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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb améliorer

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of améliorer. 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 améliorer is “to improve.” It is pronounced “ah-meh-lee-oh-ray.”

The verb améliorer comes from the Latin word “meliorare,” meaning “to make better.” It is most often used to express the act of making something better or enhancing its quality.

In everyday French, améliorer is commonly used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. It is often used to express a wish or a desire for improvement.

Three simple examples of using améliorer in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense are:

  1. Je souhaitais que tu améliores ta note en mathématiques. (I wished for you to improve your grade in math.)
  2. Nous voulions que la situation s’améliore rapidement. (We wanted the situation to improve quickly.)
  3. Il fallait que j’améliorasse mes compétences en français avant de partir en France. (I had to improve my French skills before going to France.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je améliorasse Si j’avais le temps, je m’améliorasse. If I had the time, I would improve.
tu améliorasses Si tu en avais envie, tu améliorasses. If you felt like it, you would improve.
il améliorât Il serait plus heureux si il améliorât son français. He would be happier if he improved his French.
elle améliorât Elle serait plus rapide si elle améliorât sa vitesse. She would be faster if she improved her speed.
on améliorât Si on améliorât l’éducation, on pourrait faire mieux. If one improved education, one could do better.
nous améliorassions Si nous améliorassions nos compétences, nous serions plus efficaces. If we improved our skills, we would be more efficient.
vous améliorassiez Si vous améliorassiez votre méthode, vous auriez plus de succès. If you improved your method, you would have more success.
ils améliorassent S’ils améliorassent leur travail, ils auraient de meilleures notes. If they improved their work, they would have better grades.
elles améliorassent Si elles améliorassent leur communication, elles seraient plus proches. If they improved their communication, they would be closer.

Other Conjugations for Améliorer.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb améliorer
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 améliorer Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

Améliorer – 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.

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

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply