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28.12: Part 1: 11 THE VERB: PRESENT PARTICIPLE (LE PARTICIPE PRÉSENT)

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    11 THE VERB: PRESENT PARTICIPLE (LE PARTICIPE PRÉSENT) 

    Form

    The present participle is formed by adding -ant to a stem which is—for all verbs except être, avoir, and savoir—the same as the 1st person plural stem of the present indicative.

    Examples

    parler nous parlons parlant
    finir nous finissons finissant
    vendre nous vendons vendant
    sortir nous sortons sortant

     

    être (nous sommes) étant
    avoir (nous avons) ayant
    savoir (nous savons) sachant

    (the only three irregular forms)

    Function

    The present participle form has three functions:

    a. As a descriptive or qualifying adjective. In this function it is regularly found in a common noun phrase, after the noun that it modifies, or—less often—in predicate adjective position (as in the last example).

    Examples

    Il y a de l'eau courante? Is there running water?
    C'était un couteau tranchant. It was a sharp knife. (cutting)
    Le patron est charmant. The boss is charming.

    b. As a verbal adjective. In this function it both modifies a noun and also retains its verbal force, taking a complement.

    Cet homme traversant la rue est mon père. That man crossing the street is my father.
    Ne voulant pas l'encourager, je suis parti sans répondre. Not wanting to encourage him, I left without answering.

    c. As a gerund (gérondif). In this function, the present participle construction serves as an adverbial, showing the purpose (cause), or manner, or time of an action. It is also regularly preceded by en. It modifies the entire clause to which it is attached.

    En sortant du bureau, le directeur a entendu sonner le téléphone. As he left the office, the director heard the phone ring.

    (The gerund tells when the director heard the phone ring.)

    En travaillant jour et nuit, ils ont réussi à conclure le traité. By working day and night, they succeeded in concluding the treaty.

    (The gerund tells how they managed to conclude the treaty.)

    28.12: Part 1: 11 THE VERB: PRESENT PARTICIPLE (LE PARTICIPE PRÉSENT) is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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