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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb caler

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of caler. 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 caler is “to wedge” or “to prop”. It is pronounced as “kah-lay” in its infinitive form.

The origin of the word caler can be traced back to the Latin word “calare” meaning “to call out” or “to summon”. In everyday French, caler is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain situation in the past.

Examples of caler in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense with English translations:

1) Il fallait que je cale la porte pour qu’elle ne se ferme pas brusquement. (I needed to wedge the door so that it wouldn’t close abruptly.)
2) J’aurais préféré que tu cales la table avant de mettre le vase dessus. (I would have preferred if you propped the table before putting the vase on it.)
3) Il était important que nous calions la planche avant de la couper en deux. (It was important that we prop the plank before cutting it in half.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je calasse Si j’avais un marteau, je calasse les clous. If I had a hammer, I would hammer the nails.
tu calasses Si tu avais le temps, tu calasses le pneu. If you had the time, you would change the tire.
il calât Il serait mieux s’il calât ses chaussures. It would be better if he tied his shoes.
elle calât Elle serait plus à l’aise si elle calât le sac. She would be more comfortable if she adjusted the bag.
on calât Si on calât le vélo, on pourrait rouler plus vite. If one adjusted the bike, one could ride faster.
nous calassions Si nous calassions le siège, nous serions plus confortables. If we adjusted the seat, we would be more comfortable.
vous calassiez Si vous calassiez la porte, elle ne grincerait pas. If you adjusted the door, it wouldn’t squeak.
ils calassent S’ils calassent les écrous, ils pourraient rouler plus longtemps. If they tightened the nuts, they could ride longer.
elles calassent Si elles calassent la visière, elles ne seraient pas éblouies. If they adjusted the visor, they wouldn’t be blinded.

Other Conjugations for Caler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb caler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 caler Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply