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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb attacher

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The English translation of the French verb attacher is “to attach” or “to fasten.” It is pronounced ah-tah-shay.

Attacher comes from the Old French word “atacher,” which ultimately derives from the Latin word “tacticare,” meaning “to become attached.” In everyday French, attacher is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait (Imperfect Subjunctive) tense, which is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Here are 3 simple examples of its usage in this tense, with the respective English translations:

  1. Je craignais qu’elle ne s’attache trop à sa nouvelle voiture.
    (I was afraid that she would become too attached to her new car.)

  2. Il était possible que le chien se soit attache à son nouveau maître.
    (It was possible that the dog had become attached to its new owner.)

  3. Nous aurions aimé que vous vous attachiez davantage à vos études.
    (We would have liked for you to become more attached to your studies.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je attachasse Si je savais, je attachasse mes chaussures. If I knew, I would tie my shoes.
tu attachasses Tu serais plus rapide si tu attachasses tes cheveux. You would be faster if you tied your hair.
il attachât Il serait plus confortable si il attachât sa ceinture. It would be more comfortable if he fastened his belt.
elle attachât Elle serait plus élégante si elle attachât son foulard. She would be more elegant if she tied her scarf.
on attachât Si on attachât les dossiers, on ne les perdrait pas. If one tied the files, one wouldn’t lose them.
nous attachassions Si nous attachassions nos lacets, nous ne trébucherions pas. If we tied our laces, we wouldn’t trip.
vous attachassiez Si vous attachassiez vos cravates, vous auriez l’air plus professionnel. If you tied your ties, you would look more professional.
ils attachassent S’ils attachassent les fils électriques correctement, il n’y aurait pas de court-circuit. If they tied the electrical wires correctly, there wouldn’t be a short circuit.
elles attachassent Si elles attachassent les rideaux, il n’y aurait pas autant de lumière. If they tied the curtains, there wouldn’t be as much light.

Other Conjugations for Attacher.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb attacher
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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