Participe présent – Free Exercise

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Exercise

Complete the gaps with the present participles of the verbs.

  1. attendre →  
  2. danser →  
  3. ouvrir →  
  4. voir →  
  5. choisir →  

Verb or adjective? What is the function of the present participle in the following sentences? Choose the correct option.

  1. La pluie, tombant depuis deux heures, avait fait tomber notre pique-nique à l’eau.[The rain, which had been falling for two hours, had washed away our picnic.]|Present participle as a verb|Replaces a relative clause that expresses a reason: Comme la pluie tombait depuis deux heures …
  2. Catherine est invitée à une soirée dansante.[Catherine is invited to a dance party.]|Present participle as an adjective (adjectif verbal)|Agrees in number and gender with the noun une soirée.
  3. Les enfants, croyant qu’ils étaient seuls, se précipitèrent sur les bonbons.[The kids, thinking they were alone, rushed for the sweets.]|Present participle as a verb|Replaces a relative clause that expresses a reason: Comme ils croyaient qu’ils étaient seuls …
  4. Je trouve ce film long et ennuyant.[I think this film is long and boring.]|Present participle as an adjective (adjectif verbal)|Agrees in number and gender with the noun ce film.
  5. Ma grand-mère raconte toujours des histoires passionnantes.[My grandma always tells me exciting stories.]|Present participle as an adjective (adjectif verbal)|Agrees in number and gender with the noun des histoires.

Complete the gaps with the present participle of the verbs in brackets.

  1. Il ne faut pas rester sous ce soleil (brûler)  .[You shouldn’t stay in this burning sun.]|nous brûlons → brûlant|Here the present participle is an adjective so agrees with the noun it describes (ce soleil)
  2. La nuit (tomber)   rapidement, ils se dépêchent de rentrer.[As night quickly fell, they hurried home.]|nous tombons → tombant|Here the present participle is a verb, its form does not change.
  3. La lavande est une plante (calmer)  .[Lavender is a calming plant.]|nous calmons → calmant|Here the present participle is an adjective so agrees with the noun it describes|feminine singular noun (la lavende) → add -e
  4. Christine, (entendre)   le téléphone sonner, posa son livre et se leva.[Christine, hearing the phone ring, put down her book and stood up.]|nous entendons → entendant|Here the present participle is a verb, its form does not change
  5. Les personnes (se rendre)   à Toulouse sont priées de se présenter à la porte 43 de l’aéroport.[People travelling to Toulouse are asked to report to gate 43 of the airport.]|nous rendons → rendant|Here the present participle is a verb, its form does not change.