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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb déboucher

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The English translation of the French verb déboucher is to unblock or to unclog. It is pronounced as “day-boo-shay” in its infinitive form.

Déboucher comes from the Old French word “desbochier”, which means “to unplug”. It is most often used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses actions or events that are uncertain or hypothetical in the past.

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

  1. Il fallait que je débouche l’évier avant de faire la vaisselle. (I had to unclog the sink before doing the dishes.)
  2. Je regrettais que tu ne débouches pas la baignoire après ton bain. (I was sorry that you didn’t unclog the bathtub after your bath.)
  3. La plombière était surprise que nous débouchions les toilettes nous-mêmes. (The plumber was surprised that we unclogged the toilet ourselves.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je débouchasse Il serait plus facile si je débouchasse l’évier. It would be easier if I unclogged the sink.
tu débouchasses Si tu débouchasses l’évier régulièrement, il ne serait pas bouché. If you unclogged the sink regularly, it wouldn’t be clogged.
il débouchât Il serait plus rapide si il débouchât la canalisation. It would be quicker if he unclogged the pipe.
elle débouchât Elle serait contente si elle débouchât la douche. She would be happy if she unclogged the shower.
on débouchât Si on débouchât le tuyau, on pourrait arroser le jardin. If one unclogged the hose, we could water the garden.
nous débouchassions Si nous débouchassions le lavabo ensemble, ça serait plus facile. If we unclogged the sink together, it would be easier.
vous débouchassiez Si vous débouchassiez la bouteille, nous pourrions boire. If you unclogged the bottle, we could drink.
ils débouchassent S’ils débouchassent le canal, l’eau ne serait pas stagnante. If they unclogged the canal, the water wouldn’t be stagnant.
elles débouchassent Si elles débouchassent le tuyau, ça serait plus propre. If they unclogged the pipe, it would be cleaner.

Other Conjugations for Déboucher.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb déboucher
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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