Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb démuseler

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb démuseler

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of démuseler. 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 “démuseler” is “to unbridle” or “to unleash.” The infinitive form of “démuseler” is pronounced as “day-moo-zuh-lay.”

The word “démuseler” is derived from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (meaning “un-” or “to undo”) and the noun “muselière” (meaning “muzzle”). It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of removing a bridle or muzzle from a person or animal.

Here are three examples of how “démuseler” can be used in the imparfait tense:

  1. Chaque soir, le dresseur démuselait les chevaux avant de les ramener à l’écurie.
    (Every evening, the trainer would unbridle the horses before taking them back to the stable.)

  2. Pendant la promenade, elle démuselait son chien pour qu’il puisse courir librement.
    (During the walk, she would unleash her dog so it could run freely.)

  3. Les gardiens démuselaient les lions seulement lorsque les visiteurs étaient partis.
    (The keepers would only unbridle the lions when the visitors had left.)

English translations:

  1. Every evening, the trainer would unbridle the horses before taking them back to the stable.
  2. During the walk, she would unleash her dog so it could run freely.
  3. The keepers would only unbridle the lions when the visitors had left.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of démuseler

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je démuselais Je démuselais le chien. I was removing the muzzle from the dog.
tu démuselais Tu démuselais ton cheval. You were removing the muzzle from your horse.
il démuselait Il démuselait l’animal. He was removing the muzzle from the animal.
elle démuselait Elle démuselait le chien. She was removing the muzzle from the dog.
on démuselait On démuselait les animaux. We were removing the muzzles from the animals.
nous démuselions Nous démuselions les chevaux. We were removing the muzzles from the horses.
vous démuseliez Vous démuseliez les chiens. You were removing the muzzles from the dogs.
ils démuselaient Ils démuselaient les animaux. They were removing the muzzles from the animals.
elles démuselaient Elles démuselaient les chevaux. They were removing the muzzles from the horses.

Other Conjugations for Démuseler.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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