Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chloroformer

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb chloroformer

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of chloroformer. 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 “chloroformer” is “to chloroform.” The pronunciation of the infinitive form “chloroformer” in French is [kloʁɔfɔʁme].

The word “chloroformer” has its origins in the French language. It is derived from the noun “chloroforme” (chloroform), which comes from the Greek words “chlōros” (pale green) and “phormē” (form). Chloroform is a chemical compound known for its anesthetic properties.

In everyday French, the verb “chloroformer” is primarily used in the imparfait tense to describe continuous or repeated actions in the past. The imparfait tense often conveys a sense of background information, habits, or ongoing situations in the past.

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

  1. Je chloroformais le lapin chaque soir. (I used to chloroform the rabbit every evening.)
  2. Tu le chloroformais pour l’empêcher de crier. (You used to chloroform him to prevent him from screaming.)
  3. Il/Elle chloroformait les victimes avant de les kidnapper. (He/She used to chloroform the victims before kidnapping them.)

Please note that the examples provided depict a dark context involving the use of chloroform. This verb is typically associated with anesthesia or illegal activities, and its usage should be approached with caution and sensitivity.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of chloroformer

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je chloroformais Je chloroformais les rats. I was chloroforming the rats.
tu chloroformais Tu chloroformais les insectes. You were chloroforming the insects.
il chloroformait Il chloroformait ses victimes. He was chloroforming his victims.
elle chloroformait Elle chloroformait les patients. She was chloroforming the patients.
on chloroformait On chloroformait les animaux. We were chloroforming the animals.
nous chloroformions Nous chloroformions les cobayes. We were chloroforming the guinea pigs.
vous chloroformiez Vous chloroformiez les suspects. You were chloroforming the suspects.
ils chloroformaient Ils chloroformaient les ennemis. They were chloroforming the enemies.
elles chloroformaient Elles chloroformaient les proies. They were chloroforming the preys.

Other Conjugations for Chloroformer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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