Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb effluver

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb effluver

Get the imperfect (imparfait) tense conjugation of effluver. 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 effluver is “to exude” or “to emit.” The pronunciation of the infinitive form “effluver” is [ɛflyve].

Effluver originates from the Latin word “effluere,” meaning “to flow out.” In everyday French, it is mainly used in the imparfait tense to describe an ongoing or repeated action in the past.

Examples of its usage in the imparfait tense:

  1. Chaque printemps, les fleurs effluvaient un doux parfum dans la cour.
    (Every spring, the flowers would exude a sweet scent in the courtyard.)

  2. Les vieilles maisons de la ville effluvaient l’odeur de la pierre humide.
    (The old houses in the city emitted the smell of damp stone.)

  3. Quand j’étais enfant, ma grand-mère effluvait une délicieuse odeur de cookies dans la cuisine.
    (When I was a child, my grandmother would exude a delicious smell of cookies in the kitchen.)

English translations:

  1. Every spring, the flowers exuded a sweet scent in the courtyard.
  2. The old houses in the city emitted the smell of damp stone.
  3. When I was a child, my grandmother would exude a delicious smell of cookies in the kitchen.

Table of the Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of effluver

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je effluvais J’effluvais une odeur agréable. I was emanating a pleasant smell.
tu effluvais Tu effluvais une mauvaise odeur. You were emanating a bad smell.
il effluvait Il effluvait un parfum enivrant. He was emanating an intoxicating fragrance.
elle effluvait Elle effluvait une odeur de fleurs. She was emanating a smell of flowers.
on effluvait On effluvait un parfum sucré. We were emanating a sweet perfume.
nous effluvions Nous effluvions une fragrance enivrante. We were emanating an intoxicating fragrance.
vous effluviez Vous effluviez un parfum délicat. You were emanating a delicate scent.
ils effluaient Ils effluaient une odeur désagréable. They were emanating an unpleasant smell.
elles effluaient Elles effluaient une senteur apaisante. They were emanating a soothing scent.

Other Conjugations for Effluver.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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