Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Introduction to the verb débrailler
The English translation of the French verb “débrailler” is “to unfasten” or “to unhook.” The pronunciation of the infinitive form “débrailler” is [deh-bra-yay].
The word “débrailler” originates from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (which indicates an action of undoing or separation) and the noun “brailler” (which means a hook or a clasp). It is most often used in everyday French in the imparfait tense (imperfect tense), which describes ongoing or repeated actions in the past. The imparfait tense is also used to describe past habits, ongoing states, or background information.
Here are three simple examples of its usage in the imparfait tense, along with their respective English translations:
-
Chaque matin, je débraillais mes cheveux pour me coiffer.
(Every morning, I unfastened my hair to style it.) -
Quand il rentrait de l’école, il débraillait sa cravate sans même y penser.
(When he came home from school, he would unhook his tie without even thinking about it.) -
Nous débraillions régulièrement les boutons de notre veste pour plus de confort.
(We would regularly unfasten the buttons of our jacket for more comfort.)
Note: The imparfait tense implies an ongoing or repeated action in the past, so the translation of débrailler may vary depending on the context.
Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of débrailler
Pronoun | Conjugation | Short Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
je | débraillais | Je débraillais ma chemise. | I was unbuttoning my shirt. |
tu | débraillais | Tu débraillais tes cheveux. | You were messing up your hair. |
il | débraillait | Il débraillait son col. | He was loosening his collar. |
elle | débraillait | Elle débraillait sa jupe. | She was unfastening her skirt. |
on | débraillait | On débraillait son chapeau. | We were loosening our hat. |
nous | débraillions | Nous débraillions nos lacets. | We were untying our shoelaces. |
vous | débrailliez | Vous débrailliez votre cravate. | You were loosening your tie. |
ils | débraillaient | Ils débraillaient leur veste. | They were unbuttoning their jacket. |
elles | débraillaient | Elles débraillaient leur chemisier. | They were unfastening their blouse. |
Other Conjugations for Débrailler.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler (You’re reading it right now!)
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
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Débrailler – 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 débrailler. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!