Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb bûcher

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of bûcher. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb “bûcher” is “to study hard” or “to work hard.” The infinitive form “bûcher” is pronounced as [byʃe].

The word “bûcher” comes from the Latin “bucca,” meaning “cheek.” In the Middle Ages, it referred to the cheek of a pig, which was used to roast meat during bonfires. Over time, the term “bûcher” evolved to indicate the act of working hard or studying intensively.

In everyday French, the verb “bûcher” is often used in the imparfait tense to describe a habitual or ongoing action in the past. Here are three examples of its usage in the imparfait tense along with their English translations:

  1. Je bûchais tous les soirs pour mes examens.
    (I used to study hard every evening for my exams.)
  2. Pendant mes études, je bûchais régulièrement jusqu’à tard dans la nuit.
    (During my studies, I would work hard regularly until late at night.)
  3. Nous bûchions ensemble dans la bibliothèque tous les week-ends.
    (We used to study hard together in the library every weekend.)

Please note that the English translations are approximations and may vary depending on the context.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of bûcher

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je bûchais Je bûchais mes leçons. I was studying my lessons.
tu bûchais Tu bûchais toute la nuit. You were studying all night.
il bûchait Il bûchait pour ses examens. He was studying for his exams.
elle bûchait Elle bûchait dur. She was studying hard.
on bûchait On bûchait ensemble. We were studying together.
nous bûchions Nous bûchions depuis des heures. We were studying for hours.
vous bûchiez Vous bûchiez avec concentration. You were studying with concentration.
ils bûchaient Ils bûchaient sans relâche. They were studying tirelessly.
elles bûchaient Elles bûchaient pour obtenir de bonnes notes. They were studying to get good grades.

Other Conjugations for Bûcher.

Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher (You’re reading it right now!)

Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bûcher

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Bûcher – About the French Imparfait Tense

The French imparfait tense, often called the imperfect tense in English, is used to describe actions or states in the past. It’s primarily used to provide background information, set the scene, or describe habitual or ongoing actions in the past.

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

To form the imparfait tense in French, you typically take the present tense nous form of the verb, drop the -ons ending, and add specific endings based on the verb group (regular -er, -ir, -re verbs) or use irregular forms for certain verbs.  

For regular -er verbs:

Take the infinitive form (e.g., parler, finir, rendre) Remove the -er ending Add the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient 

For regular -ir verbs

Take the infinitive form (e.g., choisir, grandir, finir) Remove the -ir ending Add the imparfait endings: -issais, -issais, -issait, -issions, -issiez, -issaient 

For regular -re verbs

Take the infinitive form (e.g., vendre, attendre, entendre) Remove the -re ending Add the imparfait endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient

Common Everyday Usage Patterns

Description of Past Habits

The imparfait is often used to describe habitual actions or situations in the past. For example: “Quand j’étais enfant, je jouais au football tous les jours.” (When I was a child, I used to play football every day.) 

Background Information

It’s used to provide background information or set the stage for a main event in the past. For instance: “Il faisait beau ce jour-là.” (The weather was nice that day.) 

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

The imparfait describes actions that were in progress or happening when something else occurred in the past. For instance: “Je lisais un livre quand le téléphone a sonné.” (I was reading a book when the phone rang.)

Points to Note About the Imparfait Tense

Passé Composé vs. Imparfait

The imparfait and passé composé (a compound past tense) are often used together to express the completion of an action in the past (passé composé) and provide context or background (imparfait). For example: “Il regardait la télévision quand son ami est arrivé.” (He was watching TV when his friend arrived.) 

Conditional

The imparfait is used as the base for forming the conditional mood in French. For instance, “Je mangerais” (I would eat) is formed from “je mangeais” (I was eating). 

Si Clauses

In hypothetical or “if” clauses (si clauses), the imparfait is often used to express a condition in the past. For example: “Si j’avais de l’argent, j’achèterais une nouvelle voiture.” (If I had money, I would buy a new car.) 

Narration

In storytelling or writing, the imparfait is frequently used to set the scene and describe ongoing actions while the passé composé is used for specific events or actions that interrupted the ongoing ones.
Understanding the French imperfect tense is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, your conversations will always live in the present!

I hope you enjoyed this article on the verb bûcher. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!

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