Le subjonctif imparfait – Guide to Past Subjunctive in French

Key takeaways

• The imparfait du subjonctif is a literary tense used in French novels, plays, and formal writing.
• It is formed from the passé simple stem + subjunctive endings.
• Endings are: -sse, -sses, -̂t, -ssions, -ssiez, -ssent.
• Examples: qu’il parlât, que nous finissions, qu’ils vinssent.
• Rare in everyday speech but important for understanding literature and advanced texts.

What Is the Imperfect Subjunctive?

The subjonctif imparfait is a past form of the subjunctive mood. Unlike the present subjunctive (il faut que tu viennes → it’s necessary you come) or the past subjunctive (il faut que tu sois venu → it’s necessary you came), the imperfect subjunctive is not used in spoken French today.

Instead, it’s a literary tense, kept alive in novels, poetry, historical writings, and formal speeches. Recognizing it helps learners enjoy authors like Victor Hugo, Gustave Flaubert, and Molière.

Examples:

• Elle doutait qu’il fût sincère. → She doubted that he was sincere.
• Il fallait qu’elle finît avant la nuit. → It was necessary that she finish before night.
• Ils voulaient qu’il vînt immédiatement. → They wanted him to come immediately.

How to Form the Imperfect Subjunctive

The structure of the imparfait du subjonctif is systematic:

1. Start with the third-person singular of the passé simple (literary past).
2. Remove the -t (if present).
3. Add the subjunctive endings: -sse, -sses, -̂t, -ssions, -ssiez, -ssent.

Regular -ER Verb Example: parler (to speak)

Regular -IR Verb Example: finir (to finish)

Regular -RE Verb Example: attendre (to wait)

Irregular Verbs

Some common verbs use irregular stems. These are the forms most frequently seen in literature:

• Être → que je fusse, que tu fusses, qu’il fût, que nous fussions, que vous fussiez, qu’ils fussent
• Avoir → que j’eusse, que tu eusses, qu’il eût, que nous eussions, que vous eussiez, qu’ils eussent
• Faire → que je fisse, que tu fisses, qu’il fît, que nous fissions, que vous fissiez, qu’ils fissent
• Venir → que je vinsse, que tu vinsses, qu’il vînt, que nous vinssions, que vous vinssiez, qu’ils vinssent
• Pouvoir → que je pusse, que tu pusses, qu’il pût, que nous pussions, que vous pussiez, qu’ils pussent
• Vouloir → que je voulusse, que tu voulusses, qu’il voulût, que nous voulussions, que vous voulussiez, qu’ils voulussent

These forms may look intimidating, but in practice, only a handful appear frequently: fût, pût, voulût, parlât.

1

When to Use the Imperfect Subjunctive

1. In literature 
   The imparfait du subjonctif is a marker of literary style. Writers like Flaubert or Hugo use it to create elegance and rhythm. 
   
   • Elle ne croyait pas qu’il fût capable de trahir. → She did not believe he was capable of betraying.
2. In historical or formal writing 
   Speeches, essays, or documents sometimes use it to elevate the style.
3. After the same triggers as the present subjunctive, but in past contexts. 
   
   • Il fallait qu’il vînt immédiatement. → It was necessary that he come immediately.
   • Ils doutaient qu’elle eût raison. → They doubted that she was right.

Imperfect Subjunctive vs Other Subjunctive Forms

Why Learn the Imperfect Subjunctive?

• Reading comprehension → To understand novels, plays, and classic literature.
• Passive recognition → You don’t need to produce it in speech but should know it when you see it.
• Cultural insight → It reveals the history and elegance of French style.

As both French imperfect subjunctive and Imparfait du subjonctif point out, mastering it is about recognition, not active use.

Common Mistakes

• Trying to use it in conversation → It sounds overly old-fashioned.
• Confusing with the passé simple → Remember: subjunctive has -sse endings.
• Forgetting irregular stems like fusse, eusse, pusse.

Exercises: Practice the Imperfect Subjunctive

1. Fill in the blanks

• Il fallait qu’elle ________ (finir) avant la nuit.
• Nous voulions qu’il ________ (parler) franchement.
• Je doutais qu’ils ________ (être) sincères.
• Ils espéraient que tu ________ (venir).

2. Translate into French

• It was necessary that he come early.
• She doubted that he was sincere.
• They wished that we finished on time.
• I feared that you were wrong.

3. Identify the tense

Is each subjunctive present, past, or imperfect?

• qu’il soit venu
• qu’il fût venu
• qu’il vienne
• qu’il parlât

4. Rewrite in modern French

Replace the imperfect subjunctive with a form modern speakers would use.

• Elle doutait qu’il fût sincère. → ________
• Il fallait que nous finissions tôt. → ________

Answers

1. finît, parlât, fussent, vinsses
2. Il fallait qu’il vînt tôt | Elle doutait qu’il fût sincère | Ils souhaitaient que nous finissions à temps | Je craignais que tu eusses tort
3. Subjonctif passé, Subjonctif imparfait, Subjonctif présent, Subjonctif imparfait
4. Elle doutait qu’il soit sincère. | Il fallait que nous finissions tôt.

Tips for Mastering the Imperfect Subjunctive

• Recognize common forms: fût, eût, pût, voulût, parlât. These appear frequently in literature.
• Don’t stress about speaking it: Modern French uses subjonctif présent or passé instead.
• Read literature aloud: Notice the rhythm; many writers chose it for stylistic beauty.

Compare translations: See how classic French texts render these moods in English.

To connect it with the broader system of French tenses, review our French verb tenses overview. For study strategies, read learning French effectively. And for realistic progress planning, explore how long it takes to learn French fluently.

Summary

The subjonctif imparfait is a literary tense, formed from the passé simple stem with subjunctive endings. While it’s no longer spoken in daily life, it appears often in novels, plays, and formal writing. Recognizing it is crucial for learners who want to enjoy French literature and understand advanced texts.

Even if you never say qu’il parlât or qu’elle finît, knowing the forms gives you confidence and cultural depth. Add a few examples to your reading practice while you learn French with Promova, and you’ll soon recognize this elegant mood without hesitation.