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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb détaler

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The English translation of the French verb détaler is “to bolt/run away.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “deh-tah-lay.”

Détaler comes from the Old French word “detallir,” which means “to flee,” and ultimately derives from the Latin word “tallere,” meaning “to cut.” In modern everyday French, détaler is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Examples:

  1. Je craignais qu’il détale avant que je puisse le rattraper. (I was afraid he would bolt before I could catch him.)
  2. Il fallait qu’ils détalent dès que le chien a commencé à aboyer. (They had to run away as soon as the dog started barking.)
  3. Je doutais qu’elle détale sans prévenir ses parents. (I doubted that she would bolt without telling her parents.)

In all three examples, the usage of détaler in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense expresses an uncertain or hypothetical action that may or may not have happened in the past.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je détallasse Si j’avais peur, je détallasse vite. If I were scared, I would run away quickly.
tu détallasses Si tu te dépêches, tu détallasses plus vite. If you hurry, you would run away faster.
il détallât Il sourirait si il détallât bien. He would smile if he ran away well.
elle détallât Elle se cacherait si elle détallât loin. She would hide if she ran away far away.
on détallât Si on détallât à temps, on éviterait le danger. If one ran away in time, one would avoid danger.
nous détallassions Si nous détallasissions ensemble, nous aurions plus de chances. If we ran away together, we would have a better chance.
vous détallassiez Si vous détallassiez en silence, vous ne seriez pas arrêté. If you ran away in silence, you wouldn’t be caught.
ils détallassent S’ils détallent en groupe, ils peuvent se protéger. If they run away in a group, they can protect themselves.
elles détallassent Si elles détallent tôt, elles peuvent arriver à temps. If they run away early, they can arrive on time.

Other Conjugations for Détaler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb détaler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Détaler – 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.

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