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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb adopter

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The English translation of the French verb adopter is “to adopt.” The infinitive form is pronounced “ah-dop-tay.”

The word adopter comes from the Latin word adoptare, which means “to choose for oneself.” It entered the French language in the 14th century and has been used in various forms since then.

In everyday French, the verb adopter is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. It is often used in conjunction with the word “si” (if).

Example 1:
Si j’avais su, j’aurais adopté un chien.
Translation: If I had known, I would have adopted a dog.

Example 2:
Elle m’a dit qu’elle adopterait un bébé.
Translation: She told me she would adopt a baby.

Example 3:
Nous cherchions un enfant à adopter.
Translation: We were looking for a child to adopt.

Table of the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of adopter

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je adoptasse Si j’avais un chien, je adoptasse un de refuge. If I had a dog, I would adopt one from a shelter.
tu adoptasses Si tu avais un chat, tu adoptasses un des SPA. If you had a cat, you would adopt one from the animal shelter.
il adoptât Il serait heureux si il adoptât un enfant. He would be happy if he adopted a child.
elle adoptât Elle serait reconnaissante si elle adoptât un chien abandonné. She would be grateful if she adopted an abandoned dog.
on adoptât Si on adoptât ensemble, on aurait une famille. If we adopted together, we would have a family.
nous adoptassions Si nous adoptassions plus d’animaux, nous sauverions des vies. If we adopted more animals, we would save lives.
vous adoptassiez Si vous adoptassiez un chien, vous auriez un compagnon fidèle. If you adopted a dog, you would have a loyal companion.
ils adoptassent S’ils adoptassent un enfant, ils seraient une belle famille. If they adopted a child, they would be a beautiful family.
elles adoptassent Si elles adoptassent un chat, elles auraient une compagnie affectueuse. If they adopted a cat, they would have a loving companion.

Other Conjugations for Adopter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb adopter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb adopter (this article)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Adopter – About the French Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense

The French Subjonctif Imparfait, also known as the imperfect subjunctive, is a verb tense used to express actions, states, or conditions that are uncertain, subjective, or hypothetical in the past. It is used in a variety of situations, including wishes, doubts, emotions, and polite requests, and often occurs in dependent clauses following certain expressions and conjunctions.

NOTE: To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see my article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Formation

To form the Subjonctif Imparfait, you typically start with the third person plural (ils/elles) form of the verb in the imparfait (imperfect) tense. Then, you remove the -ent ending and add the appropriate endings:

– For regular -er verbs: je -sse, tu -sses, il/elle/on -t, nous -ssions, vous -ssiez, ils/elles -ssent.
– For regular -ir and -re verbs: je -sse, tu -sses, il/elle/on -t, nous -ssions, vous -ssiez, ils/elles -ssent.

Common Everyday Usage Patterns

1. Expressing Doubt or Uncertainty: The Subjonctif Imparfait is used to express doubt or uncertainty about something that happened in the past.

Example: Il doutait qu’elle vînt à la fête. (He doubted that she came to the party.)

2. Wishes and Desires: It is used to express wishes or desires in the past.

Example: J’aurais aimé que tu fusses là. (I would have liked you to be there.)

3. Hypothetical Scenarios: The Subjonctif Imparfait is employed in hypothetical situations in the past.

Example: Si j’eusse su, j’aurais agi différemment. (If I had known, I would have acted differently.)
4. Polite Requests and Suggestions: It is used to make polite requests and suggestions in a formal or polite tone.

Example: Il souhaitait que vous vinssiez lui rendre visite. (He wished that you would come to visit him.)

Interactions with Other Tenses

Subjonctif Présent

The Subjonctif Imparfait is often used in dependent clauses with the Subjonctif Présent in the main clause, especially in complex sentences.

Example: Il faut que tu manges bien pour que tu aies de l’énergie. (You need to eat well so that you have energy.)

Indicatif Passé Composé

The Subjonctif Imparfait can be used alongside the Indicatif Passé Composé to indicate a contrast between a factual event and a hypothetical one.

Example: Il est parti avant que tu ne fusses arrivé. (He left before you arrived.)

Conditional

The Subjonctif Imparfait is often used with the Conditional to express unreal or hypothetical situations in the past.

Example: J’aurais pu le faire si j’eusse eu plus de temps. (I could have done it if I had had more time.)

Conditional Perfect

It can also be used with the Conditional Perfect to express unreal or hypothetical past events that would have occurred before other past events.

Example: J’aurais su s’il eût partagé l’information. (I would have known if he had shared the information.)

Summary

The Subjonctif Imparfait is a relatively complex tense, and its usage depends on the context and the verbs involved. It is essential to practice and become familiar with common expressions and contexts where this tense is appropriate to use it effectively in everyday French communication.

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