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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb débâcher

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The English translation of the French verb débâcher is “to uncover” or “to take down.”

The infinitive form, débâcher, is pronounced “day-bah-shay.”

Débâcher comes from the French word “bâche,” which means “tarp” or “cover.” It is most often used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

1) Il fallait que je débâchasse la voiture avant la tempête. (I had to uncover the car before the storm.)
2) J’aurais aimé que tu débâches la piscine pour qu’on puisse se baigner. (I wish you had taken down the pool cover so we could go swimming.)
3) Il était important que nous débâchions les meubles avant de peindre. (It was important that we uncovered the furniture before painting.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je débâchasse Si je débâchasse, je serais plus libre. If I uncovered, I would be more free.
tu débâchasses Si tu te débâchasses, tu te sentirais mieux. If you uncovered, you would feel better.
il débâchât Si il débâchât, il pourrait voir le ciel. If he uncovered, he could see the sky.
elle débâchât Si elle débâchât, elle pourrait se rafraîchir. If she uncovered, she could cool off.
on débâchât Si on débâchât, on pourrait voir les étoiles. If one uncovered, one could see the stars.
nous débâchassions Si nous débâchassions, nous pourrions prendre de l’air. If we uncovered, we could get some fresh air.
vous débâchassiez Si vous débâchassiez, vous auriez moins chaud. If you uncovered, you would be less hot.
ils débâchassent S’ils débâchassent, ils pourraient observer les nuages. If they uncovered, they could observe the clouds.
elles débâchassent Si elles débâchassent, elles pourraient sentir l’odeur de la pluie. If they uncovered, they could smell the rain.

Other Conjugations for Débâcher.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débâcher
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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