Français — Present participle vs verbal adjective
Both forms end in -ant, but they behave differently. The present participle (participe présent) is invariable and keeps a verbal value; the verbal adjective (adjectif verbal) agrees like an ordinary adjective and can even be spelt differently, as in fatiguant vs fatigant.
How it works
The present participle is invariable and often takes a complement or an adverb: des enfants obéissant à leurs parents. The verbal adjective describes a quality and agrees in gender and number: des enfants obéissants, une journée fatigante.
Examples
| Infinitive | Present participle | Verbal adjective |
|---|---|---|
| fatiguer | fatiguant | fatigant |
| provoquer | provoquant | provocant |
| naviguer | naviguant | navigant |
| négliger | négligeant | négligent |
| précéder | précédant | précédent |
| différer | différant | différent |
| convaincre | convainquant | convaincant |
| adhérer | adhérant | adhérent |
Good to know
Watch the spelling: verbs in -guer and -quer keep the u and q in the present participle (fatiguant, provoquant) but drop them in the adjective (fatigant, provocant). Some pairs also differ in vowel or ending: différant vs différent, négligeant vs négligent, adhérant vs adhérent. Test: if the form takes a complement or can be replaced by a relative clause (qui...), it is the participle and stays invariable.