Gerund vs infinitive
Aspectual periphrases, prepositions, temporal clauses, and the gerund-of-result warning.
The gerund presents an action in progress or as a simultaneous manner; the infinitive names the action
Catalan gerunds end mainly in -ant, -ent, -int. They combine with aspectual verbs and can describe how or while something happens. After a preposition, Catalan normally uses an infinitive, not a gerund.
Gerund formation
| Infinitive class | Gerund | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -ar | -ant | parlar → parlant; estar → estant |
| -er/-re | -ent | perdre → perdent; córrer → corrent |
| -ir | -int | dormir → dormint; sortir → sortint |
| irregular/common | lexical | anar → anant; fer → fent; dir → dient; veure → veient; ser → sent |
Aspectual periphrases
| Construction | Perspective | Example |
|---|---|---|
| estar + gerund | action in progress now/at a reference point | Estic preparant el sopar. |
| continuar / seguir + gerund | continuation | Continua plovent. |
| anar + gerund | gradual development | La situació va millorant. |
| venir + gerund | development continuing from earlier | Ho venim observant des del gener. |
The simple present often sounds more natural than an English progressive when no contrast with another action is needed: Ara treballo can mean “I’m working now”. Do not force estar + gerund into every ongoing sentence.
Infinitive after prepositions
Use the infinitive after per, a, de, sense, abans de, després de: gràcies per venir; abans de sortir; sense dir res; aprendre a conduir. English often uses an -ing form here, but Catalan does not.
Temporal and concessive non-finite clauses
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| en + infinitive | on/upon doing; especially Valencian/formal | En arribar, truca’m. |
| al + infinitive | when/on doing; common general pattern | Ensopegà en sortir / Va ensopegar al sortir. |
| tot + gerund | although/even while | Tot sabent-ho, no va dir res. |
| gerund alone | simultaneous action or manner | Va entrar corrent. |
Examples in context
Ara mateix estem esperant l’autobús.
Right now we are waiting for the bus.
Tot i les dificultats, el projecte va avançant.
Despite the difficulties, the project is gradually moving forward.
Continua buscant fins que ho trobis.
Keep looking until you find it.
Gràcies per ajudar-nos amb la mudança.
Thank you for helping us with the move.
Abans de signar, llegeix totes les condicions.
Before signing, read all the conditions.
Va sortir de casa sense tancar la porta.
She left home without closing the door.
En arribar a l’estació, ens va trucar.
Upon arriving at the station, he called us.
Va entrar corrent perquè feia tard.
She came in running because she was late.
Tot sabent que era arriscat, van continuar.
Although they knew it was risky, they continued.
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