Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb claquer

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb claquer

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The English translation of the French verb “claquer” is “to slam” or “to snap.” The infinitive form of “claquer” is pronounced as “klah-kay.”

The word “claquer” has its origins in the Latin word “clancare,” meaning “to make a loud noise.” In everyday French, “claquer” is commonly used in the imparfait tense to express repeated or ongoing actions in the past. It can also convey a sense of suddenness or intensity.

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

  1. Les portes claquaient chaque fois que le vent soufflait. (The doors would slam every time the wind blew.)
  2. Pendant l’orage, les volets claquaient violemment. (During the storm, the shutters were slamming loudly.)
  3. Les vagues claquaient contre la rive avec force. (The waves were crashing against the shore forcefully.)

In these examples, the imparfait tense is used to describe a repetitive action or a continuous state in the past, emphasizing the sound or force of the slamming.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of claquer

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je claquais Je claquais la porte. I was slamming the door.
tu claquais Tu claquais des doigts. You were snapping your fingers.
il claquait Il claquait des dents. He was chattering his teeth.
elle claquait Elle claquait la fenêtre. She was slamming the window.
on claquait On claquait des mains. We were clapping.
nous claquions Nous claquions des bises. We were giving air kisses.
vous claquiez Vous claquiez la langue. You were clicking your tongue.
ils claquaient Ils claquaient des talons. They were stomping their heels.
elles claquaient Elles claquaient des fouets. They were cracking whips.

Other Conjugations for Claquer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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