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

Introduction to the verb déclouer

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The English translation of the French verb déclouer is “to unfasten” or “to remove nails.” The infinitive form, déclouer, is pronounced as “day-kloo-ay.”

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Déclouer is derived from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (meaning “to undo” or “to reverse”) and the verb “clouer” (meaning “to nail” or “to fasten with nails”). It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of removing nails or unfastening something that has been nailed or fastened.

Examples:

Je vais déclouer les planches du mur. (I am going to unfasten the planks from the wall.)
Il a décloué les affiches après la réunion. (He removed the posters after the meeting.)
On doit déclouer les vieux panneaux avant de les remplacer. (We need to remove the old panels before replacing them.)

Déclouer – 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 déclouer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	décloue	Je décloue	I unfasten
tu	décloues	Tu décloues	You unfasten
il	décloue	Il décloue	He unfastens
elle	décloue	Elle décloue	She unfastens
on	décloue	On décloue	One unfastens
nous	déclouons	Nous déclouons	We unfasten
vous	déclouez	Vous déclouez	You unfasten
ils	déclouent	Ils déclouent	They unfasten
elles	déclouent	Elles déclouent	They unfasten