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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb chanceler

Get the Passé Simple (Simple Past) tense conjugation of chanceler. 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 “chanceler” is “to waver” or “to falter.” The infinitive form “chanceler” is pronounced as [shahn-se-le].

The word “chanceler” originated from the Latin word “cancellare,” which means “to cancel” or “to cross out.” In everyday French, “chanceler” is mainly used in the Passé Simple tense in literature or formal writing. This tense is no longer commonly used in spoken French.

Here are three examples of “chanceler” used in the Passé Simple tense, along with their English translations:

  1. Il chancela devant son chef.
    (He wavered in front of his boss.)
  2. Les jambes lui chancelèrent lorsqu’il entendit la nouvelle.
    (His legs faltered when he heard the news.)
  3. Elle chancela un instant avant de prendre sa décision.
    (She hesitated for a moment before making her decision.)

Please note that the Passé Simple tense is mostly used in written literature, and in spoken French, the passé composé or imparfait tense is more commonly used to express past actions.

Table of the Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of chanceler

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
Je chancelai Je chancelai sur mes pieds. I staggered on my feet.
Tu chancelas Tu chancelas en marchant. You staggered while walking.
Il chancela Il chancela et tomba. He staggered and fell.
Elle chancela Elle chancela et se rattrapa. She staggered and caught herself.
On chancela On chancela mais se stabilisa. One staggered but stabilized.
Nous chancelâmes Nous chancelâmes sous l’effet de la fatigue. We staggered under the effect of fatigue.
Vous chancelâtes Vous chancelâtes à cause du vertige. You staggered because of dizziness.
Ils chancelèrent Ils chancelèrent de fatigue. They staggered from tiredness.
Elles chancelèrent Elles chancelèrent en se tenant les bras. They (feminine) staggered while holding onto each other’s arms.

Other Conjugations for Chanceler.

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

Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler

Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb chanceler (You’re reading it right now!)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Struggling with French verbs or the language in general? Why not use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

Get a FREE Download Study Sheet of this Conjugation 🔥

Simply right click the image below, click “save image” and get your free reference for the chanceler Passé Simple tense conjugation! 

Chanceler – About the French Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense

The French Passé Simple, also known as the Simple Past or Preterite, is a past tense used in written French to describe completed actions that took place at a specific point in the past.
It is not commonly used in everyday spoken language, where the Passé Composé is the preferred past tense. The Passé Simple is mainly found in literature, formal writing, and historical contexts. It has a somewhat limited use in modern French, and its conjugation can be complex.  
NOTE: To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Formation

The Passé Simple is formed by conjugating the verb according to its specific endings for regular and irregular verbs. The endings typically vary based on the verb group (i.e., -er, -ir, or -re). For example:
   – For regular -er verbs (e.g., manger, parler): Remove the -er ending and add appropriate endings, like -ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent.
   – For regular -ir verbs (e.g., finir, choisir): Remove the -ir ending and add endings like -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent.
   – For regular -re verbs (e.g., vendre, attendre): Remove the -re ending and add endings like -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent.

Usage

Narration

The Passé Simple is commonly used in literature to describe past events in a narrative or storytelling context.

Historical Context

It can be used in historical writing or documents to discuss events that took place in the past.
Formal Writing
In formal or academic writing, especially in essays or reports, you might encounter the Passé Simple.

Interactions with other tenses

Passé Composé

In everyday spoken French, the Passé Composé is the go-to tense for describing completed actions in the past. The Passé Simple is not commonly used in spoken language and is often replaced by the Passé Composé.

Imparfait

While the Passé Simple focuses on completed actions in the past, the Imparfait is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past. They can sometimes be used together to provide a more detailed past narrative. For example, “Il lisait un livre quand il reçut un appel.” (He was reading a book when he received a call).

Conditional and Subjunctive

The Passé Simple can also be found in the conditional and subjunctive moods in formal writing. For instance, “Il faudrait qu’il partît” (He should leave, subjunctive).

Summary

The French Passé Simple is primarily used in formal or literary contexts, and its conjugation can be quite complex. In everyday spoken French, the Passé Composé is the preferred past tense for describing completed actions.

I hope you enjoyed this article on the verb chanceler. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb conjugation!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply