Literary imperfect subjunctive

Level 5

The imparfait du subjonctif is a high-prestige literary tense. It replaces the present subjunctive in formal writing when the main clause is in a past tense, maintaining the 'concordance des temps' (sequence of tenses).

How It Works

The imparfait du subjonctif is almost never heard in spoken French today, where it has been replaced by the subjonctif présent. However, it remains a vital part of the written language for authors and formal institutions.

1. Formation
The formation is universal for all French verbs. Take the 3rd person singular of the passé simple (whether regular or irregular), remove the final -t (if there is one), and add these endings:

  • -sse (je)
  • -sses (tu)
  • -^t (il/elle/on) — Note the circumflex!
  • -ssions (nous)
  • -ssiez (vous)
  • -ssent (ils/elles)

2. The Sequence of Tenses
In formal writing, if the main verb is in a past tense (like the imparfait or passé composé), the subordinate clause should technically use the imperfect subjunctive for simultaneous actions. If the action in the subordinate clause occurred before the main past verb, the plus-que-parfait du subjonctif is used instead.

3. Modern Replacements
In modern spoken French, the subjonctif présent is the standard replacement for the imperfect subjunctive. To replace the literary plus-que-parfait du subjonctif, speakers use the subjonctif passé.

4. The 'Ne Explétif'
Because this tense is so formal, it is frequently paired with the ne explétif, a 'ne' that does not mean 'not' but adds a layer of elegance to the sentence.

Examples (4)

  1. Il fallait qu'il parlât.

    It was necessary that he speak.

    Word by Word: It was-necessary that he speak (subj. impf.).

    The main verb 'fallait' is in the past, triggering the imperfect subjunctive 'parlât' in formal style.

  2. Bien que la nuit fût sombre, il sortit.

    Although the night was dark, he went out.

    Word by Word: Although the night be (subj. impf.) dark, he went-out.

    The conjunction 'bien que' triggers the subjunctive; the literary context uses 'fût' (from être).

  3. Je craignais qu'il ne vînt trop tard.

    I feared that he might come too late.

    Word by Word: I feared that he (expletive ne) come (subj. impf.) too late.

    Uses the 'ne explétif' and the imperfect subjunctive of 'venir' to show high formal register.

  4. Il aurait voulu que nous finissions notre travail.

    He would have wanted us to finish our work.

    Word by Word: He would-have wanted that we finish (subj. impf.) our work.

    In the plural, the imperfect subjunctive 'finissions' looks identical to the indicative imperfect, but the context of 'vouloir que' marks the mood.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the imperfect subjunctive in casual conversation.

    Il fallait que tu vinsses à ma fête hier.
    Il fallait que tu viennes à ma fête hier.

    In speech, always use the present subjunctive. Using the imperfect subjunctive ('vinsses') sounds archaic or like a joke in a casual setting.

  • Forgetting the circumflex accent in the 3rd person singular.

    Qu'il parlat.
    Qu'il parlât.

    The circumflex is the defining orthographic feature of the 3rd person singular imperfect subjunctive, distinguishing it from the passé simple.

How It Connects

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Literary imperfect subjunctiveLevel 5

Learn This First

To learn the literary imperfect subjunctive, you must first understand the purpose of the subjunctive mood in French. Structurally, this tense is built using the stems of the passé simple, so familiarity with those literary forms is required. Finally, you need to understand the sequence of tenses, as this pattern is specifically used when a subjunctive trigger occurs in a past-tense context.

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