Introduction to the imperfect subjunctive (subjonctif imparfait)
In French, the imperfect subjunctive (subjonctif imparfait) is a verb form used in certain sentences, particularly those expressing doubt, uncertainty, desire, emotion, or hypothetical situations in the past. An example:
- Il était possible que tu vinsses à la fête, mais je n’en étais pas certain
- It was possible that you would come to the party, but I wasn’t sure
In this example vinsses (from venir, to come) is conjugated to for the imperfect subjunctive and indicates uncertainty. Note that the imperfect subjunctive is used more frequently in written French than in spoken French.
Common triggers for the imperfect subjunctive
Expressions of doubt or uncertainty:
- Il doutait que…
- He doubted that…
- Il était possible que…
- It was possible that…
- Il se peut que…
- It may be that…
- Il ne croyait pas que…
- He didn’t believe that…
Expressions of emotion or feeling:
- Il ne croyait pas que…
- He didn’t believe that…
- J’étais content que…
- I was happy that…
- Il était triste que…
- He was sad that…
- Je regrettais que…
- I regretted that…
Expressions of necessity or obligation
- Il fallait que…
- It was necessary that…
- Il était nécessaire que…
- It was necessary that…
- Il valait mieux que…
- It was better that…
Hypothetical or unreal situations in the past
- Si j’avais su, j’aurais fait autrement
- If I had known, I would have done differently
- J’étais content que…
- I was happy that…
- Il était triste que…
- He was sad that…
- Je regrettais que…
- I regretted that…
- J’aurais aimé que tu viennes.
- I would have liked you to come
Conjugating the imperfect subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is formed in a regular way for all verbs. For example, all imperfect subjunctive conjugations end in the same way
| Pronoun | Suffix |
| Je | -sse |
| Tu | -sses |
| Il/elle/on | -^t |
| Nous | -ions |
| Vous | -iez |
| Ils | -ent |
Conjugating the imperfect subjunctive for ir-verbs
A solid rule for ir-verbs is that the imperfect subjunctive for all ir-verbs, including the irregular ones like venir, are formed by taking the third person conjugation of the passé simple, cutting off the t and adding the above endings.
For example the third person passe simple of venir is vinit, without the t you get vini
| Venir (vini) To come | Avoir (eu) To have | Partir (parti) To leave | |
| Je | vinsse | eusse | partisse |
| Tu | vinsses | eusses | parisses |
| Il/elle/on | vînt | eût | partît |
| Nous | vinssions | eussions | partissions |
| Vous | vinssiez | eussiez | partissiez |
| Ils | vinssent | eussent | partissent |
Conjugating the imperfect subjunctive for er-verbs
| Parler (to speak) | Manger (to eat) | Aimer (to love): | |
| Je | parlasse | mangeasse | aimasse |
| Tu | parlasses | mangeasses | aimasses |
| Il/elle/on | parlât | mangeât | aimât |
| Nous | parlassions | mangeassions | aimassions |
| Vous | parlassiez | mangeassiez | aimassiez |
| Ils | parlassent | mangeassent | aimassent |