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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb compulser

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The English translation of the French verb compulser is “to compel” or “to force.” It is pronounced kɔ̃.pyl.ze.

The origin of the verb compulser can be traced back to the Latin word “compellere,” meaning “to drive together” or “to force.” In everyday French, compulser is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a wish, desire, or possibility in the past.

Here are three simple examples of compulser used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense with their English translations:

  1. J’aimerais que tu compulses ces informations avant de prendre ta décision. (I would like you to compel this information before making your decision.)

  2. Il fallait que nous compulsions tous nos efforts pour réussir. (We had to compel all of our efforts to succeed.)

  3. Je souhaitais que vous compulssiez votre coeur avant de me répondre. (I wished for you to compel your heart before answering me.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je compulsasse Si j’étais plus organisé, je compulsasse moins. If I were more organized, I would compulsively less.
tu compulsasses Si tu compulsasses moins, tu aurais plus de temps libre. If you compulsively less, you would have more free time.
il compulsât Il serait plus détendu si il compulsât moins. He would be more relaxed if he compulsively less.
elle compulsât Elle serait plus calme si elle compulsât moins. She would be calmer if she compulsively less.
on compulsât Si on compulsât moins, on serait moins stressé. If one compulsively less, one would be less stressed.
nous compulsassions Si nous compulsassions plus régulièrement, nous aurions plus de contrôle. If we compulsively more regularly, we would have more control.
vous compulsassiez Si vous compulsassiez ensemble, vous seriez plus efficaces. If you compulsively together, you would be more efficient.
ils compulsassent S’ils compulsassent plus tôt, ils seraient moins fatigués. If they compulsively earlier, they would be less tired.
elles compulsassent Si elles compulsassent moins, elles auraient plus de temps libre. If they compulsively less, they would have more free time.

Other Conjugations for Compulser.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb compulser
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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