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

ByMichael Burns

Introduction to the verb emboîter

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The English translation of the French verb emboîter is “to fit in” or “to slot into.” It is pronounced as “ahm-bwah-tay.”

The word emboîter comes from the French word “boîte” which means “box.” It is derived from the Latin word “buxus” which also means “boxwood.” In everyday French, emboîter is most often used in the Subjonctif Imparfait tense to express a hypothetical or uncertain action that took place in the past.

Three simple examples of its usage in this tense are:

  1. Il fallait que je l’emboîte dans la boîte avant de partir. (I had to fit it into the box before leaving.)

  2. Il voulait que je l’emboîte dans le groupe, mais je n’étais pas d’accord. (He wanted me to fit into the group, but I didn’t agree.)

  3. Je souhaitais que tu l’emboîtes parfaitement dans le puzzle. (I wished that you would fit it perfectly into the puzzle.)

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

Pronoun Conjugation Example Usage English Translation
je emboîtasse Je serais plus fort si j’emboîtasse tous les jours. I would be stronger if I did push-ups every day.
tu emboîtasses Si tu emboîtasses tes mots, je comprendrais mieux. If you enunciated your words, I would understand better.
il emboîtât Il serait équilibré s’il emboîtât les pièces correctement. He would be balanced if he fit the pieces properly.
elle emboîtât Elle serait plus rapide si elle emboîtât les mouvements. She would be faster if she matched the movements.
on emboîtât Si on emboîtât les idées, on pourrait les réaliser. If one put the ideas together, one could realize them.
nous emboîtassions Si nous emboîtassions nos pensées, nous serions plus organisés. If we organized our thoughts, we would be more organized.
vous emboîtassiez Si vous emboîtassiez les pièces, le puzzle serait complet. If you fit the pieces together, the puzzle would be complete.
ils emboîtassent S’ils emboîtassent les mouvements, ils seraient en synchronisation. If they matched their movements, they would be in sync.
elles emboîtassent Si elles emboîtassent leurs idées, elles seraient plus créatives. If they matched their ideas, they would be more creative.

Other Conjugations for Emboîter.

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

    Imparfait (Imperfect) Tense Conjugation of the French Verb emboîter
   

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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