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B1IntermediateVerbs · Point 32 / 40

en attendant, en rentrant, en courant, en travaillant

The gérondif is “en” + the verb in “-ant”.

GérondifPatternMeaning
en attendant—while I wait
en rentrant—as I get home, on my way home
en courant—while running
en travaillant—while working

Formation: take the “nous” form of the present and replace “-ons” with “-ant”: “nous attendons” → “attendant”. Three exceptions: “étant”, “ayant”, “sachant”.

Examples from our dialogues 5 · 5 with audio

  • Listen

    C'est sûrement la machine à laver. Je la mets souvent à tourner le soir, en rentrant du travail.

    It's probably the washing machine. I often start it in the evening when I get home from work.

    Check The Full DialoguePolitely raising a noise issue with the upstairs neighbour

  • Listen

    Vers l'ouest, c'est à gauche ou à droite en sortant ?

    Westward, is that left or right as I come out?

    Check The Full DialogueAsking for directions

  • Listen

    J'ai tordu ma cheville en courant, il y a trois jours. Elle est enflée.

    I twisted my ankle running, three days ago. It's swollen.

    Check The Full DialogueManaging a sports injury

  • Listen

    Pratique. Et l'allocation, j'y ai droit même en travaillant ?

    Handy. And the allowance, am I entitled to it even while working?

    Check The Full DialogueSigning up for a French course

  • Listen

    Est-ce que je peux conduire en attendant de les passer ?

    Can I drive while waiting to take them?

    Check The Full DialogueExchanging your driver's licence at the SAAQ

Common mistakes

  • J'ai vu le bureau en marchant de ma sœur.Ma sœur a vu le bureau en marchant.

    The gérondif always refers to the subject of the sentence: the one who sees is also the one who walks. If someone else is walking, use a different construction.

  • Je réponds aux courriels en pendant que je mange.Je réponds aux courriels en mangeant.

    “En + -ant” already replaces “pendant que je…”: do not combine the two. Choose “en mangeant” or “pendant que je mange”, not a mix.

Practise speaking

Les interactions socialesSocial interactions

Greeting, getting acquainted, chatting with a neighbour — the French of everyday exchanges.

These dialogues use this point. They open on the dialogue page (audio, vocabulary to save).

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