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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb dessaouler

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The English translation of the French verb dessaouler is “to sober up.” The infinitive form of dessaouler is pronounced “deh-soh-leh.”

Dessaouler originated from the combination of the prefix “de-” meaning “to remove” and the word “saoul” meaning “drunk” or “intoxicated.” It is most often used in everyday French in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which is commonly used to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Three simple examples of dessaouler in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense are:

  1. Il fallait que je dessaoule avant de conduire. (I had to sober up before driving.)

  2. Elle préférait que son mari dessaoule avant de rentrer à la maison. (She preferred that her husband sober up before coming home.)

  3. Il était nécessaire que nous dessaoulions avant le dîner. (It was necessary that we sober up before dinner.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je dessaoulasse J’aurais pu dessoulasse si j’avais bu moins. I could have sobered up if I drank less.
tu dessaollasses Tu te sentiras mieux si tu dessaollasses un peu. You’ll feel better if you sober up a bit.
il dessaolât Il voudrait que tu dessaolât avant de partir. He would want you to sober up before leaving.
elle dessaolât Elle serait contente si elle dessaolât plus vite. She would be happy if she sobered up faster.
on dessaolât Si on dessaolât en marchant, ça serait moins fatiguant. If one sobered up while walking, it would be less tiring.
nous dessaolassions Si nous dessaolassions ensemble, ça serait plus amusant. If we sobered up together, it would be more fun.
vous dessaolassiez Si vous dessaolassiez moins rapidement, vous ne vous feriez pas mal. If you sobered up less quickly, you wouldn’t hurt yourself.
ils dessaolassent S’ils dessaolassent plus souvent, ils n’auraient pas de problème. If they sobered up more often, they wouldn’t have a problem.
elles dessaolassent Si elles dessaolassent avant de prendre le vol, ça serait mieux. If they sobered up before taking the flight, it would be better.

Other Conjugations for Dessaouler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb dessaouler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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