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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb courtiser

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of courtiser. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb courtiser is “to court” or “to woo.” The infinitive form, courtiser, is pronounced “koo-tee-zay.”

The word courtiser comes from the Old French word “cortois,” meaning “courteous.” It is most often used in modern French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses actions or states in a hypothetical or uncertain manner. This tense is commonly used when writing or speaking in a more formal or polite tone.

Three simple examples of courtiser in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense are:

  1. Il fallait que je courtise la jeune fille pour espérer gagner son coeur. (I had to court the young girl in order to hope to win her heart.)
  2. Nous lui demandions de courtiser sa patronne afin d’obtenir une promotion. (We were asking him to court his boss in order to get a promotion.)
  3. Les parents voulaient que leur fils courtise une fille de bonne famille. (The parents wanted their son to court a girl from a good family.)

In these examples, the verb courtiser is used to express a desire, request, or requirement in a hypothetical manner. Its usage in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense adds a sense of courtesy and respect to the sentences.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je courtisasse Je serais flatté si je courtisasse cette fille. I would be flattered if I courted this girl.
tu courtisasses Si tu la courtisasses, elle te donnerait son numéro. If you courted her, she would give you her number.
il courtisât Il serait heureux si il courtisât la princesse. He would be happy if he courted the princess.
elle courtisât Elle serait impressionnée si elle courtisât le prince. She would be impressed if she courted the prince.
on courtisât Si on me courtisât, je me sentirais spéciale. If someone courted me, I would feel special.
nous courtisassions Si nous courtisassions plus souvent, nous trouverions l’amour. If we courted more often, we would find love.
vous courtisassiez Si vous me courtisassiez, je serais tentée de dire oui. If you courted me, I would be tempted to say yes.
ils courtisassent S’ils courtisassent mieux, elles seraient plus intéressées. If they courted better, they would be more interested.
elles courtisassent Si elles courtisassent plus d’hommes, elles trouveraient l’amour. If they courted more men, they would find love.

Other Conjugations for Courtiser.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb courtiser
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get a FREE Download Study Sheet of this Conjugation 🔥

Simply right click the image below, click “save image” and get your free reference for the courtiser Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts