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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb complexer

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The English translation of the French verb complexer is “to feel self-conscious/to have insecurities.” It is pronounced as “kohm-plek-seh.”

The word “complexer” comes from the Latin word “complexus,” meaning “surrounded” or “embraced.” In everyday French, it is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a feeling of self-doubt or insecurity in a hypothetical or uncertain situation.

Here are three simple examples of its usage in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, with their English translations:

  1. J’avais peur qu’il me complexe à cause de mon accent. (I was afraid that he would make me feel self-conscious because of my accent.)
  2. Elle aurait aimé que ses parents ne la complexent pas autant. (She wished her parents wouldn’t make her feel so insecure.)
  3. Nous ne voulions pas que la nouvelle situation nous complexe. (We didn’t want the new situation to make us feel self-conscious.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je complexasse Si j’avais tort, je complexasse plus. If I were wrong, I would be more self-conscious.
tu complexasses Tu serais plus heureux si tu complexasses moins. You would be happier if you were less self-conscious.
il complexât Il serait plus confiant s’il complexât moins. He would be more confident if he were less self-conscious.
elle complexât Elle serait plus à l’aise si elle complexât moins. She would be more comfortable if she were less self-conscious.
on complexât Si on complexât moins, on serait plus détendu. If one were less self-conscious, one would be more relaxed.
nous complexassions Si nous complexassions ensemble, on s’amuserait plus. If we were self-conscious together, we would have more fun.
vous complexassiez Si vous ne complexassiez pas autant, vous seriez plus naturel. If you weren’t so self-conscious, you would be more natural.
ils complexassent S’ils complexassent moins, ils se sentiraient mieux. If they were less self-conscious, they would feel better.
elles complexassent Si elles complexassent moins, elles seraient plus à l’aise. If they were less self-conscious, they would be more comfortable.

Other Conjugations for Complexer.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb complexer
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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