commençant

In a sentence

• Le jour commençant, nous pouvions sentir la fraîcheur de l'air.

  As the day started, we could feel the freshness of the air.

  In this sentence, 'commençant' is used as a present participle describing the day as it begins.

• La classe, commençant à s'intéresser au sujet, posait des questions.

  The class, starting to gain interest in the topic, was asking questions.

  Here, 'commençant' acts as a present participle indicating the initiating action of the class toward the subject.

• Elle remarqua un camarade commençant à lire un livre à côté d'elle.

  She noticed a classmate starting to read a book next to her.

  In this case, 'commençant' functions as a present participle emphasizing the ongoing action of beginning by the classmate.