dépassaient

Dépassaient is the imperfect indicative form of the French verb dépasser, used for the third person plural (ils/elles). The meaning depends on context, generally translating to “they were surpassing,” “they exceeded,” or “they were going beyond.” It denotes an action or a state that occurred over an extended period in the past, or a recurring past activity in narrative or descriptive prose.

Grammatical notes: Dépassaient comes from the stem dépass- combined with the imperfect endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. As a finite verb form, it requires a plural subject and appears in clauses of narration, description, or statement about the past. In literature, the imperfect can also convey a sense of simultaneity or gradual progression.

Semantic range: The verb dépasser encompasses several related senses: to overtake someone or something (in a race or line), to go beyond a limit or boundary (such as rules, expectations, or capacities), and to exceed previous records or forecasts. Common collocations include dépasser les limites, dépasser les attentes, dépasser les records, et dépasser quelqu’un en vitesse ou en distance.

Usage notes: Dépassaient is frequently found in historical or narrative contexts, as well as in analytical writing describing trends or changes over time. In everyday speech, speakers often choose the present or the passé composé for more immediate or completed past actions (dépassent, ont dépassé), while l’imparfait with dépassaient retains a sense of ongoing or habitual past activity.

Etymology: Dépasser derives from dé- plus passer, with the prefix dé- indicating going beyond, and the root meaning related to passing. The combination yields the sense of crossing beyond a boundary, which extended to figurative meanings such as surpassing or exceeding. See also related verbs such as dépasser, outré, or outrepasser in appropriate contexts.