What is the Gerund Mood?
The Italian gerund (gerundio) is a verb form that ends in -ando for -are verbs and in -endo for -ere and -ire verbs: parlare becomes parlando, credere becomes credendo and dormire becomes dormendo. You use it to form the progressive with stare (sto parlando, I am speaking) and to say how, why or when something happens (Ho imparato leggendo, I learned by reading). Unlike the English “-ing” form, the Italian gerund is never used as a noun.
The gerund is a non-finite verbal mood that is extensively used both in English and Italian.
In linguistic, non-finite verbs have no subjects, therefore they have no conjugation. Other examples of non-finite Italian verbs are the infinitive and participle. On the contrary, finite verbs have a conjugation paradigm, that is, a conjugation for each person, like the present tense, past tenses, future tenses etc.
In English, gerunds are easily recognizable because they end in “-ing”, such as “running”, “swimming”, or “thinking”, and can act as nouns, be it subjects or objects of the sentence. For example:
- As a subject: Running is fun.
- As an object: Her favorite hobby is reading.
In Italian, gerunds end in -ando or in -endo but they are used differently compared to English. I will explain in detail how we use them, but first, let me give you an overview of this verb mood.
Notice that the Italian verb tense that can act as a noun is the Italian infinitive, not the gerund!
As most verb moods, the gerund has a present tense and a past tense. In this article, I will explain the Italian present gerund, but do not worry: there is an article dedicated to the Italian past gerund as well.
Definition of Gerunds
Gerunds are formed by adding “-ing” to a verb, while infinitives use the base form of a verb with “to” before it. They can be used as subjects, objects, complements, or modifiers in a sentence.
When choosing between gerunds and infinitives, look at the context. Gerunds often follow prepositions or are the subject of a sentence. Infinitives may come after certain verbs like “want,” “need,” or “like.”
Gerunds can be possessive and used in phrases like “my running shoes.” Infinitives can be split with words like “not” and used instead of imperatives.
Gerunds are like jumping jacks – action but no progress.
In English, gerunds can act as subjects, objects, or complements in sentences, while the Italian gerund cannot. Usually, they show ongoing actions. The focus is on the action, not the performer.
Gerunds in the Italian Language
What is a gerund in Italian grammar?
A gerund is a verbal form that ends with -ando or -endo and works like an adverb: it says how, why or when the main action happens. It also expresses an action in progress when it follows the verb stare.
Italian gerunds are used for expressing continuous or ongoing actions. They add -endo/-ando suffixes to the root form of verbs. This is similar to the -ing form in English.
Unlike the English -ing form, the Italian gerund does not work as a noun. It modifies the main verb of the sentence, like an adverb. Example:
Studiando ogni giorno, si ottiene successo.
By studying every day, one achieves success.
Do not use the gerund after prepositions such as senza (without), dopo (after), and prima di (before): Italian uses the infinitive there, as in senza parlare, prima di partire and dopo aver mangiato.
Pro Tip: To avoid mistakes with gerunds in Italian, consider the context of their use and make sure the gerund has the same subject as the main verb. Who knew an -ndo ending could be so fun?! Get ready for some exciting gerund action!
Formation of Gerunds in the Italian Language
Forming gerunds in Italian is a two-step process. First, take the infinitive form of the verb, and then add -ando for verbs ending in -are or -endo for verbs ending in -ere or -ire.
They are used often, but differently from English gerunds: in Italian they are not nouns, and they do not follow prepositions.
The Italian gerund is not a noun or an adjective. It behaves like an adverb, and its time comes from the main verb. Don’t overuse gerunds: when a sentence gets long, vary the structure with other forms of grammar.
Gerunds play a big part in Italian. They are used to show an ongoing action, to express manner, cause and time, and to say that two actions happen at the same time. Plus, there are irregular forms to learn.
You should use a gerund after certain verbs (e.g. stare, andare, venire) and in certain constructions (e.g. to say how or why something happens). It is also used to describe actions that are happening simultaneously.
Italian Present Gerund
How to Form the Present Gerund in Italian
The Italian present gerund follows a pretty regular pattern: first conjugation verbs (ending in -are) form the gerund with -ando, while second and third conjugation verbs (ending in -ere and -ire) form the gerund with -endo.
Here are some examples:
- Mangiare (to eat): mangiando
- Cantare (to sing): cantando
- Leggere (to read): leggendo
- Scendere (to go down): scendendo
- Dormire (to sleep): dormendo
- Finire (to finish): finendo
Of course, there are some irregular verbs. Paradoxically, the verbs essere and avere follow a regular pattern, while most of the verbs that end in -rre and the ones that I listed below have a specific form:
- Bere (to drink): bevendo
- Dire (to say): dicendo
- Fare (to do): facendo
- Comporre (to compose): componendo
- Tradurre (to translate): traducendo
- Introdurre (to introduce): introducendo
As you can see, their irregularity is given by the fact that their root changes when being conjugated in the present gerund. Specifically, they add a syllable in the conjugation. This has some historical reasons which I love explaining, so get ready for some pills of linguistics.
When Italian evolved from Latin, it changed some words, of course. However, it kept some original Latin roots in some specific conjugation, like gerundio presente and imperfetto. In fact, dire in Latin was dicere, fare was facere, tradurre was traducere, introdurre was introducere.
Did you notice anything? They all have that extra syllable that we still use now.
If you are interested in the history of the Italian language, I invite you to read more and dive into this world of linguistic evolution.
How to use the Present Gerund in Italian
In Italian, the present gerund is used in three main cases:
- To form progressive tenses (like the present progressive, the past progressive, and the future progressive) with the verb stare:
Non posso rispondere ora, sto studiando.
I can’t answer now, I am studying.
Non sono uscito perché stava piovendo.
I did not go out because it was raining.
Staremo cenando a quell’ora.
We will be having dinner at that time.
Depending on the tense of the auxiliary verb, you can create a different type of progressive tense.
- To express how or why something has been done, creating a cause-consequence relation:
Ho imparato il francese leggendo libri.
I learned French by reading books.
Sono dimagrito mangiando solo frutta e verdura.
I lost weight by eating only fruit and vegetables.
Non avendo molto tempo, prenderò un taxi per l’aeroporto.
Because I don’t have a lot of time, I will take a taxi to the airport.
When you use the gerund to express the reason why a result has been obtained, you could translate the gerund with “because” or “since”, like in the last sentence.
- To express simultaneity between two or more actions:
Io parlo sempre al telefono camminando.
I always speak on the phone while walking.
Cucinando, Luca pensa al suo futuro.
While cooking, Luca thinks about his future.
Tornando a casa, ho incontrato Pietro.
Going back home, I met Pietro.
As you can see, in this contexts it is as if the gerund itself conveys the meaning of “while”.
Gerund Forms at a Glance
| Infinitive | Gerund | English |
|---|---|---|
| parlare | parlando | speaking |
| credere | credendo | believing, thinking |
| dormire | dormendo | sleeping |
| essere | essendo | being |
| avere | avendo | having |
| fare | facendo | doing, making |
| dire | dicendo | saying |
| bere | bevendo | drinking |
Essere and avere are regular in the gerund. For other verbs that change their stem, see the guide to irregular Italian verbs.
Stare, Andare and Venire + Gerund
The most common use is stare + gerund, which describes an action happening right now: Sto mangiando (I am eating) is not the same as Mangio (I eat, I am going to eat). Andare + gerund shows a gradual change, and it is used with verbs like peggiorare and migliorare:
La situazione va migliorando.
The situation is gradually improving.
Il problema sta peggiorando.
The problem is getting worse.
Gerund With Pronouns
Object pronouns attach to the end of the gerund: dicendogli la verità (telling him the truth), guardandola (looking at her). With stare + gerund, the pronoun can go before stare or be attached to the gerund:
Lo sto leggendo. / Sto leggendolo.
I am reading it.
Guardandola, ho capito che era felice.
Looking at her, I understood that she was happy.
The Gerund and the Subject of the Sentence
The gerund has no subject of its own: it refers to the subject of the main verb. So Uscendo di casa, ho visto Paolo means that I was going out. When the gerund action happened before the main action, Italian uses the past gerund (avendo finito, having finished): Avendo finito il lavoro, sono uscito (Having finished work, I went out).
English -ing vs Italian Gerund
This is the biggest difference for English speakers. Many English “-ing” forms are not gerunds in Italian, and they need the infinitive:
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Running is fun. | Correre è divertente. |
| I like swimming. | Mi piace nuotare. |
| Without saying a word | Senza dire una parola |
| Before leaving | Prima di partire |
| After eating | Dopo aver mangiato |
| Thank you for coming. | Grazie di essere venuto. |
The gerund also works like an adverb, so it is related to the Italian adverbs that answer the question “how?”.
Common Mistakes With the Italian Gerund
- Using the gerund as a noun. Say Nuotare fa bene (Swimming is good for you), not Nuotando fa bene.
- Using it after a preposition. Say Prima di partire, not Prima di partendo.
- Changing the subject. Camminando per strada, ho visto un incidente is correct because I was walking and I saw it.
Practice: Complete With the Gerund
Put the verb in brackets in the gerund:
- Sto (leggere) un libro.
- Ho imparato l’italiano (ascoltare) le canzoni.
- (Essere) stanco, sono andato a letto.
- (Fare) la spesa, ho incontrato Anna.
- Mangia sempre (guardare) la televisione.
- (Dire) la verità, ha risolto il problema.
Answers: 1. leggendo, 2. ascoltando, 3. Essendo, 4. Facendo, 5. guardando, 6. Dicendo.
Italian Gerund: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gerund in Italian? It is a verb form ending in -ando or -endo that describes how, why or when an action happens, and forms the progressive with stare.
Does Italian have gerunds like English “-ing” nouns? No. Where English uses a gerund as a noun (“Swimming is good”), Italian uses the infinitive (Nuotare fa bene).
How do you form the gerund in Italian? Replace -are with -ando and -ere or -ire with -endo. A few verbs like fare, dire and bere use an older stem: facendo, dicendo, bevendo.
What is the difference between the present and the past gerund? The present gerund (mangiando) describes an action at the same time as the main verb. The past gerund (avendo mangiato) describes an action that happened before it.
How can I Learn the Italian Present Gerund?
Are you wondering how you can learn this verb tense? Well, I’ll tell you how: facendo pratica (practicing).
The versatility of the Italian Present Gerund allows you to describe ongoing actions, causal relations, and simultaneous actions, adding depth to your conversations.
Remember that the Italian gerund cannot be used in the same contexts where you would use it in English, so be aware of its proper use to sound like a native speaker.
Embrace these guidelines to unlock a more engaging and accurate way of speaking Italian, enriching both your spoken and written communication skills in this beautiful language.
