Gerundio Presente (Present Gerund / Present Continuous)
The Gerundio Presente is used to describe an action that is happening at the same time as another action, or to form the present continuous tense when combined with the verb stare. It can also express how or when something happens.
Mood:
The Gerundio Presente is a non-finite verb form (it does not change according to person or number). It functions as an adverbial form, modifying the main verb.
- Form type: Non-finite (used with or without an auxiliary verb)
Usage:
- To form the present continuous with stare:
Sto leggendo un libro. (I am reading a book.) - To indicate two actions happening at the same time:
Camminando, ascoltava la musica. (While walking, he was listening to music.) - To express the manner in which something happens:
Ha risposto sorridendo. (She answered smiling.) - To show cause, condition, or concession in certain contexts:
Essendo stanco, non uscì. (Being tired, he didn’t go out.)
Formation:
The Gerundio Presente is formed from the verb stem plus the endings:
- -ando for -are verbs
- -endo for -ere and -ire verbs
Some irregular verbs have irregular stems in the gerund.
Examples:
- parlare → parlando (speaking)
- prendere → prendendo (taking)
- dormire → dormendo (sleeping)
- fare → facendo (doing/making)
- dire → dicendo (saying)
- bere → bevendo (drinking)
- tradurre → traducendo (translating)
Present Continuous with "Stare":
The structure is: stare (present tense) + gerundio presente
| Person | Stare (present) + parlare |
|---|---|
| Io | sto parlando |
| Tu | stai parlando |
| Lui/Lei | sta parlando |
| Noi | stiamo parlando |
| Voi | state parlando |
| Loro | stanno parlando |
Common Time Expressions:
- in questo momento (right now)
- adesso (now)
- mentre (while)
- allo stesso tempo (at the same time)
Examples:
- Sto scrivendo una lettera. (I am writing a letter.)
- Camminando per strada, ho incontrato un vecchio amico. (Walking down the street, I met an old friend.)
- Parlando sinceramente, penso che tu abbia ragione. (Speaking honestly, I think you are right.)
- Essendo in ritardo, prese un taxi. (Being late, he took a taxi.)
