Gerund Clauses

Level 5

A gerund can start its own clause to add background: Vendo que chovía, quedou na casa (seeing that it was raining, he stayed at home).

How It Works

What a gerund clause can mean

  • Time: Camiñando pola praia, atopei unha estrela de mar (while walking along the beach, I found a starfish).
  • Cause: Vendo que chovía, quedou na casa (seeing that it was raining, he stayed at home).
  • Condition: Saíndo cedo, chegaremos a tempo (if we leave early, we will arrive on time).
  • Manner: Aprendeu galego lendo o xornal cada mañá (she learned Galician by reading the newspaper every morning).

Its own subject. The gerund usually shares the subject of the main verb. If it has a different subject, that subject comes after the gerund: Estando eu en Vigo, chamoume a miña irmá (while I was in Vigo, my sister called me).

Pronouns. A pronoun is attached to the end of the gerund, as with other verbs that start a clause: Véndoa tan cansa, deixámola durmir (seeing her so tired, we let her sleep). After non it goes in front: Non o sabendo, calei.

Two careful-style limits

  • Do not use a gerund for an action that comes after the main one. Use e + a finite verb instead.
  • Do not use a gerund to describe a noun. Say unha caixa que contiña libros, not unha caixa contendo libros.

Examples (6)

  1. Saíndo cedo, chegaremos a tempo.

    If we leave early, we will arrive on time.

    Here the gerund clause sets a condition.

  2. Vendo que chovía, quedou na casa.

    Seeing that it was raining, he stayed at home.

    Here the gerund clause gives the reason.

  3. Camiñando pola praia, atopei unha estrela de mar.

    While walking along the beach, I found a starfish.

    Both actions happen at the same time.

  4. Estando eu en Vigo, chamoume a miña irmá.

    While I was in Vigo, my sister called me.

    The gerund has its own subject, eu, placed after it.

  5. Véndoa tan cansa, deixámola durmir.

    Seeing her so tired, we let her sleep.

    The pronoun a is attached to the gerund: vendo + a = véndoa.

  6. Aprendeu galego lendo o xornal cada mañá.

    She learned Galician by reading the newspaper every morning.

    Here the gerund clause says how she learned: it shows manner or means.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a gerund for an action that happens after the main one.

    Caeu da bicicleta, rompendo un brazo.
    Caeu da bicicleta e rompeu un brazo.

    Breaking the arm came after the fall. Careful Galician links a later event with e and a finite verb.

  • Using a gerund to describe a noun.

    Recibín unha caixa contendo libros.
    Recibín unha caixa que contiña libros.

    A gerund does not work like an adjective. Use a relative clause with que to describe the box.

  • Putting the pronoun before the gerund at the start of a sentence.

    O vendo tan triste, abraceino.
    Véndoo tan triste, abraceino.

    A sentence cannot start with an unstressed pronoun. Attach it to the gerund: vendo + o = véndoo.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Gerund ClausesLevel 5

Learn This First

A gerund clause supplies a simultaneous or closely preceding background action.