9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc The present participle Sachant que son travail l’oblige à discriminer, Malik a du mal à se regarder dans une glace.

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc To form the present participle, drop the -ons ending from the nous form of the present tense of a verb and replace it with -ant. The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc Present participles of some common verbs InfinitiveNous formPresent participle aller boire choisir dire écrire faire lire parler prendre vendre venir allons buvons choisissons disons écrivons faisons lisons parlons prenons vendons venons allant buvant choisissant disant écrivant faisant lisant parlant prenant vendant venant The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc There are only three irregular present participles in French. They are considered irregular because they are not based upon the nous forms of the present tense. InfinitivePresent participle être avoir savoir étant ayant sachant The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc Étant très sociable, elle a présenté son cousin à son petit ami. The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc Present participles are usually the equivalent of English verbs ending in -ing. They are typically preceded by the preposition en, meaning while or by. Il lui a indiqué le chemin en regardant le plan du quartier. He gave her directions while looking at the map of the neighborhood. The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc Use the present participle to say what caused something or how something occurred. Gérard s’est cassé le bras en tombant du toit. Gérard broke his arm by falling off of the roof. The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc ATTENTION! The present participle does not correspond to all -ing forms of English verbs. Remember, the present tense in French can have several meanings. Je parle. I speak. / I do speak. / I am speaking. To say that something is happening in the present time, use the present tense, not a present participle. The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc En + [present participle] can also mean that something is done as soon as something else happens. In this case, it is often the equivalent of the English expression upon + the -ing form of a verb. Il va téléphoner en arrivant à la gare. He’s going to call upon arriving at the station. The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc Use the expression tout en to emphasize that two unrelated actions are taking place simultaneously. Il conduit tout en mangeant un sandwich. He’s driving while eating a sandwich. The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc When a present participle is used as an adjective, it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Nous n’avons pas d’eau courante! We don’t have any running water! Ces filles sont charmantes. These girls are charming. The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc Present participles used as adjectives usually correspond to English words ending in -ing. Depending on the interpretation of the adjective, however, this is not always the case. Nous avons vu un film amusant. We saw a funny (amusing) movie. The present participle

9.2 © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc Present participles can sometimes be used as nouns. These nouns are often professions or other words that refer to a person who engages in a particular activity. consulter (to consult) gérer (to manage) un(e) consultant(e) (consultant) un(e) gérant(e) (manager) The present participle