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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb boucher

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The English translation of the French verb boucher is “to block” or “to clog.” It is pronounced as “boo-shay” in the infinitive form.

The word “boucher” comes from the Old French word “bouchier,” which means “butcher.” In everyday French, it is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which is used to express hypothetical or uncertain actions in the past.

Examples:

  1. Il fallait que je bouchasse le trou dans le mur avant que mes parents ne rentrent à la maison. (I had to block the hole in the wall before my parents came back home.)

  2. Nous aurions aimé que vous bouchiez le drain avant qu’il ne soit bouché complètement. (We would have liked you to unclog the drain before it got completely blocked.)

  3. Il aurait été mieux que vous ne bouchiez pas la source de la rivière, car cela a causé une inondation. (It would have been better if you didn’t block the source of the river, because it caused a flood.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je bouchasse Si j’avais de l’argent, je bouchasse le trou. If I had money, I would plug the hole.
tu bouchasses Si tu bouchasses le trou, l’eau ne coulerait plus. If you plugged the hole, the water would stop running.
il bouchât Il serait content si il bouchât le trou lui-même. He would be happy if he plugged the hole himself.
elle bouchât Elle serait surprise si elle bouchât le trou parfaitement. She would be surprised if she plugged the hole perfectly.
on bouchât Si on bouchât bien le trou, on pourrait le remplir. If one plugged the hole well, one could fill it.
nous bouchassions Si nous bouchassions ensemble, ça irait plus vite. If we plugged together, it would go faster.
vous bouchassiez Si vous bouchassiez le trou, il n’y aurait plus de fuite. If you plugged the hole, there would be no more leak.
ils bouchassent S’ils bouchassent le trou, le problème serait résolu. If they plugged the hole, the problem would be solved.
elles bouchassent Si elles bouchassent le trou, l’eau ne serait plus gâchée. If they plugged the hole, the water would no longer be wasted.

Other Conjugations for Boucher.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb boucher
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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