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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb déboîter

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The English translation of the French verb déboîter is “to dislocate” or “to unhinge.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “day-bwah-ee-tay.”

Déboîter comes from the French word “boîte,” which means “box.” It is derived from the Latin word “buxus,” meaning “boxwood.” In everyday French, déboîter is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which is a mood used to express hypothetical or uncertain actions in the past.

Example 1: Il fallait que je déboîte mon épaule. (It was necessary for me to dislocate my shoulder.)
Example 2: J’aurais aimé que tu déboîtes le verrou. (I would have liked for you to unhinge the lock.)
Example 3: Il était possible que nous nous déboîtions les doigts en faisant du sport. (It was possible that we would dislocate our fingers while playing sports.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je déboîtasse Si j’étais plus fort, je déboîtasse le bouchon. If I were stronger, I would open the cork.
tu déboîtasses Si tu t’entraînais plus, tu déboîtasses plus facilement. If you trained more, you would open more easily.
il déboîtât Il serait content si il déboîtât l’objet. He would be happy if he opened the object.
elle déboîtât Elle serait surprise si elle déboîtât le couvercle. She would be surprised if she opened the lid.
on déboîtât Si on déboîtât plus souvent, on deviendrait plus habile. If one opened more often, one would become more skilled.
nous déboîtassions Si nous déboîtassions ensemble, ça irait mieux. If we opened together, it would go better.
vous déboîtassiez Si vous déboîtassiez ce matin, vous auriez plus de temps. If you opened this morning, you would have more time.
ils déboîtassent S’ils déboîtassent rapidement, ils seraient plus efficaces. If they opened quickly, they would be more efficient.
elles déboîtassent Si elles déboîtassent en silence, ça serait mieux. If they opened quietly, it would be better.

Other Conjugations for Déboîter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb déboîter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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