Avendo

Avendo is the Italian gerund of the auxiliary verb avere (to have). It is used to form the perfect gerund (gerundio composto), which denotes an action completed before the action of the main verb. The construction combines avendo with the past participle of the main verb, as in Avendo finito il lavoro, sono uscito, meaning Having finished the work, I went out.

Usage and style: Avendo is more common in formal writing, literature, or carefully constructed prose than in everyday speech. In contemporary conversation, speakers often replace it with the periphrasis Dopo aver + infinitive, for example: Dopo aver finito i compiti, sono andato a casa (Having finished the homework, I went home). The avendo form can be used to create concise, tightly linked sequences of events, but it can sound archaic or literary to some readers.

Formation and meaning: The form avendo comes from the standard Italian gerund suffix -endo attached to the verb avere. In combination with a past participle, it expresses an anterior action relative to the main clause, similar in function to English having done something. It should not be confused with the simple present participle, as avendo signals a completed action when used with another verb.

See also: Italian grammar, gerundio composto, avere.