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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb débraser

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The English translation of the French verb débraser is “to unfasten” or “to loosen.” It is pronounced as day-brah-zay.

The word débraser comes from the Latin word “disbracare,” meaning “to free from the arm.” It is most often used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Here are three simple examples of débraser used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense:

  1. Il fallait que je débrase mes cheveux avant de me coucher. (It was necessary for me to unfasten my hair before going to bed.)
  2. Je souhaitais que tu débrases tes chaussures en entrant dans la maison. (I wished for you to unfasten your shoes when entering the house.)
  3. Elle préférait que nous débrasions le col de sa chemise pour plus de confort. (She preferred for us to loosen the collar of her shirt for more comfort.)

English translations:

  1. I had to unfasten my hair before going to bed.
  2. I wanted you to unfasten your shoes when entering the house.
  3. She preferred for us to loosen the collar of her shirt for more comfort.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je débrasasse S’il faisait beau, je débrasasse les fenêtres. If the weather was nice, I would open the windows.
tu débrasasses Si tu avais le temps, tu débrasasses les meubles. If you had time, you would move the furniture.
il débrasât Il serait content si il débrasât avant de partir. He would be happy if he cleared before leaving.
elle débrasât Elle serait surprise si elle débrasât les murs. She would be surprised if she uncluttered the walls.
on débrasât Si on débrasât tous les jours, on aurait moins de désordre. If one cleared every day, there would be less clutter.
nous débrasassions Si nous débrasassions ensemble, ça irait plus vite. If we cleared together, it would go faster.
vous débrasassiez Si vous débrasassiez avant de partir, on serait plus organisés. If you cleared before leaving, we would be more organized.
ils débrasassent S’ils débrasassent plus souvent, ils seraient plus efficaces. If they cleared more often, they would be more efficient.
elles débrasassent Si elles débrasassent ensemble, ça irait mieux. If they cleared together, it would go better.

Other Conjugations for Débraser.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb débraser
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Struggling with French verbs or the language in general? Why not use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!
   

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

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