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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb effiler

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The English translation of the French verb effiler is “to thin” or “to taper.” The infinitive form is pronounced as “eh-fee-lay.”

The language origin of effiler can be traced back to the Old French word “efiler,” meaning “to remove the thread from.” In everyday French, it is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Three examples of its usage in this tense are:

  1. Il fallait que je l’effilasse pour qu’il soit plus présentable. (I had to thin it out so it would be more presentable.)

  2. Elle souhaitait que nous effilassions nos cheveux avant la fête. (She wanted us to thin out our hair before the party.)

  3. Il était possible que vous effilassiez vos crayons avant de commencer l’examen. (It was possible that you thinned out your pencils before starting the exam.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je effilasse Si j’avais du temps, je effilasse mes cheveux. If I had time, I would comb my hair.
tu effilasses Si tu avais un peigne, tu effilasses les cheveux. If you had a comb, you would comb your hair.
il effilât Il serait plus beau s’il effilât ses moustaches. He would look better if he trimmed his mustache.
elle effilât Elle aurait l’air plus soignée si elle effilât ses sourcils. She would look more groomed if she plucked her eyebrows.
on effilât Si on effilât les légumes, ils cuisineraient plus vite. If one sliced the vegetables, they would cook faster.
nous effilassions Si nous effilassions les cheveux tous les jours, ils seraient plus longs. If we combed our hair every day, it would be longer.
vous effilassiez Si vous effilassiez les cheveux régulièrement, ils seraient moins emmêlés. If you regularly comb your hair, it would be less tangled.
ils effilassent S’ils effilassent leur barbe, ils seraient plus élégants. If they trimmed their beard, they would be more elegant.
elles effilassent Si elles effilassent leurs cheveux ensemble, ça prendrait moins de temps. If they combed their hair together, it would take less time.

Other Conjugations for Effiler.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb effiler
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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