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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb danser

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The English translation of the French verb danser is “to dance.” It is pronounced as “dahn-say” in the infinitive form.

Danser comes from the Latin word “dansare,” meaning “to dance.” It entered the French language in the 12th century and was originally used in a general sense to refer to any kind of physical movement. However, by the 15th century, it became more specifically associated with the act of dancing.

In everyday French, the verb danser is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. This tense is formed by using the present subjunctive form of the auxiliary verb “être” or “avoir,” followed by the past participle of danser.

Example 1: Je souhaitais que tu dansasses avec moi.
Translation: I wished that you would dance with me.

Example 2: Il fallait qu’elle dansât avec grâce.
Translation: She had to dance gracefully.

Example 3: Nous aurions aimé que vous dansassiez toute la nuit.
Translation: We would have liked for you to dance all night.

In these examples, the Subjonctif Imparfait tense is used to express a desire, requirement, or regret in the past. It is often used in more formal or literary contexts.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je dansasse Si j’étais plus jeune, je dansasse toute la nuit. If I were younger, I would dance all night.
tu dansasses Si tu avais le temps, tu dansasses avec moi. If you had the time, you would dance with me.
il dansât Il aurait pu gagner s’il dansât mieux. He could have won if he danced better.
elle dansât Elle serait plus heureuse si elle dansât plus souvent. She would be happier if she danced more often.
on dansât Si on dansât ensemble, ça serait amusant. If one danced together, it would be fun.
nous dansassions Si nous dansassions tous les jours, nous serions en forme. If we danced every day, we would be in shape.
vous dansassiez Si vous dansassiez mieux, vous seriez invités aux fêtes. If you danced better, you would be invited to parties.
ils dansassent S’ils dansassent plus lentement, je ne serais pas fatigué. If they danced more slowly, I wouldn’t be tired.
elles dansassent Si elles dansassent en rythme, ça serait impressionnant. If they danced in rhythm, it would be impressive.

Other Conjugations for Danser.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb danser
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Danser – 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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