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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb compiler

Get the Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) tense conjugation of compiler. 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 compiler is “to compile.” It is pronounced “kom-pee-leh” in the infinitive form.

Language Origin:
The word “compiler” comes from the Latin word “compilare,” which means “to gather or collect.” It was first used in the context of computer programming in the 1950s, referring to the process of converting source code into machine-readable instructions.

Everyday Usage in Plus-Que-Parfait Tense:
The plus-que-parfait tense is used to describe actions that had already been completed in the past. In French, the verb compiler is commonly used in this tense in the following ways:

  1. J’avais compilé mon travail avant de partir en vacances.
    (I had compiled my work before leaving for vacation.)

  2. Ils avaient compilé toutes les données avant la réunion.
    (They had compiled all the data before the meeting.)

  3. Elle avait compilé tous ses souvenirs dans un journal intime.
    (She had compiled all her memories in a diary.)

English Translations:

  1. I had compiled my work before leaving for vacation.
  2. They had compiled all the data before the meeting.
  3. She had compiled all her memories in a diary.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je j’avais compilé J’avais compilé le code. I had compiled the code.
tu tu avais compilé Tu avais compilé cette liste. You had compiled this list.
il il avait compilé Il avait compilé le rapport. He had compiled the report.
elle elle avait compilé Elle avait compilé la présentation. She had compiled the presentation.
on on avait compilé On avait compilé le résumé. One had compiled the summary.
nous nous avions compilé Nous avions compilé les données. We had compiled the data.
vous vous aviez compilé Vous aviez compilé le document. You had compiled the document.
ils ils avaient compilé Ils avaient compilé les informations. They had compiled the information.
elles elles avaient compilé Elles avaient compilé les résultats. They had compiled the results.

Other Conjugations for Compiler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compiler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Compiler – 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.

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