One form, several readings
The gerundio ends in -ando or -endo: lavorando, avendo; only facendo, dicendo, bevendo are irregular. It does not say by itself how it relates to the main clause. Whether it means how, why, when or in spite of what is shown by the sentence. The subject is the same as in the main clause.
Italian matches English -ing only in clauses like not knowing the area, we took a taxi. After a preposition Italian uses the infinitive: senza sapere, prima di partire.
Four readings
| Reading | English test | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Manner | by | Ha imparato l'italiano guardando film. |
| Reason | because | Non avendo le chiavi, ho aspettato in strada. |
| Concession | even though (with pur) | Pur avendo ragione, ha preferito tacere. |
| Simultaneity | while | Guardando il film, si è addormentato. |
Try the English word in front of the gerundio: usually exactly one fits.
Manner: the gerundio as a means
In the manner reading the gerundio answers how or by what means. It names the means that produces the result in the main clause: English by plus -ing. It usually stands after the main clause, right next to the verb.
Italian has no word for by here: lavorando troppo, not per lavorando or con lavorando. The gerundio already contains the by.
How something is achieved
Ha ottenuto il posto insistendo per mesi.
He got the job by keeping at it for months.
Si risolve tutto parlandone con calma.
Everything gets sorted out by talking it through calmly.
Mi tengo in forma andando al lavoro in bici.
I keep fit by cycling to work.
Reason: the gerundio as a cause
In the causal reading the gerundio explains why the main action happens. It replaces a clause with siccome, poiché or dato che and usually stands in front of the main clause. Typical are essendo, avendo, sapendo and negated forms such as non conoscendo. English works the same way: not knowing the area, we took a taxi.
Reasons up front
Non conoscendo la zona, abbiamo preso un taxi.
Not knowing the area, we took a taxi.
Essendo domenica, i negozi erano chiusi.
It being Sunday, the shops were closed.
Sapendo che sei vegetariana, ho preparato una lasagna alle verdure.
Knowing you are vegetarian, I made a vegetable lasagne.
The causal gerundio sounds rather written and polished. In relaxed conversation people prefer siccome or visto che: Siccome non conoscevo la zona, ho preso un taxi.
pur + gerundio: even though
Put pur in front of the gerundio and the reason becomes a counter-reason. pur stands immediately before the gerundio and is written as a separate word. The gerundio and the main clause share the same subject; object pronouns attach to the gerundio, not to pur. English needs a conjunction (even though he was right) or despite being right; Italian needs only this one small word.
The reversal
Even though, in two words
Pur essendo stanchissimo, è venuto alla festa.
Even though he was exhausted, he came to the party.
Pur non conoscendolo bene, mi fido di lui.
Even though I don't know him well, I trust him.
Pur abitando a Roma da anni, non ha mai visto i Musei Vaticani.
Even though he has lived in Rome for years, he has never seen the Vatican Museums.
