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

Introduction to the verb draper

Get the Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) tense conjugation of draper. 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 draper is “to drape.” It is pronounced as “druh-pay” in its infinitive form.

The word draper comes from the Old French word “drap,” meaning “cloth” or “fabric.” It is most often used in everyday French in the Plus-que-parfait tense, which is the past perfect tense in English. This tense is used to describe an action that had already happened before another action in the past.

Here are three simple examples of the usage of draper in the Plus-que-parfait tense:

  1. J’avais drapé les rideaux avant que les invités arrivent. (I had draped the curtains before the guests arrived.)
  2. Tu avais drapé le lit avant de partir en voyage. (You had draped the bed before leaving for the trip.)
  3. Elle avait drapé son écharpe autour de son cou pour se protéger du froid. (She had draped her scarf around her neck to protect herself from the cold.)

In these examples, draper is used to describe an action that had already happened before a specific point in the past. The Plus-que-parfait tense is commonly used in storytelling or to provide background information in a narrative.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Short Example English Translation
je j’avais drapé J’avais drapé le tissu. I had draped the fabric.
tu tu avais drapé Tu avais drapé la robe. You had draped the dress.
il il avait drapé Il avait drapé le lit. He had draped the bed.
elle elle avait drapé Elle avait drapé le rideau. She had draped the curtain.
on on avait drapé On avait drapé la table. One had draped the table.
nous nous avions drapé Nous avions drapé le manteau. We had draped the coat.
vous vous aviez drapé Vous aviez drapé la nappe. You had draped the tablecloth.
ils ils avaient drapé Ils avaient drapé le canapé. They had draped the sofa.
elles elles avaient drapé Elles avaient drapé la chemise. They had draped the shirt.

Other Conjugations for Draper.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb draper
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 draper Plus-que-parfait tense conjugation!

Draper – 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 draper. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb conjugation!

Similar Posts