Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Introduction to the verb chanceler
The English translation of the French verb “chanceler” is “to waver” or “to stagger.” The infinitive form of chanceler is pronounced as “shahn-suh-leh.”
The word “chanceler” has its origins in the Old French word “chenceler” which meant “to swing” or “to sway.” It is derived from the Latin word “cancellus” meaning “lattice” or “grating.” In everyday French, the verb chanceler is commonly used in the imparfait tense to describe an ongoing or repeated action in the past.
Here are three simple examples of chanceler in the imparfait tense:
- Je chancelais en marchant sur le sol glissant. (I was wavering while walking on the slippery ground.)
- Tu chancelais sous le poids du sac. (You were staggering under the weight of the bag.)
- Ils chancelaient après une longue nuit de fête. (They were wavering after a long night of partying.)
English translations:
- I was wavering while walking on the slippery ground.
- You were staggering under the weight of the bag.
- They were wavering after a long night of partying.
Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of chanceler
Pronoun | Conjugation | Short Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
je | chancelais | Je chancelais en marchant. | I was staggering while walking. |
tu | chancelais | Tu chancelais après avoir bu. | You were swaying after drinking. |
il | chancelait | Il chancelait sous l’effet de la fatigue. | He was staggering due to fatigue. |
elle | chancelait | Elle chancelait à cause du vertige. | She was swaying because of dizziness. |
on | chancelait | On chancelait en traversant la rue. | We were staggering while crossing the street. |
nous | chancelions | Nous chancelions de sommeil. | We were staggering from sleepiness. |
vous | chanceliez | Vous chanceliez après une longue journée. | You were swaying after a long day. |
ils | chancelaient | Ils chancelaient sous le poids du sac. | They were staggering under the weight of the bag. |
elles | chancelaient | Elles chancelaient à cause de l’émotion. | They were swaying due to emotion. |
Other Conjugations for Chanceler.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler (You’re reading it right now!)
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler
Struggling with French verbs or the language in general? Why not use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!
Get a FREE Download Study Sheet of this Conjugation 🔥
Simply right click the image below, click “save image” and get your free reference for the chanceler imparfait tense conjugation!
Chanceler – 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 chanceler. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!