In French, to express "while doing [something]", you use the preposition en followed by a verb ending in -ant. This is called Le Gérondif.
How to use en + verb ending in -ant in French
Look at these sentences:
When talking about two actions that happen simultaneously, you can use :
You can also use tout en + Participe présent / Gérondif - literally "all in doing something" - to emphasise the fact that the two actions are being done at the same time :
Tout en préparant le repas de ses belles sœurs, Cendrillon rêvait au Prince Charmant.As she was making her stepsisters' meal, Cinderella dreamt of Prince Charming.
J'ai eu mon Master tout en travaillant dans un restaurant tous les weekends.I got my Master's while working in a restaurant every weekend.
To form the Participe présent / Gérondif of a verb:
Take the stem of the nous form of the verb in Le Présent (Indicatif) + -ant
jouer -> nous jouons -> jouant
finir -> nous finissons -> finissant
prendre -> nous prenons -> prenant
faire -> nous faisons -> faisant
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Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Charlotte a rangé son appartement tout en discutant avec sa mère au téléphone.Charlotte tidied up her apartment while chatting on the phone with her mother.
J'ai eu mon Master tout en travaillant dans un restaurant tous les weekends.I got my Master's while working in a restaurant every weekend.
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