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

Introduction to the verb épucer

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The English translation of the French verb épucer is “to comb through” or “to clean thoroughly.” It is pronounced as “ay-poo-say” in its infinitive form.

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The word épucer comes from the Old French word “epuiser” meaning “to pick out.” In everyday French, it is most often used in a figurative sense to describe the action of carefully examining or removing unwanted elements from something.

Examples:

J’ai passé des heures à épucer mon CV avant de l’envoyer aux recruteurs. (I spent hours combing through my resume before sending it to recruiters.)
Elle a épucé le texte pour éliminer toutes les erreurs de grammaire. (She combed through the text to eliminate all grammar mistakes.)
Il faut épucer les vêtements avant de les mettre dans la machine à laver. (You need to thoroughly check clothes before putting them in the washing machine.)

Épucer – 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 épucer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	j’épuce	Je j’épuce mon chat.	I comb my cat.
tu	tu épuces	Tu épuces ton chien.	You comb your dog.
il	il épuce	Il épuce son cheval.	He combs his horse.
elle	elle épuce	Elle épuce ses cheveux.	She combs her hair.
on	on épuce	On épuce nos animaux.	We comb our animals.
nous	nous épucions	Nous épucions nos poules.	We comb our chickens.
vous	vous épucez	Vous épucez vos moutons.	You comb your sheep.
ils	ils épucents	Ils épucents leurs vaches.	They comb their cows.
elles	elles épucent	Elles épucent leurs lapins.	They comb their rabbits.