French grammar · Upper intermediate (B2)
The present participle and the gérondif: ayant, en faisant
How to form verbs in -ant, the difference between the gérondif (en faisant) and the present participle of formal writing (ayant constaté).
How to form the -ant form
Take the form of the present, remove -ons and add -ant: → , → , → . Only three verbs are irregular: → , → , → .
The past form is or + past participle: , étant parti(e). It shows that the action was finished before the main one.
The gérondif: en + -ant
With , the -ant form is the , which you know from B1. It says what the subject does at the same time (while), how (by) or on what condition (if). Its subject is always the subject of the main verb.
- Je mange en travaillant.I eat while I work.
- Elle a appris le français en regardant des films.She learnt French by watching films.
- En partant maintenant, tu arriveras à l'heure.If you leave now, you'll arrive on time.
The present participle in writing
Without , the -ant form is the (present participle). It belongs to formal writing. It can replace + verb after a noun: (the customers who received this bill). At the start of a sentence, it often gives a reason: (As I have had no reply, I am writing to you again).
The present participle never agrees. Some -ant words are also adjectives, and those do agree: .
| Form | Where | Example |
|---|---|---|
| gérondif: + -ant | speech and writing | |
| participe présent: -ant | formal writing | … |
| past form: / + participle | formal writing |