gérondif

French

Etymology

From Latin gerundīvus (“of a gerund”), from gerundium (“gerund”), from gerundus (“which is to be carried out”), future passive participle (gerundive) of gerō (“carry, bear”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ʒe.ʁɔ̃.dif/
Audio (file)

Noun

Examples (French gérondifs)

Je l'ai découvert en cherchant quelque chose d'autre.

I discovered it while looking for something else.

C'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron. (proverb)

It's by forging that one becomes a blacksmith. (That is, practice makes perfect.)

gérondif m (plural gérondifs)

(grammar) a syntactical construction of French composed of the present participle preceded with the preposition en, used to express simultaneity or manner; an adverbial participle
a Latin gerundive, a verbal adjective expressing necessity
an English gerund

Adjective

gérondif (feminine gérondive, masculine plural gérondifs, feminine plural gérondives)

(relational) gerund

Usage notes

Although gerund is often translated in French by gérondif, the gérondif is not an actual conjugated form, and serves different syntactical uses. Calling the gérondif a gerund may create confusion.