percebendo

Percebendo is the gerund of the Portuguese verb perceber, meaning to perceive, notice, or understand. It denotes an ongoing action of perception or a developing realization, and can function as a non-finite form in clauses to indicate simultaneity or progression, such as in judgments that are forming as new information is received.

Etymology: Perceber comes from Latin percipere, meaning to seize, gain, or grasp. The gerund is formed by adding -ndo to the infinitive stem, yielding percebendo. The form is used across Portuguese varieties to express ongoing perception or awareness.

Grammatical use: In Portuguese, the gerund expresses a progressive aspect alongside estar or other auxiliary verbs, though in formal European Portuguese there is a tendency to avoid continuous gerunds and use simple forms instead. In Brazilian Portuguese, estar percebendo or vai percebendo is common to indicate ongoing perception or realization. The gerund can introduce clauses that describe a developing understanding, as in perceber que havia um problema, ele interrompeu a reunião. It can also appear in adverbial or sequential contexts, conveying action occurring while something else happens. The semantic range includes noticing something in real time or realizing gradually.

See also: Perceber, Percepção, Percebimento, Percebido.