The Gerund Construction (en + Present Participle)

Funções do Gerúndio

The present participle and its use in the gerund to express simultaneity were introduced in introduction to the present participle formula. The gerund — formed by the preposition en + present participle — has three principal functions: expressing simultaneous actions, indicating the manner or means by which something is achieved, and conveying a cause.

Três Funções de en + Participio Presente

Assunto Identidade e Énfase

The action expressed by the gerund is always performed by the same subject as the main verb.
- En marchant, elle a eu une idée. (While walking, she had an idea.)
- Il a résolu le problème en analysant les données. (He solved the problem by analysing the data.)

To stress that two actions are entirely simultaneous, tout may be placed before en: Elle lit tout en écoutant de la musique.

A negação do gerúndio

Quando negados, os partículas ne...pas envolvem o particípio presente: - Ele partiu sem dizer nada. (Ele saiu sem dizer nada.) - Em não responder, você corre o risco de perder a oferta. (Ao não responder, você corre o risco de perder a oferta.)