Actions vs. Descriptions
In French, words ending in -ant (the equivalent of English "-ing") can act as either verbs or adjectives. Their grammar changes depending on how you use them.
When expressing an action (often followed by a direct object), the word is a present participle. Present participles act as verbs and are invariable—they never change spelling to match gender or number.
| We observe the wolves tiring the herd. | Nous observons les loups fatiguant le troupeau. |
When describing a state or quality, the word is a verbal adjective. Like all adjectives, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
| These noises are very tiring. | Ces bruits sont très fatigants. |
Spelling Differences
While many verbs keep the exact same spelling in both forms, some change their spelling when shifting from a present participle (action) to an adjective (description).
- Verbs ending in -guer drop the u.
- Verbs ending in -quer change qu to c.
- Verbs ending in -ger change geant to gent.
| Verb | Present Participle (Action) | Verbal Adjective (Description) |
|---|---|---|
| fatiguer | fatiguant | fatigant(e) |
| intriguer | intriguant | intrigant(e) |
| provoquer | provoquant | provocant(e) |
| négliger | négligeant | négligent(e) |
Notice how the present participles below describe an animal doing something to an object, keeping their base spelling. By contrast, the verbal adjectives describe the animal's traits, changing their spelling and agreeing with the noun.
| The monkey intriguing the female is young. | Le singe intriguant la femelle est jeune. |
| The intriguing female observes the male. | La femelle intrigante observe le mâle. |
| The male provoking the herd is in danger. | Le mâle provoquant le troupeau est en danger. |
| The males may well be provocative, the females ignore them. | Les mâles ont beau être provocants, les femelles les ignorent. |
| The father neglecting his babies is tired. | Le père négligeant ses bébés est fatigué. |
| A neglectful mother loses her babies. | Une mère négligente perd ses bébés. |
