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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb convoiter

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The English translation of the French verb convoiter is “to covet.” It is pronounced as “kon-vwah-tay.” The verb comes from the Old French word “convoitier,” which in turn comes from the Latin word “concupiscere,” meaning “to desire eagerly.”

In everyday French, the verb convoiter is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a desire or longing for something that is unlikely or impossible to obtain. It is used to convey a strong feeling of envy or greed.

Here are three examples of the usage of convoiter in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense with their respective English translations:

  1. Je craignais qu’il ne convoitât mon poste. (I feared that he coveted my position.)
  2. Il était évident que nous convoitions tous la même chose. (It was obvious that we all coveted the same thing.)
  3. Elle souhaitait ardemment qu’il ne convoitât pas sa meilleure amie. (She fervently wished that he didn’t covet her best friend.)

In all of these examples, the verb convoiter is used to express strong feelings of desire or envy in a hypothetical or unlikely situation. It is often used in conjunction with the conjunction “que” to introduce a subordinate clause in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je convoitasse Si j’avais plus d’argent, je convoitasse des vêtements de marque. If I had more money, I would covet designer clothes.
tu convoitasses Si tu réussissais, tu convoitasses moins ce que les autres ont. If you were successful, you would covet what others have less.
il convoitât Il serait heureux si il convoitât moins de possessions matérielles. He would be happy if he coveted fewer material possessions.
elle convoitât Elle serait jalouse si elle convoitât les mêmes choses que moi. She would be jealous if she coveted the same things as me.
on convoitât Si on convoitât moins, on serait plus satisfait. If one coveted less, one would be more satisfied.
nous convoitassions Si nous convoitassions moins, nous aurions plus de paix. If we coveted less, we would have more peace.
vous convoitassiez Si vous convoitassiez moins, vous seriez plus détendu. If you coveted less, you would be more relaxed.
ils convoitassent S’ils convoitassent moins, ils aimeraient plus ce qu’ils ont. If they coveted less, they would appreciate more what they have.
elles convoitassent Si elles convoitassent moins, elles seraient plus contentes. If they coveted less, they would be happier.

Other Conjugations for Convoiter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb convoiter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Convoiter – 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.

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