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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb claqueter

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of claqueter. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb claqueter is “to click” or “to clack.” The infinitive form is pronounced “klah-keh-teh.”

The word “claqueter” comes from the Latin word “claquere,” meaning “to clap.” It is mostly used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Here are three examples of how “claqueter” can be used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, with their English translations:

  1. Il fallait que le clavier claquetât pour qu’elle puisse se concentrer. (It was necessary for the keyboard to click for her to concentrate.)

  2. Je préférais que les oiseaux claquetassent plutôt que le silence total. (I preferred for the birds to chirp rather than complete silence.)

  3. Il était possible que les talons de ses bottes claquetassent sur le sol en bois. (It was possible for the heels of her boots to click on the wooden floor.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je claquetais Si j’étais un oiseau, je claquetais tout le temps. If I were a bird, I would clack all the time.
tu claquetais Si tu te promènes, tu claquetais dans tes chaussures. If you walk, your shoes would clack.
il claquetaît Il serait ennuyé si il claquetaît continuellement. He would be annoyed if he clacked constantly.
elle claquetaît Elle aurait peur si elle claquetaît dans le noir. She would be scared if she clacked in the dark.
on claquetaît Si on claquetaît au rythme de la musique, ça serait amusant. If one clacked to the beat of the music, it would be fun.
nous claquetions Si nous claquetions nos doigts, nous pourrions faire de la musique. If we clicked our fingers, we could make music.
vous claquetiez Si vous claquetiez des dents, ça voudrait dire que vous avez froid. If you chattered your teeth, it would mean you’re cold.
ils claquetaient S’ils claquetaient des bises, ils seraient plus polis. If they kissed, they would be more polite.
elles claquetaient Si elles claquetaient des talons, ça ferait beaucoup de bruit. If they clicked their heels, it would make a lot of noise.

Other Conjugations for Claqueter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb claqueter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get a FREE Download Study Sheet of this Conjugation 🔥

Simply right click the image below, click “save image” and get your free reference for the claqueter Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts