Gerunds: -ant, -us
Gerunds in -ant and -us
The gerund sets the scene. -ant means while: Temstant uždegėme šviesą. -us means after: Sutemus grįžome namo.
How It Works
1. The present gerund in -ant, -int. For third-person forms in -a or -i, add -nt; change -o to -ant, as in skaito → skaitant:
- temsta → temstant, lyja → lyjant, miega → miegant
- stovi → stovint, tyli → tylint
It shows an action happening at the same time as the main one.
2. The past gerund in -us, -ius. Take the past form, drop -o or -ė and add -us, or -ius in forms such as rašė → rašius. Stem changes can also occur:
- sutemo → sutemus, grįžo → grįžus, atėjo → atėjus
- pamatė → pamačius, baigė → baigus
It shows an action that happened before the main one. Future forms in -siant also exist but are rare.
3. Who does the action. Use a gerund when:
- the action has no doer: Lyjant geriau likti namie (When it rains, it is better to stay home);
- a different doer does it. That doer goes in the dative: Mamai miegant, vaikai tyliai žaidė. See the dative with a gerund.
4. Not for the same doer. If the subject of the main verb also does the background action, use -damas or -ęs: Grįžęs namo, pavalgiau, not Grįžus namo, aš pavalgiau. The exception is a main clause that has no subject either: Norint išmokti kalbą, reikia daug skaityti (To learn a language, you need to read a lot). See choosing between them.
5. Not after kad. A purpose after kad needs the conditional, not a gerund: Kad baigtume darbą, reikia paskubėti (For us to finish the work, we need to hurry).
6. Commas. An expanded gerund phrase can optionally be set off with commas: Mamai miegant, vaikai žaidė. A single gerund such as Temstant or Sutemus is often written without one.
Examples (6)
- Temstant uždegėme šviesą.
As it was getting dark, we turned on the light.
Temsta → temstant: at the same time, with no doer.
- Sutemus grįžome namo.
We came home after dark.
Sutemo → sutemus: it had already got dark.
- Lyjant geriau likti namie.
When it rains, it is better to stay home.
Weather has no doer, so a gerund fits.
- Mamai miegant, vaikai tyliai žaidė.
While Mom was sleeping, the children played quietly.
A different doer, mama, is in the dative.
- Atėjus pavasariui, grįžta paukščiai.
When spring comes, the birds return.
Pavasaris → pavasariui: the doer of the gerund in the dative.
- Norint išmokti kalbą, reikia daug skaityti.
To learn a language, you need to read a lot.
The main clause with reikia has no subject, so a gerund is correct.
Common Mistakes
Using a gerund when the same person does both actions.
Grįžus namo, aš pavalgiau.Grįžęs namo, pavalgiau.I both came home and ate, so use the past active participle, which agrees with the subject.
Putting the doer of the gerund in the nominative.
Mama miegant, vaikai žaidė.Mamai miegant, vaikai žaidė.The doer of a gerund is in the dative.
Using a gerund after kad to show a purpose.
Kad baigus darbą, reikia paskubėti.Kad baigtume darbą, reikia paskubėti.Kad with a purpose takes the conditional mood.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The gerund expresses background action without agreeing with a noun and can have a different dative doer.
- The Three Principal Parts
Recognize present and past stems used for the two gerund forms.
Level 2 - Half-Participle -damasWhile Doing: -damas
Know the same-subject -damas construction before distinguishing a gerund with another or no doer.
Level 5 - Dative Recipient
Recognize the dative used for the gerund's own subject.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- Dative Subject With a Gerund
Shows how the separate doer of a gerund goes into the dative.
Level 5 - Half-Participle or Gerund
Explains the choice between -damas and -ant.
Level 5 - Past Active Participle: -ęs, -usiPast Active Participle
Used instead of -us when the subject did the earlier action.
Level 4 - kaiWhen Clauses with Kai
A kai clause is the everyday way to say when or while.
Level 3 - siekiant + infinitiveIn Order to with Siekiant
Siekiant is a fixed formal gerund meaning in order to.
Level 6
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Gerunds: -ant, -us in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Lithuanian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
