Aiutando

Aiutando is the present participle (gerundio presente) of the Italian verb aiutare, meaning to help or to assist. It corresponds to the English gerund “helping” and is formed by replacing the -are ending of the infinitive with -ando. The form is invariable for gender and number, and it is used to indicate an ongoing action related to another verb or clause.

Etymology and related forms: aiutare derives from Latin adiuvare, and the gerund form helpfully connects actions in time or manner. The present gerundine form aiuta is not altered for subject, so phrases such as “Sto aiutando” (I am helping) or “Stai aiutando” (you are helping) are common. The counterpart gerundio passato, avendo aiutato, expresses anteriority (“having helped”).

Usage in sentences: The gerund can describe actions happening concurrently with another action, or indicate manner, cause, or a general activity. Examples: “Sto aiutando i vicini coi lavori domestici” (I am helping the neighbors with domestic chores). “Aiutando chi è in difficoltà, la comunità resta solidale” (By helping those in need, the community remains supportive). “Aiutando i compagni, si costruisce fiducia” (Helping teammates builds trust). In formal writing, the gerund is sometimes avoided in favor of subordinate clauses, but it remains widespread in everyday Italian.

See also: aiutare (to help), aiuto (help, noun), adiuvare (Latin root).

Note: While aiuttando conveys ongoing action, it should be used with care to avoid vagueness or ambiguity, especially when clarity of sequence or causality is important.