Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chaponner

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb chaponner

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of chaponner. 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 “chaponner” is “to caponize” or “to castrate.” The infinitive form “chaponner” is pronounced as “sha-poh-ˈneh.”

The word “chaponner” derives from the noun “chapon,” which refers to a capon, a castrated cockerel. In everyday French, the verb “chaponner” is most often used in the imparfait tense to describe past habitual actions or ongoing actions in the past. The imparfait tense indicates an incomplete action that was happening in the past.

Here are three simple examples of how “chaponner” is used in the imparfait tense:

  1. Chaque printemps, mon grand-père chaponnait les coqs du poulailler.
    (Every spring, my grandfather would caponize the roosters in the chicken coop.)

  2. Pendant des années, les fermiers chaponnaient les poussins pour leur viande plus tendre.
    (For years, farmers would caponize the chicks for their tender meat.)

  3. L’éleveur de volailles chaponnait régulièrement les mâles pour améliorer la qualité des œufs.
    (The poultry breeder would regularly castrate the males to improve the quality of the eggs.)

English translations:

  1. Every spring, my grandfather would caponize the roosters in the chicken coop.
  2. For years, farmers would caponize the chicks for their tender meat.
  3. The poultry breeder would regularly castrate the males to improve the quality of the eggs.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of chaponner

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je chaponnais Je chaponnais les volailles. I used to caponize the poultry.
tu chaponnais Tu chaponnais les coqs. You used to caponize the roosters.
il chaponnait Il chaponnait les animaux. He used to caponize the animals.
elle chaponnait Elle chaponnait les poules. She used to caponize the hens.
on chaponnait On chaponnait les dindes. We used to caponize the turkeys.
nous chaponnions Nous chaponnions les oies. We used to caponize the geese.
vous chaponniez Vous chaponniez les canards. You used to caponize the ducks.
ils chaponnaient Ils chaponnaient les pigeons. They used to caponize the pigeons.
elles chaponnaient Elles chaponnaient les pintades. They used to caponize the guinea fowls.

Other Conjugations for Chaponner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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