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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb déplumer

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The English translation of the French verb déplumer is “to pluck” or “to de-feather.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “dey-ploo-meh.”

Déplumer comes from the combination of the prefix “dé-” meaning “remove” and the noun “plume” which means “feather.” It is most often used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Here are three simple examples of déplumer in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, with their respective English translations:

  1. Il fallait que je déplumasse le poulet pour le repas. (It was necessary that I pluck the chicken for the meal.)
  2. Si j’avais su, j’aurais déplumé le dindon plus tôt. (If I had known, I would have plucked the turkey earlier.)
  3. Elle aurait préféré que tu ne déplumes pas les oies avant leur migration. (She would have preferred that you don’t pluck the geese before their migration.)

Overall, déplumer is often used to describe the action of removing feathers from a bird, but it can also be used metaphorically to mean “to strip” or “to take away something essential.” In the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, it is commonly used in conditional or hypothetical situations.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je déplumasse Si j’avais un poulet, je déplumasse sa queue. If I had a chicken, I would pluck its tail.
tu déplumasses Si tu avais un canard, tu déplumasses ses ailes. If you had a duck, you would pluck its wings.
il déplumât Il serait mécontent s’il déplumât sa dinde. He would be unhappy if he plucked his turkey.
elle déplumât Elle serait fatiguée si elle déplumât tout le jour. She would be tired if she plucked all day.
on déplumât Si on déplumât plus vite, on aurait plus de plumes. If one plucked faster, one would have more feathers.
nous déplumassions Si nous déplumassions un lapin, nous aurions de la viande. If we plucked a rabbit, we would have meat.
vous déplumassiez Si vous déplumassiez un oiseau, vous auriez des plumes. If you plucked a bird, you would have feathers.
ils déplumassent S’ils déplumassent un dindon, ils auraient un repas. If they plucked a turkey, they would have a meal.
elles déplumassent Si elles déplumassent un poulet, elles auraient une fête. If they plucked a chicken, they would have a celebration.

Other Conjugations for Déplumer.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb déplumer
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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