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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb détisser

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The English translation of the French verb détisser is “to unravel” or “to unpick.” It is pronounced “day-tee-say” in the infinitive form.

The word détisser comes from the Old French verb “tissier,” meaning “to weave.” It evolved from the Latin word “texere,” also meaning “to weave.” In everyday French, détisser is usually used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Three examples of its usage in this tense are:

  1. Je craignais que ma robe se détisse à la fête. (I was afraid my dress would unravel at the party.)

  2. Il était possible que les fils de la trame se détissent pendant le lavage. (It was possible that the weft threads would unravel during washing.)

  3. J’avais peur que le pull que j’ai tricoté ne se détisse à cause de mes erreurs. (I was afraid that the sweater I knitted would unravel because of my mistakes.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je détissasse Je serais heureux si je détissasse tous les jours. I would be happy if I weaved every day.
tu détissasses Si tu détissasses plus vite, tu finirais plus tôt. If you weaved faster, you would finish earlier.
il détissât Il serait surpris si il détissât un tapis. He would be surprised if he weaved a carpet.
elle détissât Elle serait triste si elle détissât un vêtement. She would be sad if she weaved a piece of clothing.
on détissât Si on détissât plus souvent, on pourrait créer des motifs différents. If one weaved more often, one could create different patterns.
nous détissassions Si nous détissassions ensemble, nous pourrions apprendre de nouvelles techniques. If we weaved together, we could learn new techniques.
vous détissassiez Si vous détissassiez plus finement, vous pourriez faire des étoffes plus délicates. If you weaved more delicately, you could make more delicate fabrics.
ils détissassent S’ils détissassent avec précision, ils pourraient créer des chefs-d’oeuvre. If they weaved with precision, they could create masterpieces.
elles détissassent Si elles détissassent avec soin, elles pourraient faire des cadeaux uniques. If they weaved with care, they could make unique gifts.

Other Conjugations for Détisser.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb détisser
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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