Dépasseraient

Dépasseraient is the third-person plural form of the French verb dépasser in the present conditional mood. The base verb dépasser means to surpass, exceed, or go beyond. The conditional present endings for -er verbs yield dépasseraient, corresponding to ils/elles dépasseraient. This form is used to express actions that would occur under certain conditions, or to discuss hypothetical outcomes.

Morphology and construction: dépasser plus the conditional endings -aient for the third person plural. In spoken and written French, dé́passeraient appears in clauses that express hypothesis, probability, or polite or cautious statements about what could happen. It can appear in main clauses or in subordinate clauses introduced by si, especially in a si-imparfait condition: if the condition were met, the result would occur.

Usage: The conditional present conveys hypothetical or contingent meaning. It is common in forecasting, planning, and analysis when discussing potential results if circumstances change. It can also be used to soften assertions or to present tentative outcomes in a careful, non- assertive tone.

Examples:

- Si les ventes augmentaient, elles dépasseraient les prévisions.

- Ils dépasseraient largement les limites si la demande restait élevée.

Etymology: the prefix dé- combined with partir from passer, via dépasser, signals going beyond a boundary or expectation. The conditional form deribes a hypothetical scenario rather than a definite past event.