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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb cimenter

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The English translation of the French verb cimenter is “to cement.” It is pronounced as “see-mahn-tay.”

The word cimenter comes from the Latin word “cementum,” meaning “stone chips” or “mortar.” It entered the French language in the 14th century through the Old French word “ciment,” which referred to any material used to bind things together. In modern French, cimenter is most often used in its literal sense of physically binding things together, such as with cement or mortar.

In the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, cimenter is typically used to express a hypothetical or unreal action in the past. It is often used in conjunction with the conjunction “si” (if) to express a conditional situation.

Example 1: Si tu cimentais bien les briques, le mur ne se serait pas effondré. (If you had cemented the bricks properly, the wall would not have collapsed.)

Example 2: Il était important que nous cimentions la fondation avant de construire la maison. (It was important that we cemented the foundation before building the house.)

Example 3: Je ne savais pas comment cimenter les relations entre mes amis et ma famille. (I didn’t know how to cement the relationships between my friends and my family.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je cimentasse Je préférerais que je cimentasse les murs moi-même. I would prefer to cement the walls myself.
tu cimentasses Si tu cimentasses les fissures, ça tiendrait mieux. If you cemented the cracks, it would hold better.
il cimentât Il serait temps qu’il cimentât les fondations. It would be time for him to cement the foundations.
elle cimentât Elle serait satisfaite si elle cimentât le sol. She would be satisfied if she cemented the floor.
on cimentât Si on cimentât correctement, la structure serait solide. If one cemented properly, the structure would be solid.
nous cimentassions Si nous cimentassions ensemble, ça irait plus vite. If we cemented together, it would go faster.
vous cimentassiez Si vous cimentassiez en équipe, ça serait plus efficace. If you cemented as a team, it would be more efficient.
ils cimentassent S’ils cimentassent les piliers, ça tiendrait mieux. If they cemented the pillars, it would hold better.
elles cimentassent Si elles cimentassent le plafond, ça serait plus solide. If they cemented the ceiling, it would be more solid.

Other Conjugations for Cimenter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb cimenter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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