Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb déployer

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb déployer

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of déployer. 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 déployer is “to deploy.” The pronunciation of the infinitive form “déployer” is [de.plwa.je].

Déployer originates from the Latin word “dis-plicare,” which means “to unfold” or “to unroll.” In everyday French, déployer is most often used in the imparfait tense to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past.

Here are three examples of déployer in the imparfait tense with their English translations:

  1. Je déployais mes ailes pour m’envoler. (I was spreading my wings to take off.)
  2. Il déployait tous ses efforts pour réussir. (He was putting all his efforts to succeed.)
  3. Nous déployions notre créativité dans nos projets. (We were unleashing our creativity in our projects.)

Note: The translations provided are not literal but convey the general meaning of the sentences.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of déployer

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je déployais Je déployais mes ailes. I was spreading my wings.
tu déployais Tu déployais la nappe. You were spreading the tablecloth.
il déployait Il déployait ses talents. He was showcasing his talents.
elle déployait Elle déployait ses efforts. She was exerting her efforts.
on déployait On déployait nos ressources. We were utilizing our resources.
nous déployions Nous déployions notre créativité. We were unleashing our creativity.
vous déployiez Vous déployiez votre énergie. You were channeling your energy.
ils déployaient Ils déployaient leur force. They were deploying their strength.
elles déployaient Elles déployaient leur influence. They were exerting their influence.

Other Conjugations for Déployer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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