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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb déterger

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The English translation of the French verb déterger is “to cleanse” or “to clean.” It is pronounced as “day-tehr-zhay” in its infinitive form.

Déterger comes from the Latin word “detergere,” meaning “to wipe off” or “to cleanse.” It is most often used in everyday French to refer to the action of cleaning or purifying something.

In the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, déterger is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. It is often used in combination with the conjunction “que” to indicate a condition or possibility.

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

  1. Il fallait que je déterge la tache avant qu’elle ne sèche. (I had to clean the stain before it dried.)
  2. Il serait mieux que tu déterges la salle de bain avant que les invités n’arrivent. (It would be better if you cleaned the bathroom before the guests arrive.)
  3. J’aimerais que nous détergions la voiture ensemble demain. (I would like for us to clean the car together tomorrow.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je détergeasse Si je détergeasse régulièrement, mes vêtements seraient propres. If I cleaned regularly, my clothes would be clean.
tu détergeasses Si tu détergeasses chaque jour, ta peau serait plus douce. If you cleaned every day, your skin would be softer.
il détergeât Il serait content si il détergeât bien ses verres. He would be happy if he cleaned his glasses well.
elle détergeât Elle serait satisfaite si elle détergeât la cuisine. She would be satisfied if she cleaned the kitchen.
on détergeât Si on détergeât plus souvent, la maison serait plus belle. If one cleaned more often, the house would be nicer.
nous détergeassions Si nous détergeassions en équipe, ça irait plus vite. If we cleaned as a team, it would go faster.
vous détergeassiez Si vous détergeassiez avec du vinaigre, ce serait plus écologique. If you cleaned with vinegar, it would be more ecological.
ils détergeassent S’ils détergeassent tous les matins, ils auraient plus de temps libre. If they cleaned every morning, they would have more free time.
elles détergeassent Si elles détergeassent après chaque repas, la vaisselle ne s’accumulerait pas. If they cleaned after every meal, the dishes wouldn’t pile up.

Other Conjugations for Déterger.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb déterger
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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