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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb cabaler

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The English translation of the French verb cabaler is “to scheme” or “to plot.” It is pronounced as “ka-bah-leh” in the infinitive form.

The word cabaler comes from the noun caboche, meaning “cabbage” in French. This noun was used to refer to someone with a big head or someone who is stubborn. The verb cabaler originated from this word and was used to describe someone who was persistent or stubborn in their actions. Over time, it evolved to mean “to scheme” or “to plot.”

In everyday French, cabaler is most often used in the subjonctif imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. It is often used to describe a hidden or secret action that was ongoing in the past.

Examples:

  1. Il fallait que je cabalasse pour obtenir cette promotion. (I had to scheme to get this promotion.)
  2. Je savais qu’il cabalait pour me faire tomber en disgrâce. (I knew he was plotting to bring me down.)
  3. Elle m’a dit qu’elle cabalait pour me surprendre avec une fête d’anniversaire. (She told me she was scheming to surprise me with a birthday party.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je cabalasse Si j’étais riche, je cabalasse pour un meilleur avenir. If I were rich, I would scheme for a better future.
tu cabalasses Si tu trichais, tu cabalasses contre tes amis. If you cheated, you would plot against your friends.
il cabalât Il voudrait que je cabalât pour son succès. He would want me to scheme for his success.
elle cabalât Elle serait déçue si elle cabalât pour rien. She would be disappointed if she plotted for nothing.
on cabalât Si on cabalât mieux, on gagnerait plus d’argent. If one schemed better, one would earn more money.
nous cabalassions Si nous cabalassions ensemble, on pourrait réussir. If we schemed together, we could succeed.
vous cabalassiez Si vous cabalassiez bien, vous seriez récompensé. If you schemed well, you would be rewarded.
ils cabalassent S’ils cabalassent pour leur ambition, ils pourraient réussir. If they schemed for their ambition, they could succeed.
elles cabalassent Si elles se cabalassent trop, elles pourraient se faire prendre. If they schemed too much, they could get caught.

Other Conjugations for Cabaler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb cabaler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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