Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Introduction to the verb couler
The English translation of the French verb couler is “to flow” or “to sink.” The infinitive form of couler is pronounced “coo-lay.”
The word couler comes from the Latin word “colare,” meaning “to filter or strain.” It has been used in French since the 12th century, originally meaning “to strain through a sieve.” Over time, its meaning evolved to include the act of flowing or sinking.
In everyday French, couler is most often used in the Plus-que-parfait tense, which is the past perfect tense. This tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another past action.
Three simple examples of couler in the Plus-que-parfait tense are:
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J’avais déjà coulé le gâteau quand les invités sont arrivés. (I had already baked the cake when the guests arrived.)
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Tu avais coulé l’examen avant que je ne t’aide à étudier. (You had failed the exam before I helped you study.)
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Elle avait coulé sa voiture dans un lac avant de quitter la ville. (She had sunk her car in a lake before leaving the city.)
Table of the Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of couler
Pronoun | Conjugation | Short Example | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
je | j’avais coulé | J’avais coulé le béton. | I had poured the concrete. |
tu | tu avais coulé | Tu avais coulé le métal. | You had casted the metal. |
il | il avait coulé | Il avait coulé la fondation. | He had laid the foundation. |
elle | elle avait coulé | Elle avait coulé le gâteau. | She had baked the cake. |
on | on avait coulé | On avait coulé le plâtre. | One had plastered the wall. |
nous | nous avions coulé | Nous avions coulé le béton. | We had poured the concrete. |
vous | vous aviez coulé | Vous aviez coulé le ciment. | You had cemented the floor. |
ils | ils avaient coulé | Ils avaient coulé l’acier. | They had melted the steel. |
elles | elles avaient coulé | Elles avaient coulé la cire. | They had melted the wax. |
Other Conjugations for Couler.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler (this article)
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb couler
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Couler – About the French Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense
Tense Formation
Common everyday usage patterns
Sequencing of past events
Background information
Hypothetical or reported speech
Interactions with other tenses
Summary
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