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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb bachoter

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of bachoter. 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 bachoter is “to cram” or “to study intensively.” It is pronounced as “bah-sho-tay” in the infinitive form.

The word “bachoter” comes from the word “bâche,” which was originally a slang term for “sheet” or “blanket.” In the 19th century, it began to be used as a verb meaning “to study intensely,” likely because students would cover themselves with a sheet to block out distractions while studying.

In everyday French, bachoter is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a possibility or hypothetical situation in the past. It is commonly used to describe a past action that may or may not have happened.

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

  1. J’aimerais que tu bachotasses plus pour ton examen. (I wish you had studied more for your exam.)

  2. Elle voulait que nous bachotions ensemble pour le concours. (She wanted us to cram together for the competition.)

  3. Ils préféraient que je ne bachotasse pas et que je profite de mes vacances. (They preferred that I didn’t cram and that I enjoyed my vacation instead.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je bachotasse Si j’étais stressé, je bachotasse toute la nuit. If I were stressed, I would cram all night.
tu bachotasses Si tu étais motivé, tu bachotasses plus vite. If you were motivated, you would cram faster.
il bachotât Il réussirait si il bachotât comme ça. He would succeed if he crammed like that.
elle bachotât Elle serait fatiguée si elle bachotât toute la journée. She would be tired if she crammed all day.
on bachotât Si on bachotât plus, on aurait de meilleurs résultats. If one crammed more, one would have better results.
nous bachotassions Si nous bachotassions ensemble, on s’aiderait. If we crammed together, we would help each other.
vous bachotassiez Si vous bachotassiez plus tôt, vous seriez prêt. If you crammed earlier, you would be ready.
ils bachotassent S’ils bachotassent moins, ils auraient plus de temps libre. If they crammed less, they would have more free time.
elles bachotassent Si elles bachotassent ensemble, elles s’ennuieraient moins. If they crammed together, they would be less bored.

Other Conjugations for Bachoter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb bachoter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 bachoter Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply