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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb dégrafer

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The English translation of the French verb dégrafer is “to unfasten” or “to undo.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “dey-gra-fey.”

Dégrafer comes from the Old French word “grafer,” meaning “to fasten” or “to attach.” The prefix “dé-” adds a sense of reversal or undoing. It is most often used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Three examples of dégrafer in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense are:

  1. J’aimerais que tu dégrafes ta veste avant de te mettre à table. (I would like you to unfasten your jacket before sitting at the table.)
  2. Il fallait que je dégrafe mon soutien-gorge pour me sentir plus à l’aise. (I had to undo my bra to feel more comfortable.)
  3. Nous souhaitions que vous dégrafiez vos ceintures de sécurité avant de sortir de la voiture. (We wanted you to unfasten your seat belts before getting out of the car.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je dégrafasse Si j’avais un gros ventre, je dégrafasse mon pantalon. If I had a big belly, I would unbutton my pants.
tu dégrafasses Si tu portais une robe serrée, tu dégrafasses les boutons. If you wore a tight dress, you would unbutton the buttons.
il dégrafât Il serait plus à l’aise si il dégrafât sa cravate. He would be more comfortable if he unbuttoned his tie.
elle dégrafât Elle serait plus détendue si elle dégrafât sa ceinture. She would be more relaxed if she unbuttoned her belt.
on dégrafât Si on dégrafât les chemises, ça serait plus rapide à repasser. If one unbuttoned the shirts, it would be quicker to iron them.
nous dégrafassions Si nous dégrafassions nos vestes, nous aurions moins chaud. If we unbuttoned our jackets, we would be less hot.
vous dégrafassiez Si vous dégrafassiez votre chemise, vous seriez plus décontracté. If you unbuttoned your shirt, you would be more relaxed.
ils dégrafassent S’ils dégrafassent leurs pantalons, ils seraient plus à l’aise. If they unbuttoned their pants, they would be more comfortable.
elles dégrafassent Si elles dégrafassent leurs soutiens-gorge, elles seraient plus libres. If they unbuttoned their bras, they would be more free.

Other Conjugations for Dégrafer.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb dégrafer
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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