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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb désempeser

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of désempeser. 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 désempeser is “to dismount” or “to unseat.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “day-zuhm-pey-zay.”

Désempeser comes from the Old French word “semer,” meaning “to sow” or “to spread,” and the prefix “des-” which means “to undo.” It is most commonly used in the context of horseback riding, but can also refer to dismounting from any sort of vehicle or mount.

In the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, désempeser is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. It is often used in conjunction with other verbs, such as “pouvoir” (to be able to) or “devoir” (to have to).

Example 1: Il fallait que je désempesasse avant la pluie. (I had to dismount before the rain.)
Example 2: Nous aurions dû désempeser avant la nuit. (We should have dismounted before nightfall.)
Example 3: Si tu avais peur, tu aurais pu te désempeser. (If you were scared, you could have dismounted.)

In all of these examples, the Subjonctif Imparfait tense is used to express uncertainty or a hypothetical situation in the past. The use of désempeser in this tense conveys the act of dismounting as a potential or desired action, rather than a definite action that has already taken place.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je désempesasse Je n’aurais pas de problèmes si je me désempesasse. I wouldn’t have problems if I relaxed.
tu désempesasses Si tu te désempesasses, tu serais plus calme. If you relaxed, you would be calmer.
il désempesât Il serait plus heureux si il se désempesât. He would be happier if he relaxed.
elle désempesât Si elle se désempesât dans l’eau, elle flotterait. If she relaxed in the water, she would float.
on désempesât Si on se désempesât devant le feu, on se réchaufferait. If one relaxed in front of the fire, one would warm up.
nous désempesassions Si nous nous désempesassions, nous serions moins stressés. If we relaxed, we would be less stressed.
vous désempesassiez Si vous vous désempesassiez, vous seriez plus détendus. If you relaxed, you would be more relaxed.
ils désempesassent S’ils se désempesassent, ils seraient moins tendus. If they relaxed, they would be less tense.
elles désempesassent Si elles se désempesassent, elles se reposeraient mieux. If they relaxed, they would rest better.

Other Conjugations for Désempeser.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb désempeser
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 désempeser Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts