Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb défriper

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb défriper

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of défriper. 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 défriper is “to smooth out” or “to unwrinkle.” The infinitive form of défriper is pronounced as “day-free-pay.”

Défriper is derived from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (indicating negation or reversal) and the noun “fripes” (meaning wrinkles or creases). It is most commonly used in everyday French to refer to the action of removing wrinkles or creases from fabric, clothes, or any other material.

Here are three simple examples of the usage of défriper in the imparfait tense, along with their English translations:

  1. Chaque matin, je défripais mes chemises avant de les porter.
    (Every morning, I used to smooth out my shirts before wearing them.)

  2. Nous défripions les rideaux avant de les accrocher.
    (We used to unwrinkle the curtains before hanging them up.)

  3. Pendant la réunion, elle défripait les documents froissés.
    (During the meeting, she was smoothing out the crumpled documents.)

These examples showcase the use of défriper in the imparfait tense to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of défriper

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je défripais Je défripais ma chemise. I was ironing my shirt.
tu défripais Tu défripais ton pantalon. You were ironing your pants.
il défripait Il défripait sa veste. He was ironing his jacket.
elle défripait Elle défripait sa robe. She was ironing her dress.
on défripait On défripait nos vêtements. We were ironing our clothes.
nous défripions Nous défripions nos chemises. We were ironing our shirts.
vous défripiez Vous défripiez vos jupes. You were ironing your skirts.
ils défripaient Ils défripaient leurs costumes. They were ironing their suits.
elles défripaient Elles défripaient leurs blouses. They were ironing their blouses.

Other Conjugations for Défriper.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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