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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb effleurer

Get the Subjonctif Imparfait (Subjunctive Imperfect) tense conjugation of effleurer. 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 effleurer is “to brush against” or “to graze.” It is pronounced as “eh-fluh-ruh.”

Effleurer comes from the French word “fleur,” meaning flower, and the Latin word “efflorescere,” meaning to bloom or blossom. This reflects its original meaning of lightly touching or grazing, like a flower petal brushing against something.

In everyday French, effleurer is most commonly used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense, which expresses a hypothetical or uncertain action in the past.

Examples:

  1. J’avais peur que tu effleurasses mes lèvres en m’embrassant. (I was afraid that you would brush against my lips when you kissed me.)
  2. Il fallait que je l’attrape avant qu’il n’effleurât le vase de cristal. (I had to catch him before he grazed the crystal vase.)
  3. Je souhaitais que nous effleurassions seulement la surface de la mer. (I wanted us to only skim the surface of the sea.)

In all of these examples, the Subjonctif Imparfait tense is used to express a hypothetical or desired action in the past. It conveys a sense of uncertainty or possibility, rather than certainty.

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je effleurasse Je me sentirais mieux si j’effleurasse la nature. I would feel better if I touched nature.
tu effleurasses Tu serais plus calme si tu effleurasses la fleur. You would be calmer if you touched the flower.
il effleurât Il se rapprocherait de son but si il effleurât le ballon. He would be closer to his goal if he touched the ball.
elle effleurât Elle serait plus attentive si elle effleurât la page. She would be more attentive if she touched the page.
on effleurât On serait plus habile si on effleurât la corde. One would be more skilled if one touched the rope.
nous effleurassions Nous nous améliorerions si nous effleurassions la surface. We would improve if we touched the surface.
vous effleurassiez Vous auriez l’air plus gentil si vous effleurassiez la joue. You would seem nicer if you touched the cheek.
ils effleurassent Ils seraient plus doués si ils effleurassent les touches. They would be more talented if they touched the keys.
elles effleurassent Elles seraient plus détendues si elles effleurassent la terre. They would be more relaxed if they touched the ground.

Other Conjugations for Effleurer.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb effleurer
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    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 effleurer Subjonctif Imparfait tense conjugation!

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

Similar Posts