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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb controuver

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The English translation of the French verb controuver is “to invent” or “to fabricate.” The infinitive form of controuver is pronounced as “kohn-troo-veh.”

The word controuver comes from the Latin word “contra,” meaning “against,” and the Old French word “trover,” meaning “to find.” It first appeared in the French language in the 12th century.

In everyday French, controuver is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which is used to express something that is uncertain or hypothetical in the past. This tense is formed by using the present tense of the verb avoir or être, followed by the past participle of the verb.

Here are 3 simple examples of how controuver is used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, with their respective English translations:

  1. Il fallait que je controuvasse une excuse pour ne pas aller à la fête. (I had to invent an excuse not to go to the party.)

  2. Je ne pense pas qu’il ait controuvé cette histoire. (I don’t think he made up this story.)

  3. Elle voulait que nous controuvrions un plan pour résoudre ce problème. (She wanted us to come up with a plan to solve this problem.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je controuvais Je serais surprise si je controuvais la vérité. I would be surprised if I discovered the truth.
tu controuvais Si tu avais raison, tu controuvais la solution. If you were right, you would find the solution.
il controuvait Il faudrait demander s’il controuvait des excuses. We should ask if he was making excuses.
elle controuvait Elle serait contente si elle controuvait le coupable. She would be happy if she found the culprit.
on controuvait Si on cherchait bien, on controuvait une solution. If we look well, we would find a solution.
nous controuvions Si nous controuvions une explication, nous la partagerions. If we find an explanation, we would share it.
vous controuviez Si vous controuviez une solution, ça serait fantastique. If you found a solution, it would be fantastic.
ils controuvaient S’ils controuvaient la situation, ils prendraient des mesures. If they figured out the situation, they would take action.
elles controuvaient Si elles controuvaient la réponse, elles la partageraient. If they found the answer, they would share it.

Other Conjugations for Controuver.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb controuver
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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