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

Introduction to the verb dévaler

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The English translation of the French verb “dévaler” is “to rush down” or “to hurtle down”. The infinitive form “dévaler” is pronounced as “deh-vah-leh”.

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The word “dévaler” comes from the Old French word “valer”, meaning “to go down”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of descending rapidly or swiftly, usually down a slope or hill.

Examples:

Je dévale les escaliers pour attraper mon train.
(I rush down the stairs to catch my train.)
Les enfants dévalent la colline en criant de joie.
(The children hurtle down the hill, shouting with joy.)
Elle dévale la piste de ski avec assurance.
(She rushes down the ski slope confidently.)

Dévaler – 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 dévaler

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
Je	dévale	Je dévale la pente en ski.	I go down the slope skiing.
Tu	dévales	Tu dévales les escaliers rapidement.	You go down the stairs quickly.
Il	dévale	Il dévale la colline en courant.	He goes down the hill running.
Elle	dévale	Elle dévale la rue en skateboard.	She goes down the street skateboarding.
On	dévale	On dévale la montagne en VTT.	One goes down the mountain mountain biking.
Nous	dévalons	Nous dévalons la rivière en canoë.	We go down the river canoeing.
Vous	dévalez	Vous dévalez la piste en luge.	You go down the track sledging.
Ils	dévalent	Ils dévalent la falaise en rappel.	They go down the cliff abseiling.
Elles	dévalent	Elles dévalent les dunes en planche à voile.	They go down the sand dunes windsurfing.