Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb défruiter

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb défruiter

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of défruiter. 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 défruiter is “to remove the fruit.” The infinitive form, défruiter, is pronounced as [day-frew-tee].

Défruiter originates from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (indicating removal) and the noun “fruit.” It is used in everyday French to refer to the action of removing fruit from something, such as a dish, a tree, or a garden.

Here are three examples of défruiter in the imparfait tense:

  1. Chaque été, je défruitais le jardin pour éviter les insectes.
    (Every summer, I would remove the fruit from the garden to avoid insects.)

  2. Mes parents défruitaient l’arbre chaque automne pour préparer la récolte.
    (My parents would remove the fruit from the tree every autumn to prepare for the harvest.)

  3. Nous défruitions nos assiettes avant de les laver.
    (We would remove the fruit from our plates before washing them.)

These examples showcase the usage of défruiter in the imparfait tense to describe habitual or ongoing actions in the past.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of défruiter

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je défruitais Je défruitais les arbres. I was removing the fruit from the trees.
tu défruitais Tu défruitais trop tôt. You were removing the fruit too early.
il défruitait Il défruitait les plantes. He was removing the fruit from the plants.
elle défruitait Elle défruitait les vergers. She was removing the fruit from the orchards.
on défruitait On défruitait les cultures. We were removing the fruit from the crops.
nous défruitions Nous défruitions les jardins. We were removing the fruit from the gardens.
vous défruitiez Vous défruitiez les arbustes. You were removing the fruit from the shrubs.
ils défruittaient Ils défruittaient les vignes. They were removing the fruit from the vines.
elles défruittaient Elles défruittaient les vergers. They were removing the fruit from the orchards.

Other Conjugations for Défruiter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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