Gerund/Present Participle

[laepelba]

I am reading a chapter entitled "Gerunds". Here is the second paragraph from the chapter:

First of all, the gerund form is sometimes called the present participle, but that is a bit of a misnomer. The present participle is technically a different form (e.g., sapiente vs. sabiendo). The former is the present participle of the verb saber and is used as the adjective: wise (literally, being wise), whereas sabiendo is the gerund - the only form that can be used to form the progressive aspects of verbs in various tenses.

I have never previously read anything about there being two separate forms. So I have a few questions:

- Do all verbs have a separate form for the present participle and the gerund? If so, would you please give me some examples of other verbs' forms?

- This word "sapiente", which is to be used as an adjective, could you say something like "hombre sapiente" for "wise man"? If not, how would you use that word in a sentence?

- Any other comments on this topic would be welcome...

Thank you!!

[Rusty]

The book is mixing terms.

A gerund is the English word for a non-finite verbal that acts as a noun. The Spanish equivalent is el infinitivo.

A present participle is the English word for a non-finite verbal that can act as an adjective or an adverb. It can also be used in the formation of the progressive tense. The Spanish equivalent is el gerundio.

El participio presente is Spanish for a vestige of the Latin active present participle. When found in Spanish, the word acts as an adjective. Sapiente fits into this category, as do a few other words. This non-finite verb form has largely been replaced in Spanish by the infinitivo or gerundio.

[laepelba]

Okay, that's helpful, Rusty - thank you. Would you mind using "sabiente" in a sentence for me? What other verbs have such forms?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by laepelba

- Do all verbs have a separate form for the present participle and the gerund? If so, would you please give me some examples of other verbs' forms?

Not all, but many.

This form used to be called "participio activo". It's the combination of the verb root with a suffix "-ante", "-ente", or "-iente".

·perseverar - perseverante - perseverando - perseverado
·oír - oyente - oyendo - oído
·causar - causante - causando -causado
·suplir - suplente - supliendo - suplido
...

Originally Posted by laepelba

- This word "sapiente", which is to be used as an adjective, could you say something like "hombre sapiente" for "wise man"? If not, how would you use that word in a sentence?

Yes, you can use it like that, although it's usually replaced by "sabio".

·Tuve la fortuna de escuchar una sapiente conversación entre Jorge Luis Borges y Alfonso Reyes.
I was fortunate to hear a wise conversation between Jorge Luis Borges and Alfonso Reyes.
·El Doctor Hernández Pérez es un sapiente médico.
Dr. Hernandez Perez is a wise physician.


Edit: Rusty beat me to reply, but one more answer won't harm, I hope.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

·Tuve la fortuna de escuchar una sapiente conversación entre Jorge Luis Borges y Alfonso Reyes.
I was fortunate to hear a wise conversation between Jorge Luis Borges and Alfonso Reyes.
·El Doctor Hernández Pérez es un sapiente médico.
Dr. Hernandez Perez is a wise physician.

Both replies are helpful! THANKS!! Would "sapiente" ever be used after the noun it modifies?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I suppose there's no reason why it couldn't be placed after the noun, but to my ear it sounded better before the noun... arbitrary decision, can't explain why.

[Rusty]

El abogado debe ser sapiente del derecho.

Here's a list of words that end in iente in Spanish. Those that stem from a verb are present participles and, as such, are used as adjectives: ardiente, creciente, doliente, siguiente, etc.
There may be similar lists for the other participle endings mentioned above.

[laepelba]

FABULOUS!! Thanks to both of you!!