Gérondif
Use the gérondif (en + present participle) to describe a second action happening at the same time as the main verb, or to explain how or why something happens. 'By doing X', 'while doing X', 'upon doing X' — French folds all three meanings into one form: en + verb-ant. It's compact, elegant, and very common in both speech and writing.
Structure
[MAIN CLAUSE], en + [VERB STEM] + -ant
ahn ... -ahn (e.g., en marchant, en lisant)
How to Think About It
The gérondif always shares its subject with the main verb — same person doing both actions. If the subjects differ, you must use a different structure (pendant que + clause, or just a separate sentence). The -ant ending comes from the nous form of the present tense (nous parlons → parlant; nous finissons → finissant). Three irregulars to memorize: ayant (avoir), étant (être), sachant (savoir).
Examples
Le sentier est facile à parcourir en marchant.
luh sahn-TYAY ay fah-SEEL ah par-koo-REER ahn mar-SHAHN
The trail is easy to cover on foot (by walking).
En ajustant le prompt, la réponse est devenue tout à fait raisonnable.
ahn-nah-zhü-STAHN luh PROMPT, lah ray-PONS ay duh-vuh-NÜ TOOT ah FAY ray-zo-NAH-bluh
By adjusting the prompt, the answer became entirely reasonable.
Elle écoute de la musique en faisant la cuisine.
el ay-KOOT duh lah mü-ZEEK ahn fuh-ZAHN lah küi-ZEEN
She listens to music while cooking.
Common Mistake
Learners use the gérondif when the two actions have different subjects, but French requires the same subject. 'While I was reading, he cooked' cannot be expressed with en lisant — you need pendant que je lisais, il cuisinait.
En marchant dans la rue, la pluie a commencé.
Pendant que je marchais dans la rue, la pluie a commencé.
Don't Confuse With
Participe présent (without en)
Same -ant form, used without en. The participe présent describes a noun ('a man speaking French') or stands in for a relative clause. The gérondif adverbially modifies an action.
pendant que + clause
Use pendant que when the two actions have different subjects, or when you want to emphasize the duration of overlap. The gérondif is for simultaneous actions sharing one subject.
en train de + infinitive
Describes an action in progress at a specific moment ('I am in the middle of reading'). The gérondif links two actions; en train de just labels one.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the gérondif of lire: J'écoute la radio ___.
Show answer
en lisant
Fill in the blank with the gérondif of travailler: ___ dur, il a réussi.
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En travaillant
Arrange: en / il / chante / marchant (He sings while walking.)
Show answer
Il chante en marchant.
Translate to French: I learned French by watching films.
Show answer
J'ai appris le français en regardant des films.
Write a sentence using the gérondif to describe two simultaneous actions you do.
Show answer
Le matin, je prends mon café en lisant les nouvelles sur mon téléphone.
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This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
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