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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb creuser

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The English translation of the French verb creuser is “to dig.” It is pronounced as “kruh-zay.”

The origin of the word creuser can be traced back to the Latin word “cavus” meaning “hollow” or “cavity.” In everyday French, creuser is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which is a literary or formal tense used to express uncertainties, wishes, or hypothetical situations.

Three simple examples of its usage in this tense are:

  1. Il fallait que je creusasse un trou pour planter cet arbre. (It was necessary for me to dig a hole to plant this tree.)
  2. Je voulais que tu creusasses un puits dans le jardin. (I wanted you to dig a well in the garden.)
  3. Elle aimerait que nous creusassions un tunnel pour rejoindre l’autre côté de la montagne. (She would like us to dig a tunnel to reach the other side of the mountain.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je creusasse Si j’étais plus fort, je creusasse plus vite. If I were stronger, I would dig faster.
tu creusasses Si tu n’avais pas peur, tu creusasses plus profondément. If you weren’t afraid, you would dig deeper.
il creusât Il serait plus satisfait si il creusât un trou. He would be more satisfied if he dug a hole.
elle creusât Elle serait plus heureuse si elle creusât un puits. She would be happier if she dug a well.
on creusât Si on creusât ensemble, on pourrait trouver un trésor. If one dug together, one could find a treasure.
nous creusassions Si nous creusassions dans le même sens, on irait plus vite. If we dug in the same direction, we would go faster.
vous creusassiez Si vous creusassiez plus profond, vous trouveriez peut-être une source. If you dug deeper, you might find a spring.
ils creusassent S’ils creusassent un peu, ils pourraient planter des arbres. If they dug a little, they could plant trees.
elles creusassent Si elles creusassent une tranchée, ça faciliterait le passage. If they dug a trench, it would make passage easier.

Other Conjugations for Creuser.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb creuser
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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