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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb dépanner

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The English translation of the French verb dépanner is “to repair” or “to fix.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “deh-pan-nay.”

Dépanner comes from the French word “panne,” meaning breakdown or malfunction. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the act of fixing or repairing something, particularly in relation to mechanical or technical issues.

In the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, dépanner is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain situation in the past. It is often used in conditional sentences or to express a wish or desire.

Example 1:
Je souhaiterais que quelqu’un dépannât ma voiture.
Translation: I wish someone would fix my car.

Example 2:
Si j’avais su comment dépanner l’ordinateur, je l’aurais fait.
Translation: If I had known how to fix the computer, I would have done it.

Example 3:
Il aurait fallu que le mécanicien dépannât le moteur avant de partir en voyage.
Translation: The mechanic should have fixed the engine before going on a trip.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je dépannasse Si j’avais plus de temps, je dépannasse mon ordinateur. If I had more time, I would fix my computer.
tu dépannasses Si tu m’aidais, tu dépannasses mon téléphone. If you helped me, you would fix my phone.
il dépannât Il serait satisfait si il dépannât le chauffage. He would be satisfied if he fixed the heating.
elle dépannât Elle serait soulagée si elle dépannât le four. She would be relieved if she fixed the oven.
on dépannât Si on dépannât tout seul, on économiserait de l’argent. If one fixed it by themselves, they would save money.
nous dépannassions Si nous dépannassions nos vélos, on pourrait faire une balade. If we fixed our bikes, we could go for a ride.
vous dépannassiez Si vous dépannassiez le toit, il ne pleuvrait plus à l’intérieur. If you fixed the roof, it wouldn’t rain inside anymore.
ils dépannassent S’ils dépannassent les voitures, ils gagneraient beaucoup d’argent. If they fixed cars, they would make a lot of money.
elles dépannassent Si elles dépannassent leurs appareils électroménagers, elles économiseraient de l’énergie. If they fixed their appliances, they would save energy.

Other Conjugations for Dépanner.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb dépanner
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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