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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb dévolter

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The English translation of the French verb dévolter is “to revolt” or “to rebel.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “day-vohl-tay.”

The word dévolter originates from the Latin word “devolvere,” meaning “to roll down.” It entered the French language in the 15th century and has been used in various forms throughout history, often in the context of political or social rebellion.

In everyday French, dévolter is most commonly used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past. This tense is often used to express a desire, doubt, or emotion.

Here are three simple examples of dévolter used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, with their respective English translations:

  1. Je voulais que tu te dévoltasses contre l’autorité. (I wanted you to rebel against authority.)
  2. Il était possible que nous nous dévoltions ensemble. (It was possible that we would revolt together.)
  3. J’aurais préféré que vous ne vous dévoltiez pas contre le gouvernement. (I would have preferred that you not rebel against the government.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je dévoltasse Si je dévoltasse plus tôt, je serais plus détendue. If I had rebelled earlier, I would be more relaxed.
tu dévoltasses Si tu dévoltasses maintenant, tu serais plus heureux. If you rebelled now, you would be happier.
il dévoltât Il serait surpris si il dévoltât contre l’autorité. He would be surprised if he rebelled against authority.
elle dévoltât Elle serait fière si elle dévoltât pour une cause juste. She would be proud if she rebelled for a just cause.
on dévoltât Si on dévoltât en masse, les choses changeraient. If one rebelled en masse, things would change.
nous dévoltassions Si nous dévoltassions ensemble, nous serions plus forts. If we rebelled together, we would be stronger.
vous dévoltassiez Si vous dévoltassiez au bon moment, vous auriez plus de succès. If you rebelled at the right time, you would have more success.
ils dévoltassent S’ils dévoltassent plus souvent, ils auraient plus de liberté. If they rebelled more often, they would have more freedom.
elles dévoltassent Si elles dévoltassent avec conviction, elles réussiraient. If they rebelled with conviction, they would succeed.

Other Conjugations for Dévolter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb dévolter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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