Present Participle
Tap a French term to hear it pronounced.
The French present participle (
le participe présent
) is formed by replacing the -ons ending of the first person plural present with -ant.
| Infinitive | First Person Plural Present | Present Participle |
|---|---|---|
| aimer | aimons | aimant |
| finir | finissons | finissant |
| vendre | vendons | vendant |
The present participle can be used:
1. As a Verbal Form
C'est une jolie bague valant plus de mille dollars.
It's a pretty ring worth more than a thousand dollars.
It's a pretty ring worth more than a thousand dollars.
Un secrétaire parlant plusieurs langues vaut son poids en or.
A secretary speaking several languages is worth their weight in gold.
A secretary speaking several languages is worth their weight in gold.
Connaissant le problème, il a hésité.
Knowing the problem, he hesitated.
Knowing the problem, he hesitated.
2. As an Adjective
C'est un homme charmant.
He is a charming man.
He is a charming man.
Sous la lune montante, la ville devenait silencieuse.
Under the rising moon, the city grew silent.
Under the rising moon, the city grew silent.
Ils ont l'eau courante dans leur maison.
They have running water in their house.
They have running water in their house.
3. As a Gerund (with en)
When the present participle follows en, it is a gerund (
le gérondif
), equivalent to English -ing verbal nouns following while, by, or on.
En attendant, elle est très malheureuse.
While waiting, she is very unhappy.
While waiting, she is very unhappy.
Elle est arrivée en sifflant légèrement.
She arrived whistling lightly.
She arrived whistling lightly.
C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron.
It's by forging that one becomes a blacksmith.
It's by forging that one becomes a blacksmith.
C'est en faisant le bien qu'on devient bon.
It's by doing good that one becomes good.
It's by doing good that one becomes good.
