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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb détester

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of détester. 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 détester is “to hate.” It is pronounced as “day-test-ay.”

Détester comes from the Latin word “detestari,” which means to curse or reject. In everyday French, it is mostly used to express a strong dislike or hatred towards someone or something. In the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, it is used to express a hypothetical or uncertain action or feeling in the past.

Here are three simple examples of its usage in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense with their English translations:

  1. Je détestais que tu me critiques sans cesse. (I hated it when you constantly criticized me.)
  2. Il détestait que ses parents lui donnent des ordres. (He hated it when his parents gave him orders.)
  3. Elle détestait que son frère se moque de ses rêves. (She hated it when her brother made fun of her dreams.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je détestasse Si je travaillais moins, je détestasse moins mon emploi. If I worked less, I would dislike my job less.
tu détestasses Si tu prenais une pause, tu détestasses moins ton travail. If you took a break, you would dislike your work less.
il détestât Il serait plus heureux s’il détestât moins son voisin. He would be happier if he disliked his neighbor less.
elle détestât Elle aurait plus de temps si elle détestât moins faire la cuisine. She would have more time if she disliked cooking less.
on détestât Si on détestât moins l’école, on serait plus motivé. If one disliked school less, one would be more motivated.
nous détestassions Si nous détestassions moins les légumes, nous en mangerions plus. If we disliked vegetables less, we would eat more of them.
vous détestassiez Si vous détestassiez moins le travail, vous seriez plus productif. If you disliked work less, you would be more productive.
ils détestassent S’ils détestassent moins l’hiver, ils aimeraient mieux cette saison. If they disliked winter less, they would like this season better.
elles détestassent Si elles détestassent moins le bruit, elles dormiraient mieux. If they disliked noise less, they would sleep better.

Other Conjugations for Détester.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb détester
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 détester Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts