Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Introduction to the verb débrailler
The English translation of the French verb débrailler is “to dishevel” or “to unknot.” In the infinitive form, it is pronounced as “day-bra-yay.”
Débrailler comes from the Old French word “desbrailler,” which means “to loosen” or “to unfasten.” It is a combination of the prefix “des,” which indicates separation, and the word “brailler,” meaning “to call” or “to shout.” This reflects the original meaning of the verb, which was to loosen or undo something with force.
In everyday French, débrailler is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or unlikely action in the past. It is usually used in subordinate clauses following a main clause in the past tense.
Example 1: Je doutais qu’il débraillât ses cheveux avant de sortir. (I doubted that he would dishevel his hair before going out.)
Example 2: Elle souhaitait que je ne débraillasse pas ma cravate pour le dîner. (She wished that I would not unknot my tie for dinner.)
Example 3: Il était étonné que son fils débraillât ses vêtements après avoir fait du sport. (He was surprised that his son would dishevel his clothes after playing sports.)
In all of these examples, the subjunctive imperfect form of débrailler is used to indicate a hypothetical or unlikely action in the past. The main clause in each sentence is in the past tense, while the subordinate clause uses the subjunctive imperfect form of débrailler. The English translations also use the conditional tense to reflect the subjunctive mood in French.
Table of the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of débrailler
Pronoun | Conjugation | Example Usage | English Translation |
---|---|---|---|
je | débraillasse | Si j’étais en retard, je débraillasse ma tenue. | If I were late, I would dishevel my outfit. |
tu | débraillasses | Si tu ne rangeais pas ta chambre, tu débraillasses tes vêtements. | If you didn’t clean your room, you would dishevel your clothes. |
il | débraillât | Il serait plus élégant s’il débraillât moins souvent. | He would be more elegant if he didn’t dishevel himself so often. |
elle | débraillât | Elle me décevrait si elle débraillât ses cheveux. | She would disappoint me if she disheveled her hair. |
on | débraillât | Si on débraillât trop, on aurait l’air négligent. | If one disheveled too much, one would look careless. |
nous | débraillassions | Si nous avions manqué le train, nous débraillassions nos valises en courant. | If we had missed the train, we would dishevel our suitcases while running. |
vous | débraillassiez | Si vous ne vous brossiez pas les cheveux, vous débraillassiez vos coiffures. | If you didn’t brush your hair, you would dishevel your hairstyles. |
ils | débraillassent | S’ils ne portaient pas de ceinture, ils débraillassent leurs pantalons. | If they didn’t wear a belt, they would dishevel their trousers. |
elles | débraillassent | Si elles ne se coiffaient pas, elles débraillassent leurs cheveux. | If they didn’t do their hair, they would dishevel their hair. |
Other Conjugations for Débrailler.
Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Passé Simple (Simple Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Passé Composé (Present Perfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Futur Simple (Simple Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Futur Proche (Near Future) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Passé Antérieur (Past Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Futur Antérieur (Future Anterior) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Subjonctif Présent (Subjunctive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Subjonctif Passé (Subjunctive Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler (this article)
Subjonctif Plus-que-parfait (Subjunctive Pluperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Conditionnel Présent (Conditional Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
Conditionnel Passé (Conditional Past) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
L’impératif Présent (Imperative Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
L’infinitif Présent (Infinitive Present) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débrailler
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Débrailler – About the French Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) Tense
Formation
Common Everyday Usage Patterns
Interactions with Other Tenses
Subjonctif Présent
Indicatif Passé Composé
Conditional
Conditional Perfect
Summary
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