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FRENCH VERB

dépasser

to overtake, to go past

  • #264 most used
  • Regular -er verb
  • Past participle: dépassé
  • Present participle: dépassant

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

  1. je I overtake
  2. tu you overtake
  3. il, elle, on he/she overtakes
  4. nous we overtake
  5. vous you overtake
  6. ils, elles they overtake

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

  1. je I overtook
  2. tu you overtook
  3. il, elle, on he/she overtook
  4. nous we overtook
  5. vous you overtook
  6. ils, elles they overtook

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. je I used to overtake
  2. tu you used to overtake
  3. il, elle, on he/she used to overtake
  4. nous we used to overtake
  5. vous you used to overtake
  6. ils, elles they used to overtake

Future

Futur simple · plans; in speech, “je vais parler” is just as common

  1. je I will overtake
  2. tu you will overtake
  3. il, elle, on he/she will overtake
  4. nous we will overtake
  5. vous you will overtake
  6. ils, elles they will overtake

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

  1. je I would overtake
  2. tu you would overtake
  3. il, elle, on he/she would overtake
  4. nous we would overtake
  5. vous you would overtake
  6. ils, elles they would overtake

Present subjunctive

Subjonctif présent · wishes, doubts, “il faut que …”

  1. je (that) I overtake
  2. tu (that) you overtake
  3. il, elle, on (that) he/she overtake
  4. nous (that) we overtake
  5. vous (that) you overtake
  6. ils, elles (that) they overtake

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

  1. tu overtake!
  2. nous overtake! (let’s)
  3. vous overtake! (plural, or formal)

How to use dépasser

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Ce camion dépasse tout le monde sur l'autoroute.

    That lorry is overtaking everyone on the motorway.

  2. Past

    On a dépassé la sortie, il faut faire demi-tour.

    We've gone past the exit, we need to turn around.

  3. Imperfect

    Il dépassait toujours dans les virages, ça me faisait peur.

    He always overtook on bends, it scared me.

  4. Future

    Le prix ne dépassera pas cent euros, promis.

    The price won't go over a hundred euros, promise.

  5. Conditional

    Je ne dépasserais pas ce vélo, la route est étroite.

    I wouldn't overtake that bike, the road is narrow.

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il ne faut pas que tu dépasses la ligne blanche.

    You mustn't cross the white line.

  7. Imperative

    Dépasse-le maintenant, la route est libre.

    Overtake him now, the road is clear.

Good to know

  • Dépasser une voiture, un budget; ça me dépasse means it's beyond me.

Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: regular -er verb.