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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb compéter

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The English translation of the French verb compéter is “to complete.” It is pronounced as “kom-pey-tey” in its infinitive form.

The language origin of compéter can be traced back to the Latin word “completare,” which means “to fill up” or “to complete.” In everyday French usage, compéter is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Here are 3 simple examples of compéter in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense:

  1. Il fallait que je compète le projet avant la fin de la semaine. (It was necessary for me to complete the project before the end of the week.)

  2. Nous souhaiterions que vous compétiez cette tâche dès que possible. (We would like you to complete this task as soon as possible.)

  3. Il était important que les élèves compètent leurs devoirs avant la rentrée. (It was important for the students to complete their homework before the start of the school year.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je complétais Si j’étais plus fort, je complétais cette tâche. If I were stronger, I would complete this task.
tu complétais Si tu prenais ton temps, tu complétais mieux. If you took your time, you would complete better.
il complétât Il serait fier s’il complétât tous ses projets. He would be proud if he completed all his projects.
elle complétât Elle serait surprise si elle complétât en premier. She would be surprised if she completed first.
on complétât Si on complétât ensemble, ça serait plus rapide. If one completed together, it would be faster.
nous complétions Si nous complétions plus, nous aurions plus de succès. If we completed more, we would have more success.
vous complétiez Si vous complétiez ce travail, vous seriez payé. If you completed this work, you would be paid.
ils complétassent S’ils complétassent les exercices, ils s’amélioreraient. If they completed the exercises, they would improve.
elles complétassent Si elles complétassent leurs missions, elles seraient récompensées. If they completed their missions, they would be rewarded.

Other Conjugations for Compéter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compéter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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