Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Introduction to the verb différer
The English translation of the French verb “différer” is “to differ” or “to be different.” The infinitive form “différer” is pronounced as dee-fay-ray.
The verb “différer” is derived from the Latin word “differre,” meaning “to differ” or “to postpone.” In everyday French, it is commonly used in the imparfait tense to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past.
Here are three examples of “différer” in the imparfait tense, along with their English translations:
- Chaque jour, nos opinions différaient. (Every day, our opinions differed.)
- Les deux sœurs se ressemblaient, mais leurs caractères différaient beaucoup. (The two sisters looked alike, but their personalities differed greatly.)
- Les résultats des étudiants différaient d’un examen à l’autre. (The students’ results differed from one exam to another.)
In these examples, “différer” is used to express ongoing or repeated actions in the past, showcasing differences or variations between people, opinions, or circumstances.
Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of différer
Pronoun | Conjugation | Short Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
je | différais | Je différais mes décisions. | I was deferring my decisions. |
tu | différais | Tu différais ton jugement. | You were deferring your judgment. |
il | différait | Il différait de sa famille. | He was differing from his family. |
elle | différait | Elle différait de ses amis. | She was differing from her friends. |
on | différait | On différait notre voyage. | We were deferring our trip. |
nous | différions | Nous différions nos projets. | We were deferring our plans. |
vous | différiez | Vous différiez votre réponse. | You were deferring your answer. |
ils | différaient | Ils différaient de leurs concurrents. | They were differing from their competitors. |
elles | différaient | Elles différaient de leurs collègues. | They were differing from their colleagues. |
Other Conjugations for Différer.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer (You’re reading it right now!)
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb différer
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Différer – About the French Imparfait Tense
NOTE: To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.
Formation of the Imparfait Tense
For regular -er verbs:
For regular -ir verbs
For regular -re verbs
Common Everyday Usage Patterns
Description of Past Habits
Background Information
Mental and Emotional States
It’s employed to express emotions, thoughts, or physical sensations in the past. For example: “J’étais content quand il est arrivé.” (I was happy when he arrived.)
Ongoing Actions
Points to Note About the Imparfait Tense
Passé Composé vs. Imparfait
Conditional
Si Clauses
Narration
I hope you enjoyed this article on the verb différer. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!