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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb déambuler

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The English translation of the French verb déambuler is “to stroll” or “to wander”. It is pronounced as “day-ahm-buh-leh”.

Déambuler is derived from the Latin word “ambulare” which means “to walk”. It is commonly used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action that took place in the past.

Here are three examples of déambuler in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense with their English translations:

  1. Je souhaitais que tu déambulasses avec moi dans les rues de Paris.
    (I wished that you would stroll with me in the streets of Paris.)

  2. Il était important que nous déambulions tranquillement dans le parc.
    (It was important that we calmly wander in the park.)

  3. J’aurais aimé que vous déambuliez moins vite pour que je puisse vous suivre.
    (I would have liked for you to walk more slowly so I could follow you.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je déambulasse Je voudrais que je déambulasse dans les rues de Paris. I wish I could wander the streets of Paris.
tu déambulasses Tu serais heureux si tu déambulasses avec moi. You would be happy if you strolled with me.
il déambulât Je ne crois pas qu’il déambulât si tard la nuit. I don’t think he would stroll so late at night.
elle déambulât Si elle déambulât plus souvent, elle serait plus en forme. If she walked more often, she would be in better shape.
on déambulât Il faut que on déambulât pour découvrir la ville. We have to wander to discover the city.
nous déambulassions Nous serions plus détendus si nous déambulassions en forêt. We would be more relaxed if we wandered in the forest.
vous déambulassiez Si vous déambulassiez main dans la main, ça serait romantique. If you walked hand in hand, it would be romantic.
ils déambulassent Ils auraient pu être amis s’ils déambulassent ensemble. They could have been friends if they strolled together.
elles déambulassent Si elles déambulassent dans la nature, elles verraient plus d’oiseaux. If they wandered in nature, they would see more birds.

Other Conjugations for Déambuler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb déambuler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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