studiando

Studiando is the present participle, or gerund, of the Italian verb studiare, meaning to study. The form is created by adding -ando to the verb stem (studi- → studiando). It functions as a non-finite verb form that expresses ongoing or simultaneous action and is commonly used to convey the progressive aspect in combination with the auxiliary essere.

In ordinary speech, studiando is used with forms of essere to indicate that someone is currently engaged in studying, as in sto studiando italiano (I am studying Italian), stai studiando per l’esame? (are you studying for the exam?). As a gerund, it can also introduce subordinate clauses that describe concurrent actions or circumstances, for example: Studiando l’italiano da due mesi, hai fatto progressi (Having studied Italian for two months, you have made progress).

The gerund is invariable for gender and number; it does not change to reflect the subject. It can appear at the beginning or the end of a sentence to connect actions, as in Camminando per la città, incontrò un amico (Walking through the city, he met a friend). It may also express manner or situation, such as: Studiando per ore, ha imparato molto.

Etymology traces studiando to Latin studium, the root of words such as studio and studente. In Italian, the gerund is distinct from the past participle and is generally preferred for non-finite constructions, whereas more formal or written Italian often uses explicit subordinate clauses with mentre or durante.

See also: studiare, studio, gerundio.