Present participle - the gerund

Question 1

How do you recognise te present participle in French?

Answer 1

the verb ends in -ANT

Question 2

When do you use the present participle in French?

Answer 2

after the preposition EN e.g. c’est en forgeant que l’on devient forgeron

Question 3

After a verb of beginning or ending (e.g. she started by denying) is the present participle used?

Answer 3

No, after any verb of beginning or ending, it is translated into French as ‘Elle a commencé par nier’
(par + infinitive)

Question 4

What happens with verbs of perception, such as voir/entendre/sentir?

Answer 4

It takes the infinitive (e.g. je l’entendais respirer)

Question 5

What happens after the verb passer (du temps) à and rester à?

Answer 5

They also take the infinitive instead of the present participle (e.g. on est resté longtemps à l’attendre)

Question 6

Do present participles agree?

Answer 6

No, they never agree, they are different from adjectives.

Question 7

What is the main use of the gerund?

Answer 7

can express the simultaneity of 2 actions - en se promenant, elle a ramassé des fleurs.