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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb débâcler

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The English translation of the French verb débâcler is “to collapse” or “to fail”. The infinitive form is pronounced “day-bah-klay”.

Débâcler comes from the Old French word “débacle”, meaning “a breaking up or falling apart”. It is most often used in every day French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Examples:

  1. Il fallait que je débâcle le projet avant qu’il soit trop tard. – I needed to collapse the project before it was too late.
  2. Elle craignait que sa réputation ne se débâcle après le scandale. – She feared that her reputation would collapse after the scandal.
  3. Nous aurions préféré que le mariage ne débâcle pas si rapidement. – We would have preferred the marriage not to collapse so quickly.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je débâclasse Il serait surpris si je débâclasse le projet. He would be surprised if I failed the project.
tu débâclasses Si tu te concentres, tu débâclasses la compétition. If you focus, you outdo the competition.
il débâclât Il serait heureux si il débâclât sa dépendance. He would be happy if he overcame his addiction.
elle débâclât Elle serait déçue si elle débâclât ses examens. She would be disappointed if she failed her exams.
on débâclât Si on débâclât le projet, ça serait dommage. If we failed the project, it would be a shame.
nous débâclassions Si nous débâclassions l’entreprise, ça serait un succès. If we succeeded in the company, it would be a success.
vous débâclassiez Si vous débâclassiez vos adversaires, vous seriez les champions. If you beat your opponents, you would be the champions.
ils débâclassent S’ils débâclassent l’adversaire, ils vont gagner. If they beat the opponent, they will win.
elles débâclassent Si elles se concentrent, elles débâclassent la compétition. If they focus, they outdo the competition.

Other Conjugations for Débâcler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débâcler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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