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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb boucler

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The English translation of the French verb boucler is “to buckle,” “to fasten,” or “to close.” It is pronounced as “boo-kleh.”

The word boucler comes from the French noun “boucle,” meaning “buckle” or “loop,” which ultimately derives from the Latin word “buccula,” meaning “cheek strap.” Boucle is used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which is a literary tense used to express hypothetical or uncertain actions or ideas in the past.

Three simple examples of its usage in this tense are:

  1. J’aurais aimé que tu boucles ta ceinture avant de partir. (I would have liked for you to fasten your seatbelt before leaving.)
  2. Il voulait que je boucle mon sac à dos avant de quitter la maison. (He wanted me to close my backpack before leaving the house.)
  3. Nous préférions que vous boucliez vos valises ce soir. (We preferred for you to buckle your suitcases tonight.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je bouclasse Je voudrais que je bouclasse l’épreuve à temps. I wish I could finish the test on time.
tu bouclasses Tu aurais pu réussir si tu bouclasses mieux. You could have passed if you had studied better.
il bouclât Il serait surpris si il bouclât la valise rapidement. He would be surprised if he packed the suitcase quickly.
elle bouclât Elle serait heureuse si elle bouclât ses projets à l’avance. She would be happy if she finished her projects ahead of time.
on bouclât Il aurait été plus facile si on bouclât le budget plus tôt. It would have been easier if we had finalized the budget earlier.
nous bouclassions Si nous bouclassions ensemble, ça irait plus vite. If we worked together, it would go faster.
vous bouclassiez Si vous bouclassiez moins, vous auriez plus de temps libre. If you spent less time on it, you would have more free time.
ils bouclassent S’ils bouclassent la porte, elle restera fermée. If they lock the door, it will stay closed.
elles bouclassent Si elles bouclassent les cheveux tous les jours, ils seront plus lisses. If they straighten their hair every day, it will be smoother.

Other Conjugations for Boucler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb boucler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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