Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb camoufler

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb camoufler

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of camoufler. 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 “camoufler” is “to camouflage.” The infinitive form, “camoufler,” is pronounced as [ka.muf.le].

The word “camoufler” has its origins in the French noun “camouflage,” which is derived from the verb “camouflet,” meaning “to blow smoke in someone’s face.” It was originally used in a military context to refer to the act of concealing soldiers or equipment to blend in with the environment and deceive the enemy.

In everyday French, “camoufler” is primarily used in the imparfait tense to describe ongoing or repeated camouflage actions in the past. The imparfait tense is used to express habitual actions, background information, or descriptions in the past.

Here are three examples of “camoufler” in the imparfait tense, along with their English translations:

  1. Je camouflais ma voiture tous les jours. (I used to camouflage my car every day.)
  2. Pendant la guerre, ils camouflaient leurs positions avec des filets. (During the war, they would camouflage their positions with nets.)
  3. Les animaux se camouflaient dans la forêt pour se protéger. (The animals would camouflage themselves in the forest to protect themselves.)

Note: The translations provided are not literal word-for-word translations but rather convey the meaning of the sentences in English.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of camoufler

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je camouflais Je me camouflais dans les buissons. I was camouflaging myself in the bushes.
tu camouflais Tu camouflais tes intentions. You were disguising your intentions.
il camouflait Il camouflait sa présence. He was hiding his presence.
elle camouflait Elle camouflait ses émotions. She was concealing her emotions.
on camouflait On camouflait nos traces. We were hiding our tracks.
nous camouflions Nous camouflions nos véhicules. We were camouflaging our vehicles.
vous camoufliez Vous camoufliez vos affaires. You were camouflaging your belongings.
ils camouflaient Ils camouflaient leur identité. They were disguising their identity.
elles camouflaient Elles camouflaient leurs intentions. They were concealing their intentions.

Other Conjugations for Camoufler.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Camoufler – 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 camoufler. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!

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