gérondif
French
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] 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
Noun
Template:examples-right 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)
- of or pertaining to the gérondif.
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.
Further reading
- “gérondif”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.