French Phrase
La fente de dépôt clignote la plupart du temps.
Meaning
The sentence states that the deposit slot (for example on an ATM or a vending machine) is blinking most of the time, indicating that it is often active or signalling a status. The verb ‘clignoter’ conveys a flashing light, and the expression ‘la plupart du temps’ qualifies the frequency.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to describe the behaviour of a machine’s deposit slot that frequently flashes, either to explain a problem to a technician or to inform a colleague about a recurring issue.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Lafentededépôtclignotelaplupartdutemps.
Article + Noun (La fente)
‘La’ is the feminine singular definite article that agrees with the noun ‘fente’ (slot).
Prepositional phrase (de dépôt)
‘de’ links two nouns; ‘dépôt’ functions as a complement meaning ‘of deposit’.
Verb conjugation (clignote)
‘clignoter’ is a regular -er verb; ‘clignote’ is the third‑person singular present tense.
Adverbial phrase (la plupart du temps)
A fixed expression meaning ‘most of the time’; note the singular ‘temps’ even though it refers to a duration.
Word order
In French, adverbial expressions of frequency usually follow the verb: ‘clignote la plupart du temps’.
🗨In Conversation
Pourquoi mon argent n'est pas sorti ?
Why didn’t my money come out?
La fente de dépôt clignote la plupart du temps, c’est peut‑être un problème de capteur.
The deposit slot blinks most of the time, it might be a sensor issue.
✕Common Mistakes
La fente de dépôt clignote la plupart des temps.
‘Temps’ stays singular in the fixed expression ‘la plupart du temps’. Using ‘des temps’ is incorrect.
La fente de dépôt clignotent la plupart du temps.
The subject ‘la fente’ is singular, so the verb must be ‘clignote’, not the plural ‘clignotent’.
La fente de la dépôt clignote la plupart du temps.
Do not add an article after ‘de’; the correct form is ‘de dépôt’, not ‘de la dépôt’.
↔Alternatives
Le lecteur de cartes clignote souvent.
The card reader blinks often.
La fente d’alimentation s’allume fréquemment.
The feed slot lights up frequently.
Le dispositif de dépôt clignote régulièrement.
The deposit device blinks regularly.
Cultural Tip
In French‑speaking countries, many public machines (ATMs, ticket dispensers, recycling kiosks) use a flashing light to signal that the slot is ready, that a paper jam has occurred, or that the machine is processing a transaction. Mentioning the blinking light is a quick way to convey a technical status without going into detailed jargon.