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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb amputer

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of amputer. 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 amputer is “to amputate.” It is pronounced “ahm-poo-tay.”

The verb amputer comes from the Latin word amputare, meaning “to prune or cut off.” It is most often used in medical contexts to describe the surgical removal of a limb or body part.

In everyday French, amputer is most commonly used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense when expressing a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. This tense is formed by using the auxiliary verb “avoir” or “être” in the Imparfait tense, followed by the past participle of the verb.

Three simple examples of amputer in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense are:

  1. Si le docteur lui amputait la jambe, il ne pourrait plus jouer au football. (If the doctor were to amputate his leg, he wouldn’t be able to play football anymore.)
  2. J’avais peur qu’ils m’amputassent le bras accidenté. (I was afraid they would amputate my injured arm.)
  3. Il était recommandé que les soldats se fassent amputer les doigts blessés pour éviter l’infection. (It was recommended that the soldiers get their injured fingers amputated to avoid infection.)

English translations:

  1. If the doctor were to amputate his leg, he wouldn’t be able to play football anymore.
  2. I was afraid they would amputate my injured arm.
  3. It was recommended that the soldiers get their injured fingers amputated to avoid infection.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je amputasse Si j’étais médecin, je amputasse les membres gangrénés. If I were a doctor, I would amputate gangrenous limbs.
tu amputasses Si tu étudies bien, tu amputasses moins de membres. If you studied well, you would amputate fewer limbs.
il amputât Il serait choqué si il amputât sans anesthésie. He would be shocked if he amputated without anesthesia.
elle amputât Elle serait triste si elle amputât son animal de compagnie. She would be sad if she amputated her pet.
on amputât Si on amputât sans formation, ça pourrait être dangereux. If one amputated without training, it could be dangerous.
nous amputassions Si nous amputassions ensemble, ça serait plus facile. If we amputated together, it would be easier.
vous amputassiez Si vous amputassiez trop, vous pourriez avoir des problèmes. If you amputated too much, you could have problems.
ils amputassent S’ils amputassent plus rapidement, ils sauveraient plus de vies. If they amputated more quickly, they would save more lives.
elles amputassent Si elles amputassent sans réfléchir, elles pourraient se tromper. If they amputated without thinking, they could make mistakes.

Other Conjugations for Amputer.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb amputer
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 amputer Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply