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

Introduction to the verb dépaver

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to remove pavement; [dey-pa-vey]; The verb dépaver comes from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (meaning “un-” or “dis-“) and the verb “paver” (meaning “to pave”). In everyday French, it is most often used to describe the action of removing or taking up pavement.

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Examples of usage:

Ils ont dépavé la rue pour permettre la plantation d’arbres.
English translation: They removed the pavement from the street to allow tree planting.
La municipalité a décidé de dépaver certaines zones pour encourager les déplacements à vélo.
English translation: The municipality decided to remove pavement in certain areas to promote cycling.
Nous avons entamé un projet de dépavage dans notre quartier afin de créer des espaces verts.
English translation: We started a depaving project in our neighborhood to create green spaces.

Dépaver – 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 dépaver

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	dépave	Je dépave la rue.	I pave the street.
Tu	dépaves	Tu dépaves le chemin.	You pave the path.
Il	dépave	Il dépave la route.	He paves the road.
Elle	dépave	Elle dépave le trottoir.	She paves the sidewalk.
On	dépave	On dépave la chaussée.	One/We pave the roadway.
Nous	dépavons	Nous dépavons l’allée.	We pave the driveway.
Vous	dépavez	Vous dépavez l’avenue.	You pave the avenue.
Ils	dépavent	Ils dépavent le boulevard.	They pave the boulevard.
Elles	dépavent	Elles dépavent la voie.	They pave the lane.