Exigindo

Exigindo is the gerund (gerúndio) of the Portuguese verb exigir, which means to demand or to require. The form expresses ongoing action or a situation that is currently requiring something, and it can convey a sense of insistence or pressure in practical use.

Grammatical use and meaning: As a non-finite verb form, exigindo is used with auxiliary verbs to indicate progressive aspect, most commonly with estar: Ele está exigindo respostas. It can also introduce adjectival or adverbial phrases, as in uma tarefa exigindo dedicação (a task requiring dedication). In many contexts, exigindo also shapes the nuance of a situation that imposes conditions or demands on someone.

Usage notes: The gerund is common in everyday Brazilian Portuguese and can be perceived as informal or dynamic in style. In formal writing, speakers sometimes prefer other constructions, such as subordinate clauses introduced by que or the use of infinitives, to avoid overuse of the gerund: Exigir que ele forneça os documentos, rather than a gerund variant.

Etymology and related forms: Exigir derives from Latin exigere, meaning to compel or demand. Related terms include exigência (demand or requirement) and exigente (demanding). The verb and its forms share the same semantic core of pressing for compliance or fulfillment.

Examples:

- O contrato está exigindo documentos adicionais.

- A situação exigindo muito cuidado antes de prosseguir.

- Não quero exigir demais; apenas peça o que for necessário.

See also: exigir, exigência, exigente.