Other French verb formsThe present participle - practice

Using the present participle

The present participle is used with the prepositionen to mean 'while doing', 'on doing', 'by doing', etc. For example:

• J’écoute de la musique en faisant mes devoirs. – I listen to music while doing my homework.
• Il s’est cassé la jambe en jouant au rugby. – He broke his leg by/while playing rugby.

It can also be used as an adjective.. For example:

• Le tennis est un sport passionnant. – Tennis is a fascinating sport.
• Elle a regardé un film amusant. – She watched an amusing film.

Present participle of avoir/être + past participle

The present participle of avoir or être followed by a past participle means ‘having done something’. For être verbs, the past participle must agree as usual.

• Ayant retrouvé mon passport, j’ai pu partir en vacances. – Having found my passport again, I was able to go on holiday.
• Étant arrivée de bonne heure, elle a aidé son père à préparer le repas. – Having arrived early, she helped her father prepare the meal.

Although the present participle can be translated by the English -ing form of verbs, it is not used to say what is happening right now, nor to express what you like doing. Instead, the equivalent of the English present continuous is the simple present tense or être en train de + infinitive (in the process of) in French. To express what you like or dislike doing, use an infinitive. For example:

• Je mange. – I am eating.
• Je suis en train de manger. – I am (in the process of) eating.
• Il aime nager. – He likes swimming.
• Elles préfèrent bavarder. – They prefer chatting.

Fill in the present participle of the verb shown in brackets.