Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Introduction to the verb constituer
The English translation of the French verb “constituer” is “to constitute” or “to form.” The infinitive form of “constituer” is pronounced as kɔ̃s.ti.tɥe.
The verb “constituer” originates from the Latin word “constituere,” meaning “to establish.” In everyday French, “constituer” is commonly used in the imparfait tense, which expresses ongoing or repeated actions in the past. It is often used to describe the formation or composition of something.
Here are three examples of “constituer” used in the imparfait tense, along with their English translations:
- Il constituait un groupe de travail tous les matins.
(He used to form a workgroup every morning.) - Nous constituions une équipe solide pour le projet.
(We were forming a strong team for the project.) - Les éléments constituaient la base de la chimie moderne.
(The elements constituted the foundation of modern chemistry.)
These examples illustrate the ongoing or repeated actions of forming a workgroup, creating a team, and establishing the foundation in the past.
Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of constituer
Pronoun | Conjugation | Short Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
je | constituais | Je constituais une équipe. | I was forming a team. |
tu | constituais | Tu constituais un danger. | You were constituting a danger. |
il | constituait | Il constituait une menace. | He was constituting a threat. |
elle | constituait | Elle constituait un obstacle. | She was constituting an obstacle. |
on | constituait | On constituait un problème. | We were constituting a problem. |
nous | constituions | Nous constituions une famille. | We were constituting a family. |
vous | constituiez | Vous constituiez une majorité. | You were constituting a majority. |
ils | constituaient | Ils constituaient une équipe. | They were constituting a team. |
elles | constituaient | Elles constituaient un groupe. | They were constituting a group. |
Other Conjugations for Constituer.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer (You’re reading it right now!)
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Conditionnel Passé II (Conditional Past II) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
L’impératif Passé (Imperative Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
L’infinitif Passé (Infinitive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Le Participe Présent (Present Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
Le Participe Passé (Past Participle) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb constituer
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Constituer – 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
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