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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb débaucher

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The English translation of the French verb débaucher is “to seduce” or “to corrupt.” It is pronounced “day-bo-shay.”

Débaucher comes from the Old French word “desbaucher,” meaning “to entice from work.” In everyday French, it is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. This tense is used to convey a sense of doubt or subjectivity.

Three simple examples of débaucher in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense are:

  1. Il fallait que je ne te débauchasse pas. (I had to make sure not to corrupt you.)
  2. Si tu avais travaillé plus dur, tu n’aurais pas été débauché. (If you had worked harder, you wouldn’t have been seduced.)
  3. Il aurait été préférable que nous ne débauchions personne pour ce projet. (It would have been preferable for us not to seduce anyone for this project.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je débauchasse Je serais plus riche si je débauchasse moins. I would be richer if I didn’t poach employees.
tu débauchasses Si tu te reposes plus, tu débauchasses moins. If you rested more, you wouldn’t poach as much.
il débauchât Il serait plus heureux si il débauchât d’autres. He would be happier if he poached others.
elle débauchât Elle rirait si elle débauchât des employés talentueux. She would laugh if she poached talented employees.
on débauchât Si on débauchât moins, on créerait moins de conflits. If one poached less, there would be less conflict.
nous débauchassions Si nous débauchassions ensemble, nous réussirions. If we poached together, we would succeed.
vous débauchassiez Si vous débauchassiez plus, vous auriez plus de succès. If you poached more, you would have more success.
ils débauchassent S’ils débauchassent aujourd’hui, ils seraient renvoyés. If they poached today, they would be fired.
elles débauchassent Si elles débauchassent moins, elles gagneraient plus. If they poached less, they would earn more.

Other Conjugations for Débaucher.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débaucher
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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