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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb circuler

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The English translation of the French verb circuler is “to circulate.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “seer-kew-lay.”

Circuler comes from the Latin word “circulus” meaning “circle” or “ring.” In everyday French, it is most often used to describe the action of moving or flowing around, or to refer to the circulation of objects, ideas, or information.

The Subjonctif Imparfait tense is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain action or situation in the past. It is typically used after certain conjunctions such as “que” (that), “quoique” (although), or “bien que” (even though).

Here are three simple examples of using circuler in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense:

  1. Il fallait que l’air circulât correctement dans la pièce pour que les plantes puissent bien pousser. (It was necessary for the air to circulate correctly in the room so that the plants could grow well.)

  2. Bien que la nouvelle circulât depuis des semaines, je ne l’ai appris que hier. (Although the news had been circulating for weeks, I only found out yesterday.)

  3. Il préférait que les informations circulassent de manière confidentielle au sein de l’entreprise. (He preferred that the information circulated confidentially within the company.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je circulasse Je serais perdu si je circulasse dans cette ville. I would be lost if I were to travel in this city.
tu circulasses Si tu circulasses prudemment, tu éviterais les accidents. If you traveled cautiously, you would avoid accidents.
il circulât Il faudrait qu’il circulât moins vite pour éviter les amendes. He would have to drive slower to avoid fines.
elle circulât Elle serait plus détendue si elle circulât sur une autoroute. She would be more relaxed if she drove on a highway.
on circulât Si on circulât plus tôt, on arriverait à l’heure. If one traveled earlier, one would arrive on time.
nous circulassions Si nous circulassions ensemble, nous trouverions plus facilement. If we traveled together, we would find our way more easily.
vous circulassiez Si vous circulassiez plus souvent, vous économiseriez de l’essence. If you traveled more often, you would save on gas.
ils circulassent S’ils circulassent en voiture, ils arriveraient plus vite. If they traveled by car, they would arrive faster.
elles circulassent Si elles circulassent à pied, elles découvriraient plus de choses. If they traveled on foot, they would discover more things.

Other Conjugations for Circuler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb circuler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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