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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb désenfiler

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of désenfiler. 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 désenfiler is “to unthread” or “to unlace.” It is pronounced “day-zan-fee-lay.”

The verb désenfiler comes from the prefix “dé-“, meaning “un-” or “undo,” and the verb “enfiler,” meaning “to thread” or “to lace.” It is a regular -er verb in French, meaning that it follows the same conjugation patterns as other -er verbs.

In everyday French, the verb désenfiler is most often used in the subjonctif imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. It is usually used after the conjunction “que” and is often followed by the conditional tense in the main clause.

Examples:

  1. J’aurais aimé que tu désenfiles tes chaussures avant d’entrer dans la maison. (I would have liked you to take off your shoes before entering the house.)
  2. Il fallait que je désenfile mon collier pour qu’il puisse le réparer. (I had to unlace my necklace so that he could fix it.)
  3. Nous préférions que vous désenfiliez vos gants avant de toucher les objets anciens. (We preferred you to unlace your gloves before touching the antique objects.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je désenfilasse Si j’avais su, je désenfilasse plus vite. If I had known, I would have threaded faster.
tu désenfilasses Tu ferais mieux si tu désenfilasses calmement. You would do better if you calmly unthreaded.
il désenfilât Il serait satisfait si il désenfilât proprement. He would be satisfied if he unthreaded neatly.
elle désenfilât Elle serait plus efficace si elle désenfilât rapidement. She would be more efficient if she unthreaded quickly.
on désenfilât Si on désenfilât soigneusement, on ne se blesserait pas. If one unthreaded carefully, one wouldn’t get hurt.
nous désenfilassions Si nous désenfilassions avec attention, nous réussirions. If we unthreaded carefully, we would succeed.
vous désenfilassiez Si vous désenfilassiez plus souvent, vous seriez plus habiles. If you unthreaded more often, you would be more skilled.
ils désenfilassent S’ils désenfilassent prudemment, ils éviteraient les erreurs. If they unthreaded cautiously, they would avoid mistakes.
elles désenfilassent Si elles désenfilassent régulièrement, elles n’auraient pas de problèmes. If they unthreaded regularly, they wouldn’t have any problems.

Other Conjugations for Désenfiler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb désenfiler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 désenfiler Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts