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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb dépeigner

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of dépeigner. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

The English translation of the French verb dépeigner is “to comb out” or “to dishevel.” It is pronounced as “day-pen-yay.”

The word dépeigner comes from the French prefix “dé-” which means “un-” or “dis-” and the verb “peigner” which means “to comb.” Therefore, the literal meaning of dépeigner is “to uncomb” or “to discombobulate.”

In everyday French, dépeigner is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. It is commonly used in formal or literary contexts, and is often used to express a sense of doubt or possibility.

Here are 3 simple examples of dépeigner in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense:

  1. Il fallait que je dépeigne mes cheveux avant de sortir. (It was necessary for me to comb out my hair before going out.)
  2. Elle souhaitait que je dépeigne sa coiffure pour la soirée. (She wanted me to style her hair for the evening.)
  3. Nous craignions qu’il ne dépeigne ses cheveux avant la cérémonie. (We were afraid that he would dishevel his hair before the ceremony.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je dépeignisse Si j’avais plus de temps, je dépeignisse mes cheveux. If I had more time, I would comb my hair.
tu dépeignisses Si tu n’étais pas paresseux, tu dépeignisses tes cheveux. If you weren’t lazy, you would comb your hair.
il dépeignît Il aurait l’air plus présentable s’il dépeignît ses cheveux. He would look more presentable if he combed his hair.
elle dépeignît Elle serait plus élégante si elle dépeignît ses cheveux. She would be more elegant if she combed her hair.
on dépeignît Si on dépeignît tous les jours, on aurait les cheveux en désordre. If one combed every day, one’s hair would be messy.
nous dépeignissions Si nous dépeignissions ensemble, ce serait plus facile. If we combed together, it would be easier.
vous dépeignissiez Si vous dépeignissiez consciemment, vous éviteriez les nœuds. If you combed consciously, you would avoid tangles.
ils dépeignissent S’ils dépeignissent leurs cheveux, ils seraient plus détendus. If they combed their hair, they would be more relaxed.
elles dépeignissent Si elles dépeignissent leurs cheveux, ça prendrait du temps. If they combed their hair, it would take time.

Other Conjugations for Dépeigner.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb dépeigner
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Get a FREE Download Study Sheet of this Conjugation 🔥

Simply right click the image below, click “save image” and get your free reference for the dépeigner Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts