What is the Gerund Mood?
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.
Gerunds can act as subjects, objects, or complements in sentences. 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 functions as a noun in a sentence. It expresses an action in progress or a state of being.
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.
Gerunds treat verbs like nouns, which can be subjects, objects, or complements in a sentence. Example:
Studiando ogni giorno, si ottiene successo.
By studying every day, one achieves success.
Plus, gerunds can go after prepositions that signify time or reason, such as senza (without), dopo (after), and prima di (before).
Pro Tip: To avoid mistakes with gerunds in Italian, consider the context of their use and make sure the tense agrees with the sentence’s subject. 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 and similarly to English gerunds, as nouns or adjectives in sentences. They often follow prepositions or are objects of verbs.
Gerunds are both nouns and adjectives. Pay attention to prepositions that come before them; their meaning changes with context. Choose the right tense for conversation. Don’t overuse gerunds. Vary sentence structures using other forms of grammar.
Gerunds play a big part in Italian. They can be used as a subject instead of a noun, as direct or indirect objects, to show an ongoing action, and to express cause and effect. 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. after prepositions and conjunctions). 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:
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”.
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.
