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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb dépasser

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The English translation of the French verb dépasser is “to surpass” or “to exceed.” It is pronounced as “day-pah-say.”

Dépasser has Latin origins, derived from the word “passare,” meaning “to pass.” In everyday French, it is most often used as a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object. It is commonly used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

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

  1. Il fallait que je dépassasse le camion pour arriver à l’heure. (I had to overtake the truck to arrive on time.)

  2. Il était important que nous dépassassions nos limites pour réussir. (It was important for us to surpass our limits to succeed.)

  3. Si je réussissais cet examen, je dépasserais mes attentes. (If I passed this exam, I would exceed my expectations.)

English translations:

  1. It was necessary for me to overtake the truck in order to arrive on time.
  2. It was important for us to go beyond our limits in order to succeed.
  3. If I passed this exam, I would surpass my expectations.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je dépassasse Si je dépassasse mes limites, je serais fier de moi. If I exceeded my limits, I would be proud of myself.
tu dépassasses Si tu dépassasses tes peurs, tu pourrais accomplir beaucoup. If you overcame your fears, you could accomplish a lot.
il dépassât Il aurait réussi si il dépassât ses concurrents. He would have succeeded if he surpassed his competitors.
elle dépassât Elle serait plus heureuse si elle dépassât ses attentes. She would be happier if she exceeded her expectations.
on dépassât Si on dépassât les obstacles, on pourrait atteindre nos objectifs. If one overcame obstacles, one could reach our goals.
nous dépassassions Si nous dépassassions nos limites, nous serions plus forts. If we exceeded our limits, we would be stronger.
vous dépassassiez Si vous dépassassiez vos peurs, vous pourriez réaliser vos rêves. If you overcame your fears, you could achieve your dreams.
ils dépassassent S’ils dépassassent leurs compétiteurs, ils gagneraient la course. If they surpassed their competitors, they would win the race.
elles dépassassent Si elles dépassassent leurs limites, elles pourraient réussir. If they exceeded their limits, they could succeed.

Other Conjugations for Dépasser.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb dépasser
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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