Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Introduction to the verb compenser
The English translation of the French verb “compenser” is “to compensate.” The infinitive form of “compenser” is pronounced as kɔ̃.pɑ̃.se.
The word “compenser” has its origins in Latin, coming from the word “compensare,” which means “to weigh one thing against another.” In everyday French, it is commonly used in the imparfait tense to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past.
Here are three simple examples of “compenser” used in the imparfait tense, along with their English translations:
-
Je compensais mes erreurs en travaillant plus dur.
(I was compensating for my mistakes by working harder.) -
Nous compensions notre manque de temps en organisant des réunions plus fréquentes.
(We were compensating for our lack of time by arranging more frequent meetings.) -
Ils compensaient leur stress en pratiquant le yoga.
(They were compensating for their stress by practicing yoga.)
These examples demonstrate how “compenser” is used in the imparfait tense to describe actions that were habitually or continuously taking place in the past, indicating ongoing efforts made to compensate for something.
Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of compenser
Pronoun | Conjugation | Short Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
je | compensais | Je compensais mes erreurs. | I was compensating for my mistakes. |
tu | compensais | Tu compensais ton manque d’expérience. | You were compensating for your lack of experience. |
il | compensait | Il compensait ses défauts. | He was compensating for his flaws. |
elle | compensait | Elle compensait sa timidité. | She was compensating for her shyness. |
on | compensait | On compensait nos pertes. | We were compensating for our losses. |
nous | compensions | Nous compensions nos dépenses. | We were compensating for our expenses. |
vous | compensiez | Vous compensiez vos efforts. | You were compensating for your efforts. |
ils | compensaient | Ils compensaient leurs faiblesses. | They were compensating for their weaknesses. |
elles | compensaient | Elles compensaient leur manque de confiance. | They were compensating for their lack of confidence. |
Other Conjugations for Compenser.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser (You’re reading it right now!)
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compenser
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Compenser – About the French Imparfait Tense
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
For regular -er verbs:
For regular -ir verbs
For regular -re verbs
Common Everyday Usage Patterns
Description of Past Habits
Background Information
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
Points to Note About the Imparfait Tense
Passé Composé vs. Imparfait
Conditional
Si Clauses
Narration
I hope you enjoyed this article on the verb compenser. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb imparfait conjugation!