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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb complimenter

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of complimenter. 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 complimenter is “to compliment.” It is pronounced “kohm-plee-mahn-tey.”

Complimenter comes from the Latin word “complimentum,” meaning “courtesy” or “politeness.” It entered the French language in the 17th century and evolved to take on the meaning of giving verbal praise or admiration.

In everyday French, complimenter is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a wish or a possibility, often in a polite or formal context. Here are three simple examples of its usage in this tense, with their respective English translations:

  1. J’aurais aimé que tu me complimentes sur ma nouvelle tenue. (I would have liked for you to compliment me on my new outfit.)
  2. Il fallait que je complimenterais mes collègues pour leur excellent travail. (It was necessary for me to compliment my colleagues on their excellent work.)
  3. Nous souhaiterions que nos invités nous complimentent sur la décoration de la salle. (We would like for our guests to compliment us on the decoration of the room.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je complimentasse Je serais content si je complimentasse plus souvent. I would be happy if I complimented more often.
tu complimentasses Si tu complimentasses plus sincèrement, ça serait mieux. If you complimented more sincerely, it would be better.
il complimentât Il serait surpris si il complimentât tout le monde. He would be surprised if he complimented everyone.
elle complimentât Elle serait ravie si elle complimentât ses amis. She would be delighted if she complimented her friends.
on complimentât Si on complimentât moins, ça serait plus original. If one complimented less, it would be more original.
nous complimentassions Si nous complimentassions plus souvent, nous aurions plus de confiance en nous. If we complimented more often, we would have more confidence in ourselves.
vous complimentassiez Si vous complimentassiez moins, vous seriez moins agréables. If you complimented less, you would be less pleasant.
ils complimentassent Si ils complimentassent plus, ils auraient plus d’amis. If they complimented more, they would have more friends.
elles complimentassent Si elles complimentassent leurs collègues, ça serait plus professionnel. If they complimented their colleagues, it would be more professional.

Other Conjugations for Complimenter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb complimenter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 complimenter Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts