The English present participle is very simple: it is the -ing form of a verb. The formation of the French present participle is also simple. For regular and all but three irregular verbs, the French present participle is formed by dropping -ons from the nous form of the present tense and adding -ant.
verb
parler
finir
rendre
voir
nous form
parlons
finissons
rendons
voyons
present participle
parlant
finissant
rendant
voyant
The three exceptions are
verb
avoir
être
savoir
present participle
ayant
étant
sachant*
*Savoir has different forms for the present participle used as a verb and as a noun or adjective; see present participle spelling changes
Pronominal verbs keep the reflexive pronoun in front of the present participle.
se laver
se lavant
me coiffer
me coiffant
The French present participle can be used as a(n)
adjective or noun
verb or gerund
Present participle spelling changes