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

Introduction to the verb décimer

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The English translation of the French verb décimer is “to decimate.” It is pronounced as “day-see-may.”

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“Décimer” originates from the Latin word “decimare,” which means “to kill one-tenth.” In everyday French, it is most commonly used to describe the action of destroying or killing a large portion of something or someone.

La maladie a décimé la population du village.
(The disease decimated the village population.)
La guerre a décimé l’armée ennemie.
(The war decimated the enemy army.)
L’ouragan a décimé les récoltes dans la région.
(The hurricane decimated the crops in the region.)

Décimer – 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 décimer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	décime	Je décime mes ennemis.	I decimate my enemies.
Tu	décimes	Tu décimes les mauvaises herbes.	You decimate the weeds.
Il	décime	Il décime la population.	He decimates the population.
Elle	décime	Elle décime les rangs ennemis.	She decimates the enemy ranks.
On	décime	On décime la forêt.	One decimates the forest.
Nous	décimons	Nous décimons nos adversaires.	We decimate our opponents.
Vous	décimez	Vous décimez la concurrence.	You decimate the competition.
Ils	déciment	Ils déciment les villages.	They decimate the villages.
Elles	déciment	Elles déciment les ressources naturelles.	They decimate the natural resources.