Gérondif · en + -ant
en plus the -ant form, built from the nous stem. It means while, by, or if, and its subject is the subject of the main verb. It is not avant de, and not the en of en France.
Examples
- Elle écoute en mangeant.She listens while eating.
- Il a réussi en travaillant.He succeeded by working.
How it works
One form, three meanings, and a strict subject rule.
The form
en plus a form in -ant, from the nous form of the present with -ant instead of -ons.
nous mangeons → en mangeant. nous finissons → en finissant. nous commençons → en commençant.
Irregular stems to learn: être → étant, avoir → ayant, savoir → sachant.
Three uses
while: Elle écoute en mangeant. She listens while eating.
by, the means: Il a réussi en travaillant. He succeeded by working.
if: En partant tôt, tu arrives à l'heure. If you leave early, you arrive on time.
The same subject
The -ant form has the same subject as the main verb. Elle écoute en mangeant: she listens and she eats.
A different subject needs another construction, not this one: a clause with quand or pendant que.
Quand je suis sorti, il pleuvait. When I went out, it was raining. Not En sortant, il pleuvait: the rain did not go out.
Not these
avant de plus the infinitive (the dictionary form) is "before doing": avant de manger. Not en mangeant.
en France is the preposition of place, not this form.
Common mistakes
en manganten mangeant
avant de mangeantavant de manger
En mangeant, le téléphone sonne (the phone doesn't eat)don't give the -ant form a different subject
What you'll practise
1. en + -ant
From the nous form, replace -ons with -ant: mangeant, finissant, commençant.
- en finissantwhile finishing
2. while, by, or if
The same form means while, the means of doing something, or if. avant de plus the infinitive (the dictionary form) is a different idea.
- En partant tôt, tu arrives à l'heure.If you leave early, you arrive on time.
3. The same subject
The -ant form has the subject of the main verb. en France is the preposition of place, not this form.
- Elle lit en attendant.She reads while waiting.
Practise it until it sticks
Short drills built on these 3 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.