The Compound Gerund
When you want to show that one action was completely finished before another began, Portuguese uses the compound gerund (gerúndio composto). This structure translates to "Having [done something]..." in English. It is frequently used in formal contexts, such as graduation speeches or written narratives, to set the background for the main event.
To form it, use the gerund of the verb ter (tendo) followed by the past participle of your main verb.
| Having received the diploma, each final-year student felt an enormous pride. | Tendo recebido o diploma, cada finalista sentiu um enorme orgulho. |
| Having reached the end, we celebrate this achievement thanks to you all. | Tendo chegado ao fim, celebramos esta conquista graças a vocês. |
Linking the Past to the Present and Future
Because the compound gerund establishes a completed background event, it is the perfect tool for reflecting on a finished journey before looking ahead to a new stage (etapa).
The main clause of the sentence can be in the past, present, or future—the compound gerund simply guarantees that its own action happened first.
| Having finished the academic journey, we are going to start a new stage. | Tendo terminado o percurso académico, vamos iniciar uma nova etapa. |
| Having sought wisdom, the final-year students have more academic knowledge. | Tendo procurado a sabedoria, os finalistas têm mais conhecimentos académicos. |
| Having reached this achievement, we use wisdom to help others. | Tendo alcançado esta conquista, usamos a sabedoria para ajudar os outros. |