Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb déshuiler

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb déshuiler

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of déshuiler. 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 déshuiler is “to ungrease” or “to degrease”. The infinitive form “déshuiler” is pronounced as “dey-shwee-lay”.

The word déshuiler is derived from the combination of the prefix “dé-” (which indicates removal or reversal) and the noun “huile” (meaning oil). It is most commonly used in everyday French to refer to the action of removing or getting rid of grease or oil from a surface or object. This verb is often used in the context of cleaning or maintenance, particularly in relation to kitchenware, machinery, or mechanical parts.

Here are three examples showcasing the usage of déshuiler in the imparfait tense along with their English translations:

  1. Chaque semaine, je déshuilais les pièces de ma moto.
    (Every week, I would degrease the parts of my motorbike.)

  2. Pendant l’été, nous déshuilions régulièrement la hotte de la cuisine.
    (During the summer, we used to regularly degrease the kitchen hood.)

  3. Quand j’étais jeune, mes parents déshuilaient les poêles avant de les utiliser.
    (When I was young, my parents would degrease the pans before using them.)

Note: The imparfait tense in French is used to describe habitual or ongoing past actions, as well as to set the scene or provide background information in a narrative.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of déshuiler

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je déshuilais Je déshuilais la machine. I was degreasing the machine.
tu déshuilais Tu déshuilais les pièces. You were degreasing the parts.
il déshuilait Il déshuilait le moteur. He was degreasing the engine.
elle déshuilait Elle déshuilait la surface. She was degreasing the surface.
on déshuilait On déshuilait les outils. We were degreasing the tools.
nous déshuillions Nous déshuillions les machines. We were degreasing the machines.
vous déshuiliez Vous déshuiliez les tuyaux. You were degreasing the pipes.
ils déshuiltaient Ils déshuiltaient les pièces. They were degreasing the parts.
elles déshuiltaient Elles déshuiltaient les surfaces. They were degreasing the surfaces.

Other Conjugations for Déshuiler.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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