Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrouiller

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb débrouiller

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The English translation of the French verb “débrouiller” is “to sort out” or “to figure out.” The infinitive form “débrouiller” is pronounced as “day-broo-yay.”

The word “débrouiller” originates from the combination of two French words: “brouiller” meaning “to muddle” or “to confuse,” and the prefix “dé-” which can be translated as “un-” or “dis-” in English. Therefore, “débrouiller” literally means “to un-muddle” or “to un-confuse.” In everyday French, it is commonly used to express the idea of solving a problem or finding a solution.

Here are three examples of its usage in the imparfait tense:

  1. Je me débrouillais pour faire mes devoirs.
    (I was sorting out/figuring out how to do my homework.)
  2. Nous nous débrouillions pour trouver un moyen de transport.
    (We were figuring out a means of transportation.)
  3. Elle se débrouillait bien en cuisine.
    (She was good at sorting things out in the kitchen.)

Note: The imparfait tense is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, often used for setting the scene or providing background information.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of débrouiller

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je débrouillais Je me débrouillais tout seul. I was managing on my own.
tu débrouillais Tu te débrouillais bien. You were doing well.
il débrouillait Il se débrouillait avec les problèmes. He was dealing with the problems.
elle débrouillait Elle se débrouillait sans aide. She was managing without help.
on débrouillait On se débrouillait ensemble. We were managing together.
nous débrouillions Nous nous débrouillions dans la situation. We were managing in the situation.
vous débrouilliez Vous vous débrouilliez avec les difficultés. You were dealing with the difficulties.
ils débrouillaient Ils se débrouillaient pour trouver une solution. They were managing to find a solution.
elles débrouillaient Elles se débrouillaient avec les tâches. They were handling the tasks.

Other Conjugations for Débrouiller.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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