Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb cloisonner

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb cloisonner

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of cloisonner. 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 “cloisonner” is “to partition” or “to compartmentalize.” The infinitive form “cloisonner” is pronounced as kloy-zoh-ney.

Cloisonner originates from the French word “cloison,” which means “partition.” It comes from the Latin word “claudere,” meaning “to close” or “to shut.” In everyday French, the verb “cloisonner” is commonly used in the imparfait tense to describe actions or situations that were ongoing or repeated in the past.

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

  1. Nous cloisonnions les différentes tâches pour mieux organiser le travail.
    (We were partitioning the different tasks to better organize the work.)

  2. Tu cloisonnais ta vie professionnelle et ta vie personnelle.
    (You were compartmentalizing your professional life and your personal life.)

  3. Ils cloisonnaient leurs émotions pour ne pas montrer leur tristesse.
    (They were partitioning their emotions to not show their sadness.)

These examples demonstrate how “cloisonner” is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, expressing the idea of partitioning or compartmentalizing different aspects of a situation.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of cloisonner

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je cloisonnais Je cloisonnais les différentes pièces. I was partitioning the different rooms.
tu cloisonnais Tu cloisonnais ton espace de travail. You were partitioning your workspace.
il cloisonnait Il cloisonnait les sections du jardin. He was partitioning the sections of the garden.
elle cloisonnait Elle cloisonnait la pièce en deux. She was partitioning the room in two.
on cloisonnait On cloisonnait les bureaux pour plus d’intimité. We were partitioning the offices for more privacy.
nous cloisonnions Nous cloisonnions les différentes zones. We were partitioning the different areas.
vous cloisonniez Vous cloisonniez les espaces de vie. You were partitioning the living spaces.
ils cloisonnaient Ils cloisonnaient les parties communes. They were partitioning the common areas.
elles cloisonnaient Elles cloisonnaient les chambres avec des rideaux. They were partitioning the rooms with curtains.

Other Conjugations for Cloisonner.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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