Become an expert in the French Present Participle

FRENCH VERBS

French Present Participle:

The French present participle of the verb is created by dropping the nous ending (-ons) of the present tense verb and adding –ant*.
For example: nous chantons becomes: chantant

Most often, it is used as an adjective, and must agree in gender and number with the subject being modified, but can also be used as a verb or gerund.

French Present Participle as a modifier:
(agree with the gender since it acts as an adjective)

Elle est une fille amusante.
She is an amusing girl.

C’est un roman intéressant.
It is an interesting novel.

C’est un chien obéissant.
It is an obedient dog.

French Present Participle as a verb (expressing simultaneous but not necessarily related action):

Une femme, parlant avec l’homme, est venue au magasin.
A woman talking to a man came to the store.

Nous travaillons en jouant.
We work while playing.

Marchant lentement, nous y sommes arrivés
While we were walking slowly, we finally came there.

French Present Participle as a gerund (always following the preposition en):

En voyant le film, elle a ri.
While watching the movie, she laughed.

En entendant la blague, nous avons rougi.
Upon hearing the joke, we blushed.

En espérant vous revoir une prochaine fois.
Hoping to see you one more time.