Rule reminder

The gerund can express manner/mode (modal function), time (temporal), cause, or condition. A gerund is MODAL when it answers 'How?' or 'In what way?' with reference to the main action. Examples: 'Ha risposto sorridendo' (= he answered smiling — HOW did he answer?). 'Essendo stanco, non è uscito' = causal (BECAUSE he was tired). 'Correndo, arriverai in tempo' = conditional (IF you run). 'Stava leggendo quando squillò il telefono' = progressive/temporal.