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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb considérer

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The English translation of the French verb considérer is to consider. It is pronounced “kon-see-deh-reh” in its infinitive form.

The word considérer comes from the Latin word “considerare,” meaning to observe or examine closely. It entered the French language in the 14th century.

In everyday French, considérer is most often used to express the action of analyzing, reflecting or judging something or someone. In the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, it is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain action or situation in the past.

Here are three simple examples of how considérer is used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, with their English translations:

  1. Il fallait que je considérasse toutes les options avant de prendre une décision. (It was necessary that I consider all options before making a decision.)
  2. Elle souhaitait que les élèves considérassent la question avec plus de sérieux. (She wished the students would consider the question more seriously.)
  3. Nous aimerions que vous considérassiez nos suggestions pour améliorer le projet. (We would like you to consider our suggestions to improve the project.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je considérasse Si je gagnais à la loterie, je considérasse d’acheter une maison. If I won the lottery, I would consider buying a house.
tu considérasses Si tu étudiais plus, tu considérasses mieux tes options. If you studied more, you would consider your options better.
il considérât Il serait plus heureux si il considérât plus les autres. He would be happier if he considered others more.
elle considérât Elle serait plus confiante si elle considérât toutes les possibilités. She would be more confident if she considered all possibilities.
on considérât Si on considérât les conséquences, on agirait différemment. If one considered the consequences, one would act differently.
nous considérassions Si nous considérassions tous les aspects, nous prendrions une meilleure décision. If we considered all aspects, we would make a better decision.
vous considérassiez Si vous considérassiez les opinions des autres, vous auriez plus de respect. If you considered the opinions of others, you would have more respect.
ils considérassent S’ils considérassent leurs erreurs, ils apprendraient de leurs expériences. If they considered their mistakes, they would learn from their experiences.
elles considérassent Si elles considérassent les conséquences de leurs actions, ça serait moins chaotique. If they considered the consequences of their actions, it would be less chaotic.

Other Conjugations for Considérer.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb considérer
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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