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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb circonstancier

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The English translation of circonstancier is “to qualify” or “to specify.” It is pronounced “seer-cohn-stahn-see-ay.”

Circonstancier comes from the French word “circonstance,” which means “circumstance.” It is most often used in every day French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action or situation in the past.

Here are three examples of circonstancier in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense and their English translations:

  1. Il fallait que je circonstancie mes propos pour éviter tout malentendu.
  • I had to qualify my remarks to avoid any misunderstanding.
  1. Je ne pouvais pas croire que tu me circonstancias comme ça.
  • I couldn’t believe that you were specifying me like that.
  1. Il était important que nous circonstanciions nos déclarations avant de les présenter au jury.
  • It was important that we specified our statements before presenting them to the jury.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je circonstanciais Si je circonstanciais bien, je saurais la vérité. If I investigated thoroughly, I would know the truth.
tu circonstanciais Si tu circonstanciais correctement, tu trouverais des indices. If you investigated properly, you would find clues.
il circonstanciaît Il serait utile qu’il circonstanciaît avant de juger. It would be useful if he investigated before judging.
elle circonstanciaît Elle serait contente si elle circonstanciaît mieux. She would be happy if she investigated more thoroughly.
on circonstanciaît Si on circonstanciaît tous les détails, on pourrait résoudre l’affaire. If one investigated all the details, one could solve the case.
nous circonstanciassions Si nous circonstanciassions ensemble, nous trouverions une solution. If we investigated together, we would find a solution.
vous circonstanciassiez Il serait préférable que vous circonstanciassiez avant de prendre une décision. It would be better if you investigated before making a decision.
ils circonstanciaissent S’ils circonstanciaissent plus attentivement, ils éviteraient des erreurs. If they investigated more carefully, they would avoid mistakes.
elles circonstanciaissent Si elles circonstanciaissent plus longtemps, elles découvriraient la vérité. If they investigated for a longer time, they would discover the truth.

Other Conjugations for Circonstancier.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb circonstancier
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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