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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb capitonner

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The English translation of the French verb capitonner is “to pad” or “to stuff.” The infinitive form of capitonner is pronounced “kah-pee-toh-nay.”

The language origin of capitonner can be traced back to the Latin word capitone, meaning “mattress,” which is derived from the Latin word caput, meaning “head.” In its most common usage, capitonner refers to the act of filling or lining something with padding or stuffing, such as a cushion, mattress, or upholstery.

In everyday French, capitonner is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or imagined action in the past. This tense is often used to convey a sense of doubt, uncertainty, or possibility. Here are three simple examples of its usage in this tense, along with their English translations:

  1. Il fallait que je capitonnasse le fauteuil pour qu’il soit plus confortable. (I needed to pad the armchair so that it would be more comfortable.)
  2. Je souhaitais que vous capitonniez le coussin avec du tissu rouge. (I wished for you to pad the cushion with red fabric.)
  3. Il aurait fallu que nous capitonnions le matelas avant de le mettre en vente. (We should have stuffed the mattress before putting it up for sale.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je capitonnasse Si je gagnais à la loterie, je capitonnasse mon lit If I won the lottery, I would pad my bed.
tu capitonnasses Si tu étais plus riche, tu capitonnasses ta maison If you were richer, you would upholster your house.
il capitonnât Il serait plus confortable s’il capitonnât son siège It would be more comfortable if he padded his seat.
elle capitonnât Elle préférerait si elle capitonnât sa tête de lit She would prefer if she padded her headboard.
on capitonnât Si on capitonnât les murs, la chambre serait plus isolée If the walls were padded, the room would be more insulated.
nous capitonnassions Si nous capitonnassions le canapé, il serait plus confortable If we padded the couch, it would be more comfortable.
vous capitonniez Si vous capitonniez vos chaises, elles seraient plus élégantes If you padded your chairs, they would be more elegant.
ils capitonnassent S’ils capitonnassent leurs voitures, elles seraient plus silencieuses If they padded their cars, they would be more quiet.
elles capitonnassent Si elles capitonnassent leur intérieur, il serait plus chaleureux If they padded their interior, it would be warmer.

Other Conjugations for Capitonner.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb capitonner
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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