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

Introduction to the verb dépénaliser

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The English translation of the French verb dépénaliser is “to decriminalize.” The infinitive form, dépénaliser, is pronounced as “day-peh-nah-lee-zay.”

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The word dépénaliser comes from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (meaning “to undo” or “to remove”) and the word “pénaliser” (meaning “to penalize” or “to punish”). In everyday French, dépénaliser is used to refer to the act of removing legal penalties or sanctions associated with a particular offense or behavior.

Examples of usage:

Les autorités ont décidé de dépénaliser la consommation de cannabis.
(The authorities have decided to decriminalize cannabis consumption.)
Certains pays ont commencé à dépénaliser l’avortement.
(Some countries have begun to decriminalize abortion.)
Il est temps de dépénaliser les drogues douces et de privilégier la prévention.
(It is time to decriminalize soft drugs and prioritize prevention.)

Dépénaliser – 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 dépénaliser

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	dépénalise	Je dépénalise la consommation de cannabis.	I decriminalize cannabis consumption.
Tu	dépénalises	Tu dépénalises la vente d’alcool.	You decriminalize alcohol sales.
Il	dépénalise	Il dépénalise la possession de drogues douces.	He decriminalizes soft drug possession.
Elle	dépénalise	Elle dépénalise la prostitution.	She decriminalizes prostitution.
On	dépénalise	On dépénalise l’usage des stupéfiants.	One decriminalizes drug use.
Nous	dépénalisons	Nous dépénalisons le vol à l’étalage.	We decriminalize shoplifting.
Vous	dépénalisez	Vous dépénalisez le téléchargement illégal.	You decriminalize illegal downloading.
Ils	dépénalisent	Ils dépénalisent l’euthanasie.	They decriminalize euthanasia.
Elles	dépénalisent	Elles dépénalisent l’abandon d’animaux.	They decriminalize animal abandonment.