Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb décatir

Introduction to the verb décatir

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The English translation of the French verb décatir is “to fade/diminish.” It is pronounced as “day-ka-teer” in its infinitive form.

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The word décatir comes from the Old French word “décadir” which means “to break down” or “to spoil.” In everyday French, it is commonly used to describe the fading or deterioration of something, whether it be a physical object or an abstract concept.

Examples:

Les couleurs du tableau ont décati après des années accroché au soleil. (The colors in the painting faded after years of being hung in the sun.)
Le souvenir de cet événement a peu à peu décati dans ma mémoire. (The memory of that event slowly faded in my mind.)
Le restaurant a décati en popularité depuis l’ouverture d’un nouveau concurrent. (The restaurant has diminished in popularity since a new competitor opened.)

Décatir – About the French Present Tense

The French present tense, also known as “le présent,” is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for actions that are habitual, general truths, or that will occur in the near future. It’s the most basic and common tense in French.

To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Common Everyday Usage Patterns For Le Present

1. Describing Actions in the Present: The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or at the moment of speaking. For example: “Je parle avec mon ami” (I am talking to my friend).

2. Expressing Habits and Routines: The present tense is used to talk about habitual actions or routines. For example: “Je travaille tous les jours” (I work every day).

3. Stating General Truths: The present tense is used to express general truths or facts. For example: “La Terre tourne autour du soleil” (The Earth orbits around the sun).

4. Talking about Near Future: The present tense can be used to express future actions that are very imminent or part of a planned schedule. For example: “Je pars demain matin” (I am leaving tomorrow morning).

Interactions with Other Tenses

– Present vs. Future Tense: In some cases, the French present tense can be used to express the future when the context makes it clear that the action is imminent. However, for actions further in the future or less certain, the future tense is typically used.

– Present vs. Past Tenses: To describe actions that occurred in the past, you would use the past tenses like the passé composé (compound past) or the imparfait (imperfect). The choice between these past tenses depends on the specific aspect and circumstances of the past action.

– Present vs. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense is used to express actions that are dependent on a condition. If a condition is met, the action may happen. The present tense is used for actions in the present, while the conditional is used for hypothetical or future actions based on conditions.

– Present vs. Imperative: The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The present tense is used for general statements, and the imperative is used for direct orders or requests.

Understanding the French present tense and its interactions with other tenses is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, you cannot become proficient!

Table of the Present Tense Conjugation of décatir

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	je décatis	Je décatie facilement.	I lose weight easily.
Tu	tu décatis	Tu décaties trop vite.	You lose weight too quickly.
Il	il décatit	Il décatit en mangeant sainement.	He loses weight by eating healthily.
Elle	elle décatit	Elle décatit avec un programme d’exercice.	She loses weight with an exercise program.
On	on décatit	On décatit en faisant du sport.	We lose weight by exercising.
Nous	nous décatissons	Nous nous décatissons ensemble.	We lose weight together.
Vous	vous décatissez	Vous décatissez en suivant un régime.	You lose weight by following a diet.
Ils	ils décatissent	Ils décatissent pour un événement spécial.	They lose weight for a special event.
Elles	elles décatissent	Elles décatissent pour se sentir mieux dans leur peau.	They lose weight to feel better in their skin.