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

Introduction to the verb dépointer

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The English translation of the French verb dépointer is “to clock out” or “to punch out”. The infinitive form dépointer is pronounced as “day-pwan-tey”.

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Dépointer originates from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (indicating the reversal of an action) and the verb “pointer” (meaning “to clock in”). It is most often used in everyday French to refer to the action of officially recording the time when one finishes work by using a time clock or a designated system.

Examples:

Je dois dépointer à 18h ce soir. (I have to clock out at 6 pm tonight.)
Il a oublié de dépointer hier soir. (He forgot to punch out last night.)
Nous devons dépointer avant de partir en vacances. (We have to clock out before going on vacation.)

Dépointer – 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 dépointer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	dépointe	Je dépointe le stylo.	I unmark the pen.
Tu	dépointes	Tu dépointes le papier.	You unmark the paper.
Il	dépointe	Il dépointe le document.	He unmarks the document.
Elle	dépointe	Elle dépointe le dessin.	She unmarks the drawing.
On	dépointe	On dépointe le tableau.	One unmarks the board.
Nous	dépointons	Nous dépointons les pages.	We unmark the pages.
Vous	dépointez	Vous dépointez les articles.	You unmark the articles.
Ils	dépointent	Ils dépointent les livres.	They unmark the books.
Elles	dépointent	Elles dépointent les mots.	They unmark the words.