The 'Gérondif' Formula: Adding Elegance to Your B2/C1 Sentences

Published: March 17, 2026 | Category: Grammar | Read Time: 10 Mins

When grading your French writing and speaking, examiners look for Syntactic Variety. If you string sentences together using only "et" (and), "parce que" (because), and "mais" (but), you risk locking yourself into a B1 level score.

To break into the B2 (CLB 7) or C1 (CLB 9) tier, you need complex sentence connectors. The Gérondif (the -ing form in English) is the most elegant way to fuse two ideas into a single, high-scoring sentence.

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1. What is the Gérondif?

The Gérondif is formed by combining the preposition en with the present participle of a verb (the "nous" form stem + -ant).

2. The 3 Advanced Uses of Gérondif

To grab extra points, you should use the Gérondif to express more than just simultaneous action.

A. Manner / Means (How something happens)

Explain how an action was achieved.

3. Common irregulars you MUST know

There are only three irregular present participles in French:

1. Être -> En étant (While being)
2. Avoir -> En ayant (While having)
3. Savoir -> En sachant (While knowing)

Example: "En ayant un peu plus de patience, vous y arriverez." (By having a bit more patience, you'll manage it.)

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Strategies for Exam Day

During your TCF/TEF speaking monologue or writing Section B, consciously look for areas where you have two sentences starting with the same subject.

• "Je conduisais. J'écoutais la radio." -> "Je conduisais en écoutant la radio."

This merge demonstrates a high degree of core grammar control.

At , our AI corrects your text and specifically notes your syntax score. If you repeat short sentences, it highlights them and suggests a Gérondif rewrite to bump your level dashboard up immediately.