Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb clairsemer

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb clairsemer

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of clairsemer. 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 “clairsemer” is “to scatter” or “to sow lightly.” The pronunciation of the infinitive form “clairsemer” is [klɛʀsəme].

The word “clairsemer” originated from the combination of two French words: “clair” (clear) and “semer” (to sow). It is typically used to describe the action of scattering seeds lightly or sparsely over an area.

In everyday French, the verb “clairsemer” in the imparfait tense is commonly used to talk about past habitual or ongoing actions. It sets the scene or describes an ongoing situation in the past.

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

  1. Chaque printemps, je clairsemais des graines de fleurs dans mon jardin.
    (Every spring, I would scatter flower seeds in my garden.)

  2. Nous clairsemissions les pétales de roses sur le chemin du mariage.
    (We were scattering rose petals on the wedding path.)

  3. L’agriculteur clairsemaient les graines sur le champ pour favoriser une croissance régulière.
    (The farmer was scattering the seeds in the field to promote even growth.)

Note: The translations provided are not literal, but rather intended to convey the meaning in English.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of clairsemer

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je clairsemais Je clairsemais les plantes. I was thinning out the plants.
tu clairsemais Tu clairsemais le champ. You were clearing the field.
il clairsemait Il clairsemait les arbres. He was thinning out the trees.
elle clairsemait Elle clairsemait le jardin. She was clearing the garden.
on clairsemait On clairsemait les herbes. We were thinning out the herbs.
nous clairsemions Nous clairsemions le potager. We were clearing the vegetable garden.
vous clairsemiez Vous clairsemiez les fleurs. You were thinning out the flowers.
ils clairsemaient Ils clairsemaient les cultures. They were clearing the crops.
elles clairsemaient Elles clairsemaient les buissons. They were thinning out the bushes.

Other Conjugations for Clairsemer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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