Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb dérouiller

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb dérouiller

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of dérouiller. 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 “dérouiller” is “to rust.” The infinitive form “dérouiller” is pronounced as “day-roo-yay.”

The word “dérouiller” originates from the Old French word “rouiller,” which means “to rust.” The “dé-” prefix added to “rouiller” intensifies the action of rusting. In everyday French, “dérouiller” is often used to describe the process of metals oxidizing and forming rust due to exposure to moisture or air.

Here are three examples of how “dérouiller” is commonly used in the imparfait tense:

  1. Quand j’étais enfant, mon vélo se dérouillait rapidement si je ne l’entretenais pas.
    English translation: When I was a child, my bike would rust quickly if I didn’t maintain it.

  2. Pendant l’hiver, nos outils de jardin se dérouillaient à cause de l’humidité constante.
    English translation: During winter, our garden tools would rust due to the constant humidity.

  3. Elle passait des heures à dérouiller les pièces de collection pour les préserver.
    English translation: She would spend hours removing rust from collectible items to preserve them.

Please note that the provided translations are approximate, as the context may vary the precise meaning of each sentence.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of dérouiller

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je dérouillais Je dérouillais le vélo. I was cleaning the bike.
tu dérouillais Tu dérouillais les outils. You were rustproofing the tools.
il dérouillait Il dérouillait la serrure. He was oiling the lock.
elle dérouillait Elle dérouillait la chaîne. She was loosening the chain.
on dérouillait On dérouillait les vieilles pièces. We were cleaning the old parts.
nous dérouillions Nous dérouillions les barrières. We were removing rust from the barriers.
vous dérouilliez Vous dérouilliez les clés. You were loosening the keys.
ils dérouillaient Ils dérouillaient les tuyaux. They were cleaning the pipes.
elles dérouillaient Elles dérouillaient les vis. They were oiling the screws.

Other Conjugations for Dérouiller.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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