Present participle in French
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Present participle (French participe présent) is a verbal form ending with -ant which is structurally equivalent of the -ing form in English. The present participle is used as an adjective, to build the participle sentences and to build the Gerund.
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.When to use the present participle in French?
- 2.How to form present participle in French?
- 3.Agreement of the Present participle in French
- 4.List of different adjectives and present participle
- 5.Exercises
- 5.1.Adjective vs Participle present exercise in French
- 5.2.Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French
- 5.3.Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French II
When to use the present participle in French?
The 3 main uses of present participle in French are:
1) as an adjective
Examples:
- La femme charmante (The charming woman)
- Un enfant intéressant (An interesting child)
2) in the participle sentences
Examples:
- La femme captivant l'attention de tous les hommes (The woman catching attention of all the men)
- J'ai vu ma soeur lisant le journal (I saw my sister reading the newspaper)
3) to build the Gerund
Example:
- En recevant la lettre,il pensait à ses enfants (Sending the letter he was thinking about his children)
- Il pensait à son enfance en mangeant la glace (He was thinking about his childhood while eating the ice-cream)
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How to form present participle in French?
The present participle is formed by replacing the ending “ons” with the ending “ant” of stem of the 1st person plural of the present tense (the form of “nous”),
| Infinitive | 1st person of the plural | Present participle |
|---|---|---|
| prendre (to take) | nous prenons (we take) | prenant (taking) |
| danser (to dance) | nous dansons (we dance) | dansant (dancing) |
| donner (to give) | nous donnons (we give) | donnant (giving) |
All the verbs are formed by the same rule except 3 verbs:
- Avoir - ayant (having)
- Être - étant (being)
- Savoir- sachant (knowing)
Examples:
- Sachant la vérité il a decidé de ne plus parler avec cet homme.
- Etant fatigué il est allé dormir.
- Ayant des problèmes du transport elle n’as pas pu venir.
- Prenant sa veste elle a quitté la maison.
- Ils se sentaient mieux en donnant des conseils.
Agreement of the Present participle in French
If the Present participle is used as an adjective, it should be agreed with the subject:
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | - | - e |
| Plural | - s | - es |
Examples:
- la femme charmante - les femmes charmantes
- un homme parlant - des hommes parlants
- l'enfant jouant - les enfants jouants
If the Present Participle is used in the participle sentences, it shouldn't be agreed!
List of different adjectives and present participle
Some verbs have their participle present similar to adjective but some others may be different.
| Adjectives | Present participle |
|---|---|
| adhérent | adhérant |
| différent | différant |
| excellent | excellant |
| influente | influant |
| précédent | précédant |
| convaicant | convainquant |
| provocant | provoquant |
Adjectives agrees in gender and number if they are similar to participles
Stay positive and motivated! Don't hesitate to check out our free exercises!
Exercises
- Adjective vs Participle present exercise in French
- Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French
- Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French II
Adjective vs Participle present exercise in French
Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French
Write the participle or adjectives for the following sentences. For help at the beginning of the sentence, we told you the type of phrase.
A: adjective
PP: present participle
Example: A: Je lui avais dit de toujours être communicant quand il y a des invités. (communiquer)
1. PP: il y a des avis le débat politique sur l'environnement. (diverger)
(They are some opinions differing the political debate on the environnement)
2. PP: Tu demandes de l'argent tout en les plus riches. (convaincre)
(You are asking for money while convincing the richest)
3. A: Tu es tellement ca m'énerve ! (fatiguer)
(You are so blown, it annoys me !)
4. PP: Il récite son spectacle par le biais, les spectateurs (ennuyer)
(He is reciting his show annoying spectators by the way)
5. A: Je pense vraiment à devenir au comité du développement. (adhérer)
(I am really thinking about being a member of the development comittee)
6. A: Son discours a été plutot . (convaincre)
(His speech was very convincing)
7. PP: Leur rencontre, mal, a été écourté. (tourner)
(Their meeting has been cut short because it has turned out to be bad)
8. A: Vous étiez ce soir. (exceller)
(You were great tonight)
9. PP: Les élèves leur travail ont toujours échoué. (négliger)
(Students that negligate their work always failed)
Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French II
Transform the following sentences into a present participle. Follow the example.
Example: Il étudie et mange.
Il étudie en mangeant.
1. Nous nous brûlons les mains et faisons la cuisine.
Nous sommes brûlées les mains en la cuisine.
(We got burned while cooking)
2. Elle s'ennuie alors qu'elle fait ce travail.
Elle s'ennuie en ce travail.
(She is bored while doing this work)
3. Il est chirurgien et il veut travailler à l'hôpital.
Il veut travailler à l'hôpital, chirurgien.
(He is an surgeon and wants to work at the hospital)
4. Elle a de l'argent et elle peut voyager partout.
de l'argent, elle peut voyager partout.
(She has money so she can travel everywhere)
5. Je parles alors que je dors.
Je parles en
(I speak while sleeping)
6. Vous entrez dans l'école et vous courez.
Vous entrez dans l'école en
(You enter school while running)
7. Il dit au revoir et il part.
Il dit au revoir en
(He says goodbye and he leaves)
8. J'ai appris ma lecon et maintenant je peux jouer avec mes amies.
Maintenant je peux jouer avec mes amies appris ma lecon.
(I learned my lesson and now I can play with my friends)
Exercises
- Adjective vs Participle present exercise in French
- Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French
- Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French II
Adjective vs Participle present exercise in French
Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French
Write the participle or adjectives for the following sentences. For help at the beginning of the sentence, we told you the type of phrase.
A: adjective
PP: present participle
Example: A: Je lui avais dit de toujours être communicant quand il y a des invités. (communiquer)
1. PP: il y a des avis le débat politique sur l'environnement. (diverger)
(They are some opinions differing the political debate on the environnement)
2. PP: Tu demandes de l'argent tout en les plus riches. (convaincre)
(You are asking for money while convincing the richest)
3. A: Tu es tellement ca m'énerve ! (fatiguer)
(You are so blown, it annoys me !)
4. PP: Il récite son spectacle par le biais, les spectateurs (ennuyer)
(He is reciting his show annoying spectators by the way)
5. A: Je pense vraiment à devenir au comité du développement. (adhérer)
(I am really thinking about being a member of the development comittee)
6. A: Son discours a été plutot . (convaincre)
(His speech was very convincing)
7. PP: Leur rencontre, mal, a été écourté. (tourner)
(Their meeting has been cut short because it has turned out to be bad)
8. A: Vous étiez ce soir. (exceller)
(You were great tonight)
9. PP: Les élèves leur travail ont toujours échoué. (négliger)
(Students that negligate their work always failed)
Fill in the blank exercise for the present participle in French II
Transform the following sentences into a present participle. Follow the example.
Example: Il étudie et mange.
Il étudie en mangeant.
1. Nous nous brûlons les mains et faisons la cuisine.
Nous sommes brûlées les mains en la cuisine.
(We got burned while cooking)
2. Elle s'ennuie alors qu'elle fait ce travail.
Elle s'ennuie en ce travail.
(She is bored while doing this work)
3. Il est chirurgien et il veut travailler à l'hôpital.
Il veut travailler à l'hôpital, chirurgien.
(He is an surgeon and wants to work at the hospital)
4. Elle a de l'argent et elle peut voyager partout.
de l'argent, elle peut voyager partout.
(She has money so she can travel everywhere)
5. Je parles alors que je dors.
Je parles en
(I speak while sleeping)
6. Vous entrez dans l'école et vous courez.
Vous entrez dans l'école en
(You enter school while running)
7. Il dit au revoir et il part.
Il dit au revoir en
(He says goodbye and he leaves)
8. J'ai appris ma lecon et maintenant je peux jouer avec mes amies.
Maintenant je peux jouer avec mes amies appris ma lecon.
(I learned my lesson and now I can play with my friends)
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Do you want to learn Spanish with a kind and patient teacher? Someone to help you gain confidence and practice the language with topics according to your level and needs? In addition to that ... Do you want to get a study material and corrections? Well, I'm the right teacher for you . My name is Andrea and I'm from South America - Ecuador. I am a full-time Spanish teacher and I have a variety of resources to help you learn Spanish online.
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I love meeting new people and I am curious to discover your life path and discuss what you are passionate about.
During a class, I take the time to take an interest in my students and help them to speak naturally.
The conversation can be about a topic you’d like to talk about, or we can use a video, an audio, or an image and discuss around this support.
I want you to feel comfortable so, no pressure, we’re here to have fun and learn.
I look forward to meeting you, so feel free to try a free trial course ;)
See you soon!
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Thank you very much Julia!! It was a real pleasure to know you, I too had a great time! Good continuation to you!
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
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Natalia will be really interested in you as a person, what your goals are, and motivation for you to learn the language. I liked how she was answering all my questions, were patient and positive on our lesson.
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Hello,
I am a multilingual teacher with experience in teaching French to German, Japanese, English, Bulgarian and Italian-speaking students, etc. (levels A1 to C1).
I have been teaching French for 8 years in Luxemburg and now in Bulgaria for 4 years, to teenagers, housewives, businessmen, employees, doctors, etc. I can also help you with DELF and DALF preparation. I give lessons via Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in several countries.
My teaching method for each class : a grammar point together with listening, a lot of speaking with conversation questions or games. While you speak, I write all the new words you need to express yourself, illustrated by pictures or translated in your language.
I do my best to make you feel comfortable to speak and for you to have a pleasant time. According to me, using humour will help you learn more easily.
Whether you need to learn French for business, integration in a French-speaking country or studying, I will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Katia
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Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
E. A.
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In the first lesson I try to get an impression of the students, their attitude, cognitive style, needs, level of exposure to the language, motivation etc. I try an inductive - conversational approach first, I plan every lesson and I provide the student with a Google Drive file, anticipating contents and activities.Mostly I tend to work on what it's best for the students (ex. some of them prefer learning tables with grammar rules, verbs etc by heart, I make them understand that this is not considered the fastest nor most efficient way generally, but if it works for them I encourage it). I always try to make them capable of learn by their own and I want them to see me as a facilitator, a guide, not "the person who owns the knowledge". I keep my students focused by constantly stimulating them, asking questions, asking them to share thoughts and formulate hypotheses. Also I always provide explanations for what I do, why I do it in a certain way and at a certain time. I also use a manual.
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Hello, my name is Claus !For many years I teach students from all over the world as a professional teacher of the German language. With a lot of experience and patience I lead my students to their to teach successfully and with fun. I offer you general language courses of B1- C2 with test preparations, as well as courses in Business German (prerequisites are language proficiency in German from level B1 +!).
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Hello,
I am a multilingual teacher with experience in teaching French to German, Japanese, English, Bulgarian and Italian-speaking students, etc. (levels A1 to C1).
I have been teaching French for 8 years in Luxemburg and now in Bulgaria for 4 years, to teenagers, housewives, businessmen, employees, doctors, etc. I can also help you with DELF and DALF preparation. I give lessons via Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in several countries.
My teaching method for each class : a grammar point together with listening, a lot of speaking with conversation questions or games. While you speak, I write all the new words you need to express yourself, illustrated by pictures or translated in your language.
I do my best to make you feel comfortable to speak and for you to have a pleasant time. According to me, using humour will help you learn more easily.
Whether you need to learn French for business, integration in a French-speaking country or studying, I will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Katia
Great teacher who makes learning language fun. Also good at making you comfortable to speak the language already in the very beginning.
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My name is Krisztina! I’m a teacher of German and French with the corresponding qualifications. I've grown up in a bilingual family (Hungarian-German), so I speak both languages as a native language. I’ve been teaching for six years, so I’m able to estimate your needs, and to meet them. In my lessons, I recreat real life situations, so that you will be able to adapt yourselves to different circumstances. I’m a patient, positive and creative person, who is looking forward to see you in her lessons. So don’t hesitate to book a lesson with me.
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A. P.
Virginie is the best French teacher I ever came across. She has been a great help in preparing for DELF B1. Her clear method of explaining helps me understand and retain the grammar rules. She is very patient and her calm personality removes my anxiety and puts my mind at ease. I highly recommend her and thank her for the wonderful learning experience.
Virginie D.
Do you want to learn Spanish with a kind and patient teacher? Someone to help you gain confidence and practice the language with topics according to your level and needs? In addition to that ... Do you want to get a study material and corrections? Well, I'm the right teacher for you . My name is Andrea and I'm from South America - Ecuador. I am a full-time Spanish teacher and I have a variety of resources to help you learn Spanish online.
I am currently studying French and I know how beneficial and fun it is to learn with a friendly and patient teacher who teaches you and helps you speak the language with confidence.
If you want to know a little more about me, I invite you to watch this video about reserving a hotel room.
https://youtu.be/d7F7mxOfKmA
G. P.
Andrea is a delightful and brilliant teacher. She has been teaching Spanish since 2018 and her study method is based on the student's level and the goals they want to achieve. In her you will find a prepared, experienced and friendly person. She relies on several books for teaching Spanish and her lessons are creative, very innovative and super interactive. With her you will never be bored.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Andrea H.
Hello everyone!
I am Manon, French by birth, currently living in Costa Rica.
I love meeting new people and I am curious to discover your life path and discuss what you are passionate about.
During a class, I take the time to take an interest in my students and help them to speak naturally.
The conversation can be about a topic you’d like to talk about, or we can use a video, an audio, or an image and discuss around this support.
I want you to feel comfortable so, no pressure, we’re here to have fun and learn.
I look forward to meeting you, so feel free to try a free trial course ;)
See you soon!
G. .
Manon is a lovely teacher. I really enjoyed the lessons with her and learned a lot of things. Thanks again!!!
Thank you very much Julia!! It was a real pleasure to know you, I too had a great time! Good continuation to you!
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
Т. П.
Natalia will be really interested in you as a person, what your goals are, and motivation for you to learn the language. I liked how she was answering all my questions, were patient and positive on our lesson.
Toma, your interest for the language and having learned other languages before will be very helpful for you, continue with your motivation for learning French!