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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb apparier

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The English translation of the French verb apparier is “to match” or “to pair.” The infinitive form of apparier is pronounced “ah-pa-ree-yay.”

The word apparier comes from the Old French word “aparier” which means “to equalize” or “to set in pairs.” It is derived from the Latin word “paria” meaning “equals.” In everyday French, apparier is most often used in the Plus-que-parfait tense, which is the past perfect tense.

In this tense, apparier is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. It is formed by using the auxiliary verb “avoir” or “être” in the imparfait tense, followed by the past participle of apparier.

Here are three simple examples of how apparier is used in the Plus-que-parfait tense in everyday French, with their respective English translations:

  1. Ils avaient apparé leurs chaussettes avant de les mettre. (They had matched their socks before putting them on.)
  2. J’étais déjà marié depuis cinq ans quand j’ai apparié mes chaussettes pour la première fois. (I had already been married for five years when I first paired my socks.)
  3. Les couleurs des rideaux et des tapis étaient parfaitement apparées dans le salon. (The colors of the curtains and carpets were perfectly matched in the living room.)

Table of the Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of apparier

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je j’avais apparié J’avais apparié les chaises. I had paired the chairs.
tu tu avais apparié Tu avais apparié les jouets. You had matched the toys.
il il avait apparié Il avait apparié les chaussettes. He had paired the socks.
elle elle avait apparié Elle avait apparié les gants. She had paired the gloves.
on on avait apparié On avait apparié les chapeaux. One had paired the hats.
nous nous avions apparié Nous avions apparié les verres. We had matched the glasses.
vous vous aviez apparié Vous aviez apparié les assiettes. You had paired the plates.
ils ils avaient apparié Ils avaient apparié les couverts. They had matched the silverware.
elles elles avaient apparié Elles avaient apparié les cuillères. They had paired the spoons.

Other Conjugations for Apparier.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb apparier
   

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

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

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

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

    Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb apparier     (this article)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Apparier – About the French Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense

The French “plus-que-parfait” tense is a past tense used to express actions or events that occurred before another past action or event. It is often translated to English as the “pluperfect” tense. The name “plus-que-parfait” literally means “more than perfect,” indicating that it is a tense used to describe actions that were completed before a specific point in the past.
NOTE: To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see my article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Tense Formation

To form the plus-que-parfait tense, you typically use the auxiliary verb “avoir” (to have) or “être” (to be) in the imperfect tense, followed by the past participle of the main verb. Here are the conjugations for both auxiliary verbs:
1. With “avoir” as the auxiliary verb:
   – J’avais mangé (I had eaten)
   – Tu avais parlé (You had spoken)
   – Il/elle/on avait fini (He/She/One had finished)
   – Nous avions lu (We had read)
   – Vous aviez choisi (You had chosen)
   – Ils/elles avaient joué (They had played)
2. With “être” as the auxiliary verb (usually for intransitive verbs or verbs indicating a state):
   – J’étais parti(e) (I had left)
   – Tu étais arrivé(e) (You had arrived)
   – Il/elle/on était tombé(e) (He/She/One had fallen)
   – Nous étions resté(e)s (We had stayed)
   – Vous étiez né(e)(s) (You had been born)
   – Ils/elles étaient monté(e)s (They had gone up)

Common everyday usage patterns

Sequencing of past events

The plus-que-parfait is used to express a past action that happened before another past action. For example, “J’avais mangé avant qu’il ne soit arrivé” (I had eaten before he arrived).

Background information

It is also used to provide background information or set the stage for a main past event. For instance, “Quand je suis arrivé, ils avaient déjà fini de manger” (When I arrived, they had already finished eating).

Hypothetical or reported speech

In indirect speech, the plus-que-parfait is used to report what someone had said or thought in the past. For example, “Il avait dit qu’il viendrait demain” (He had said that he would come tomorrow).

Interactions with other tenses

– The plus-que-parfait is often used in conjunction with the passé composé (simple past) to establish the sequence of past events. The passé composé describes the more recent action, while the plus-que-parfait describes the action that occurred earlier.
– It can also be used with the conditional mood to express a hypothetical past event, like “Si j’avais su, j’aurais agi différemment” (If I had known, I would have acted differently).
– When used in reported speech, it can be combined with the conditional mood or the imperfect subjunctive to reflect the original mood and tense of the reported statement.

Summary

The French plus-que-parfait tense is an essential part of the language for expressing past actions that occurred before other past actions, providing background information, and reporting past statements or thoughts. It is an integral component of constructing complex and accurate narratives in French.

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

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