.
Present participle = nous stem + -ant.
parler → parlant / finir → finissant / prendre → prenant
Three irregular present participles: être → étant avoir → ayant savoir → sachant.
Three irregular present participles.
étant / ayant / sachant
The gerund (le gérondif) is en + present participle. It describes an action simultaneous with the main verb.
Gérondif = en + present participle (simultaneous action).
Il chante en travaillant = He sings while working
The subject of the gerund must be the same as the subject of the main verb.
Gerund and main verb must share the same subject.
En travaillant il écoute de la musique (il = subject of both)
Use the gerund to express means: how something is done.
Gerund expresses means or manner.
Il a réussi en travaillant dur = He succeeded by working hard
Use the gerund to express condition: on what condition something happens.
Gerund expresses condition.
En partant tôt tu éviteras les embouteillages = By leaving early you'll avoid traffic
Use the gerund to express simultaneity: two actions happening at the same time.
Gerund expresses simultaneous actions.
Elle lit en mangeant = She reads while eating
Tout en + present participle emphasizes a contrast or concession between two simultaneous actions.
Tout en + participle = despite / while (contrast).
Tout en sachant la vérité il a menti = While knowing the truth he lied
The present participle (without en) can be used as an adjective — it must then agree in gender and number.
Present participle as adjective = agrees with noun.
une histoire intéressante / des résultats surprenants
Do not confuse the gerund with the English -ing form. French uses infinitives after prepositions (except en).
French uses infinitive after prepositions — not -ger form.
avant de partir (not avant partant) / sans manger (not sans mangeant)