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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb corser

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The English translation of the French verb corser is to strengthen or to toughen. The infinitive form is pronounced “korsay.”

The word corser comes from the Latin word “cursare” which means “to run.” It was originally used in the context of horses, meaning to train a horse to run faster or to strengthen its muscles. Over time, the meaning evolved and it is now used in a more general sense to mean to make something stronger or more resistant.

In everyday French, corser is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. It is typically used after the conjunction “que” and expresses a desired or imagined outcome.

Example 1: Il voulait que je corsasse mon endurance avant la course.
English translation: He wanted me to toughen up my endurance before the race.

Example 2: Je souhaitais que mes muscles se corssent pour pouvoir soulever plus de poids.
English translation: I wished my muscles would strengthen so I could lift more weight.

Example 3: Il aurait fallu que tu corsses ton courage pour surmonter tes peurs.
English translation: You would have had to strengthen your courage to overcome your fears.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je corasse Je doute qu’il corasse les cheveux. I doubt he would curl his hair.
tu corasses Si tu étais plus patient, tu corasses mieux. If you were more patient, you would curl better.
il corsât Il aurait l’air plus élégant s’il corsât ses cheveux. He would look more elegant if he curled his hair.
elle corsât Elle serait plus jolie si elle corsât ses cheveux. She would look prettier if she curled her hair.
on corsât Si on corsât tous les jours, on aurait les cheveux bouclés. If one curled every day, one would have curly hair.
nous corsassions Si nous corsassions ensemble, on aurait des styles similaires. If we curled together, we would have similar styles.
vous corsassiez Si vous corsassiez plus, vous auriez des boucles parfaites. If you curled more, you would have perfect curls.
ils corsassent S’ils corsassent comme ça, ils auront des cheveux frisés. If they curled like that, they would have curly hair.
elles corsassent Si elles corsassent ensemble, elles auraient des coiffures assorties. If they curled together, they would have matching hairstyles.

Other Conjugations for Corser.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb corser
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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