The Adverbial Gerund (-ndo)
In European Portuguese, continuous actions (like "I am fishing") are usually expressed with the verb estar + a + infinitive. However, the gerund form—ending in -ndo, much like the English "-ing"—is still widely used as an adverb.
To form the gerund, drop the final -r from the infinitive and add -ndo:
- pescar becomes pescando
- meter becomes metendo
- assobiar becomes assobiando
Use this adverbial gerund to describe an action that happens at the exact same time as the main verb, or to explain how something is done.
| He walked along the bank, preparing the fishing rod. | Ele caminhou pela margem, preparando a cana de pesca. |
| The fisherman prepared the fishing rod, putting the bait on the hook. | O pescador preparou a cana de pesca, metendo o isco no anzol. |
Setting the Scene
The gerund is perfect for describing background actions or setting a relaxing scene while someone is doing something else.
| The girl stayed on the bank, observing the float. | A rapariga ficou na margem, observando a boia. |
An adverbial gerund phrase often follows the main clause, but you can also place it at the beginning of the sentence to establish the context first.
| Looking silently at the float, he drank the tea. | Olhando silenciosamente para a boia, ele bebeu o chá. |
| The old fisherman came along the bank, whistling. | O velho pescador vinha pela margem, assobiando. |
| We have been fishing here for a long time, relaxing. | Há muito tempo que pescamos aqui, relaxando. |
Cause and Consequence
Sometimes, a gerund naturally sets up a cause-and-effect relationship, showing what led a person to take their next action.
| Observing the fish, the fisherman decided to release the animal. | Observando o peixe, o pescador decidiu soltar o animal. |
| The fisherman smiled, releasing the small fish into the river. | O pescador sorriu, soltando o peixe pequeno no rio. |