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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb composer

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of composer. 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 composer is “to compose.” It is pronounced as /koM-po-ZAY/.

The origin of the word “composer” comes from the Latin word “componere,” which means “to put together.” In everyday French, composer is most often used to refer to the act of creating music or writing. In the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, it is used to express a wish, a hypothetical situation, or a polite request.

1) J’aimerais que tu composasses une chanson pour notre anniversaire. (I would like you to compose a song for our anniversary.)
2) Si seulement je composais aussi bien que toi. (If only I could compose as well as you.)
3) Il était important que nous composassions une musique appropriée pour la cérémonie. (It was important for us to compose a suitable music for the ceremony.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je composasse Je serais content si je composasse une chanson. I would be happy if I composed a song.
tu composasses Si tu avais plus de temps, tu composasses plus. If you had more time, you would compose more.
il composât Il serait fier si il composât une belle musique. He would be proud if he composed a beautiful piece of music.
elle composât Elle serait heureuse si elle composât une symphonie. She would be happy if she composed a symphony.
on composât Si on composât une chanson d’amour, ça serait romantique. If one composed a love song, it would be romantic.
nous composassions Si nous composassions ensemble, nous aurions du plaisir. If we composed together, we would have fun.
vous composassiez Si vous composassiez une chanson, je l’écouterais. If you composed a song, I would listen to it.
ils composassent S’ils composassent un morceau de musique classique, je l’aimerais. If they composed a piece of classical music, I would like it.
elles composassent Si elles composassent une chanson pop, ça serait entraînant. If they composed a pop song, it would be catchy.

Other Conjugations for Composer.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb composer
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 composer Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts