2025.09.01 2025.09.05

French Imperfect Subjunctive (subjonctif imparfait) | Usage and Rules

Izumi

The French subjonctif imparfait is a form of the subjunctive mood used in subordinate clauses within a past context. However, in modern French it is almost never used. In both spoken language and ordinary writing, the subjonctif présentis normally used instead.

That said, the subjonctif imparfait still appears in novels, plays, classical literature, and legal documents. For this reason, understanding its structure is important for improving reading comprehension.

In this lesson, I will explain how the subjonctif imparfait is formed and used.

Contents

1. The Role of the Subjonctif Imparfait
2. How to Form the Subjonctif Imparfait
3. Uses of the Subjonctif Imparfait
4. Difference from the Present Subjunctive
5. Summary

1. The Role of the Subjonctif Imparfait

The subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses to express emotion, desire, doubt, necessity, or judgment.

In modern French, the present subjunctive (subjonctif présent) is most commonly used. But when the main clause is in the past tense, literary French sometimes aligns the subordinate clause with the past by using the subjonctif imparfait.

Il voulait que je parlasse.
(He wanted me to speak.)
Elle doutait qu’il fût honnête.
(She doubted that he was honest.)

In everyday French, these would instead be expressed with the present subjunctive: parle / soit.

Thus, the subjonctif imparfait is best understood as a formal device for “tense agreement” or for giving a literary, elevated tone.

2. How to Form the Subjonctif Imparfait

The subjonctif imparfait is formed by taking the third-person plural stem of the passé simple (simple past) and adding the subjunctive imperfect endings.

Endings of the Subjonctif Imparfait

-sse
-sses
-^t (accented t form)
-ssions
-ssiez
-ssent

parler (to speak) → ils parlèrent → stem parl-

que je parlasse
que tu parlasses
qu’il/elle parlât
que nous parlassions
que vous parlassiez
qu’ils/elles parlassent

finir (to finish) → ils finirent → stem fin-

que je finisse
que tu finisses
qu’il/elle finît
que nous finissions
que vous finissiez
qu’ils/elles finissent

avoir (to have) → ils eurent → stem eu-

que j’eusse
que tu eusses
qu’il/elle eût
que nous eussions
que vous eussiez
qu’ils/elles eussent

être (to be) → ils furent → stem fu-

que je fusse
que tu fusses
qu’il/elle fût
que nous fussions
que vous fussiez
qu’ils/elles fussent

3. Uses of the Subjonctif Imparfait

3-1. Tense Agreement

When the main clause is in the past tense, the subordinate clause may take the subjonctif imparfait for formal tense agreement.

Il fallait qu’elle réussît.
(She had to succeed.)

In modern French: Il fallait qu’elle réussisse. (present subjunctive).

3-2. Literary or Formal Style

The subjonctif imparfait is used in novels or plays to create an elevated or formal tone in past narration.

Il parlait comme s’il fût roi.
(He spoke as if he were king.)

3-3. Literary Conditional Clauses

In classical literature, it sometimes appears in combination with the past conditional.

Si j’eusse su, je ne serais pas venu.
(If I had known, I would not have come.)

In modern French: “Si j’avais su, je ne serais pas venu.”

4. Difference from the Present Subjunctive

In terms of meaning, there is virtually no difference between the subjonctif présent and the subjonctif imparfait. The distinction lies in tense and register:

Subjonctif présent:
Standard modern French; used in speech and general writing.
Subjonctif imparfait:
Restricted to literary, classical, and legal texts.

In modern usage, the subjonctif imparfait is rarely employed. For learners, it is primarily important for reading comprehension. Learning just the forms of frequently used verbs (être, avoir, faire, dire, aller, venir, etc.) is often sufficient.

5. Summary

The subjonctif imparfait is a past tense of the subjunctive, used in literary French to mark tense agreement.
It appears mainly in classical and formal texts; in modern French, the present subjunctive is used instead.
Formation: passé simple third-person plural stem + imperfect subjunctive endings.
Its meaning is essentially the same as the present subjunctive, but it carries a literary or formal nuance.
For learners, the goal is not active use but the ability to recognize and understand it in reading.

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