Present participle formation
The French present participle ends in -ant. It is used to describe actions (verbal use) or qualities (adjectival use). Unlike the English '-ing', it is not used for the progressive 'I am doing' tense.
How It Works
The present participle is a versatile form in French, but its formation is remarkably regular.
1. Regular Formation:
Take the nous form of the present tense, remove -ons, and add -ant.
- parler (nous parlons) → parlant
- finir (nous finissons) → finissant
- vendre (nous vendons) → vendant
2. Spelling Adjustments:
To maintain the soft sound of the stem, certain verbs require minor adjustments:
- -ger verbs: Keep the 'e' (e.g., mangeant).
- -cer verbs: Use a cedilla 'ç' (e.g., lançant).
3. The Three Irregulars:
Only three verbs do not follow the 'nous' rule:
- avoir → ayant
- être → étant
- savoir → sachant
4. Negation:
To negate a present participle, place ne...pas around it (e.g., ne sachant pas).
5. Replacing Relative Clauses:
In formal writing, the present participle can replace a relative clause starting with qui. For example, les gens qui travaillent ici becomes les gens travaillant ici.
6. Reflexive Verbs:
When using reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous) must still agree with the subject of the sentence (e.g., me levant, se couchant).
7. Usage Nuance:
When used as a verb, it is invariable. However, when it acts as an adjective (the adjectif verbal), it must agree with the noun it modifies. Note that some adjectives have a different spelling than the participle (e.g., fatiguant as a verb vs. fatigant as an adjective).
Examples (6)
- En arrivant à la gare, j'ai vu mon ami.
Upon arriving at the station, I saw my friend.
Word by Word: In arriving at the station, I have seen my friend.
Arrivant is formed from 'nous arrivons'. Preceded by 'en', it forms the gerund.
- C'est une histoire passionnante.
It is an exciting story.
Word by Word: It is a story exciting.
Here, 'passionnante' acts as an adjective and agrees with the feminine noun 'histoire'.
- Sachant la vérité, elle a décidé de partir.
Knowing the truth, she decided to leave.
Word by Word: Knowing the truth, she has decided to leave.
'Sachant' is the irregular present participle of the verb 'savoir'.
- Se levant tôt, il profite du soleil.
Getting up early, he enjoys the sun.
Word by Word: Himself raising early, he enjoys of the sun.
For reflexive verbs, the reflexive pronoun (se) must still agree with the subject of the action.
- C'est un travail fatiguant, mais il n'est pas fatigant.
It is a tiring job (action), but it isn't tiresome (quality).
Word by Word: It is a work tiring, but it is not tiresome.
'Fatiguant' is the participle (verb), while 'fatigant' is the adjective form with a slightly different spelling.
- Étant malade, il est resté au lit.
Being sick, he stayed in bed.
Word by Word: Being sick, he is stayed at the bed.
'Étant' is the irregular present participle of 'être'.
Common Mistakes
Using the present participle for the progressive 'am/is/are doing'.
Je suis mangeant une pomme.Je mange une pomme.French uses the simple present tense or the expression 'être en train de' for ongoing actions, never the present participle.
Forgetting the spelling markers for -ger and -cer verbs.
En mangant, il lit le journal.En mangeant, il lit le journal.The 'e' must be kept in 'mangeant' to ensure the 'g' is pronounced softly.
Using the present participle as a noun (gerund as subject).
Chantant est mon passe-temps favori.Chanter est mon passe-temps favori.In French, the infinitive (chanter) is used as a verbal noun, not the present participle.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To form the present participle, you must first know how to conjugate verbs in the present tense for the 'nous' form. You then drop the '-ons' ending and add '-ant'. Additionally, because the present participle can function as an adjective, understanding basic adjective agreement is necessary for its correct usage.
- nousFirst-person Plural Nous
The present participle is derived from the 'nous' form of the verb, so the learner must be familiar with this subject pronoun.
Level 1 - Regular -er verb conjugation
The formation of the present participle requires knowledge of present tense conjugations (specifically the -ons ending) to identify the stem.
Level 1 - Adjective agreement concept
Since the present participle can act as an adjective, the learner needs to understand the concept of adjective agreement.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Gerund with en + present participle
The gerund is the most common way the present participle is used in spoken French, always preceded by 'en'.
Level 3 - être en train deProgressive Aspect with Etre En Train De
This is the correct way to express the progressive 'ing' meaning that learners often confuse with the present participle.
Level 3 - -cer (c → ç)Spelling Change: C-cedilla Before a or O
This spelling rule applies to the formation of the present participle for verbs like 'lancer' (lançant).
Level 2 - -ger (g → ge)Spelling Change: Silent E Before a or O
This spelling rule applies to the formation of the present participle for verbs like 'manger' (mangeant).
Level 2 - Imperfect tense formation
Both the imperfect tense and the present participle are derived from the 'nous' form of the present tense.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Present participle formation in Bubblegum
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