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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb calomnier

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The English translation of the French verb calomnier is “to slander” or “to defame.” It is pronounced as “kah-lohm-nyay” in its infinitive form.

The word “calomnier” comes from the Latin word “calumniari,” which means “to accuse falsely.” It entered the French language in the 12th century and has been used in various forms since then.

In everyday French, calomnier is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses actions or states that are uncertain or hypothetical in the past. It is commonly used in legal or formal contexts, but can also be used in informal conversations.

Example 1: Il fallait que je ne le calomniasse pas.
English translation: I had to not slander him.

Example 2: Si j’avais su, je ne l’aurais pas calomnié.
English translation: If I had known, I would not have slandered him.

Example 3: Il était important que nous ne calomniassions personne.
English translation: It was important that we did not slander anyone.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je calomniasse Je me méfierais si je calomniasse les autres. I would be careful if I slandered others.
tu calomniasses Tu serais plus populaire si tu calomniasses moins. You would be more popular if you slandered less.
il calomniât Il serait détesté s’il calomniât ses collègues. He would be hated if he slandered his colleagues.
elle calomniât Elle serait en sécurité si elle ne calomniât pas. She would be safe if she didn’t slander.
on calomniât Si on calomniât sans preuve, on serait poursuivi. If one slandered without proof, one would be prosecuted.
nous calomniassions Si nous calomniassions tout le monde, nous n’aurions pas d’amis. If we slandered everyone, we would have no friends.
vous calomniassiez Si vous calomniassiez les autres, vous seriez mal vu. If you slandered others, you would be seen in a bad light.
ils calomniassent S’ils calomniassent leur patron, ils seraient licenciés. If they slandered their boss, they would be fired.
elles calomniassent Si elles calomniassent sans cesse, elles auraient une mauvaise réputation. If they slandered constantly, they would have a bad reputation.

Other Conjugations for Calomnier.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb calomnier
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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