Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb contre-passer

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The English translation of the French verb contre-passer is “to pass by again” or “to go back and forth.” Its infinitive form is pronounced “kohn-truh-pah-say.”

Contre-passer is derived from the French word “passer,” meaning “to pass.” The prefix “contre” adds the meaning of “opposite” or “against.” It is most often used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Here are three simple examples of its usage in this tense, with the respective English translations:

  1. Il fallait que je contre-passe devant chez toi pour aller au travail. (I had to pass by your house again to go to work.)

  2. Je souhaitais que tu contre-passes par la boulangerie pour acheter du pain. (I wished that you would go back and forth to the bakery to buy some bread.)

  3. Elle aurait aimé que nous contre-passions par la plage avant de rentrer à la maison. (She would have liked us to go back and forth by the beach before going home.)

Table of the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of contre-passer

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je contrepasse Si j’étais riche, je contrepasse cet obstacle. If I were rich, I would overcome this obstacle.
tu contrepasses Si tu t’entraînes, tu contrepasses plus facilement. If you train, you overcome easier.
il contrepasse Il serait ravi si il contrepasse ses peurs. He would be delighted if he overcame his fears.
elle contrepasse Elle serait fière si elle contrepasse ce défi. She would be proud if she overcame this challenge.
on contrepasse Si on contrepasse bien, on peut gagner. If one overcomes well, one can win.
nous contrepassions Si nous contrepassions nos limites, nous réussirions. If we overcame our limits, we would succeed.
vous contrepassiez Si vous contrepassiez vos rivaux, vous seriez les meilleurs. If you overcame your rivals, you would be the best.
ils contrepassent S’ils contrepassent leurs problèmes, ils seront plus forts. If they overcome their problems, they will be stronger.
elles contrepassent Si elles contrepassent ensemble, elles trouveront une solution. If they overcome together, they will find a solution.

Other Conjugations for Contre-Passer.

   
    Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer
   

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer
   

    Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer
   

    Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer
   

    Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer
   

    Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer
   

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

    Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer

    Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer

    Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer

    Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer
   

    Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer (this article)

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

    Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer
   

    Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer

    L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer

    L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb contre-passer

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Contre-Passer – 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 contre-passer. Still in a learning mood? Check out another TOTALLY random French verb conjugation!

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