Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrocher

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb débrocher

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of débrocher. 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 “débrocher” is “to unhook” or “to detach”. The infinitive form “débrocher” is pronounced as “day-broh-shay.”

The word “débrocher” comes from the combination of the prefix “dé-” meaning “un-” or “detach” and the verb “brocher” meaning “to hook.” It is a regular -er verb, meaning it follows the regular conjugation pattern for verbs ending in -er.

In everyday French, “débrocher” in the imparfait tense is most often used to describe actions that were ongoing or habitual in the past. Here are three examples of its usage in the imparfait tense with their respective English translations:

  1. Quand j’étais enfant, je débrochais toujours les boutons de mon manteau. (When I was a child, I used to unhook the buttons of my coat.)
  2. Tous les matins, elle débrochait les fleurs fanées du jardin. (Every morning, she would detach the wilted flowers from the garden.)
  3. Nous débrochions les câbles avant de les remplacer. (We were unhooking the cables before replacing them.)

These examples describe actions that were repeatedly done in the past, emphasizing their ongoing nature.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of débrocher

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je débrochais Je débrochais la prise. I was unplugging the socket.
tu débrochais Tu débrochais le câble. You were unplugging the cable.
il débrochait Il débrochait l’appareil. He was unplugging the device.
elle débrochait Elle débrochait la lampe. She was unplugging the lamp.
on débrochait On débrochait les prises. We were unplugging the sockets.
nous débrochions Nous débrochions les fils. We were unplugging the wires.
vous débrochiez Vous débrochiez le chargeur. You were unplugging the charger.
ils débrochaient Ils débrochaient les appareils. They were unplugging the devices.
elles débrochaient Elles débrochaient les prises. They were unplugging the sockets.

Other Conjugations for Débrocher.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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