How to Use the Second Form of Conditional Perfect in French

The second form of the conditional perfect in French, known as "conditionnel passé, seconde forme," is a sophisticated grammatical structure used primarily in formal written French.

While it's not common in everyday speech, understanding this form can significantly enhance your French reading comprehension, especially when diving into classic literature or formal texts.

What is the Second Form of Conditional Perfect?

The second form of conditional perfect is a literary tense that looks like the pluperfect subjunctive but functions as the conditional perfect. It's mostly used in 'si' (if) clauses and in very formal written French.

When to Use It

This form is equivalent to the standard conditional perfect in spoken French. For example:

• Standard: "Si vous m'aviez menti, j'aurais su."
• Literary: "Si vous m'aviez menti, j'eusse su."

Both mean: "If you had lied to me, I would have known."

How to Conjugate

The conjugation of this form consists of two parts:

1. The auxiliary verb (avoir or être) in the imperfect subjunctive
2. The main verb's past participle

Examples of Conjugation

With 'avoir' (to have):

• J'eusse donné (I would have given)
• Tu eusses donné (You would have given)
• Il/Elle eût donné (He/She would have given)
• Nous eussions donné (We would have given)
• Vous eussiez donné (You would have given)
• Ils/Elles eussent donné (They would have given)

With 'être' (to be):

• Je fusse sorti(e) (I would have gone out)
• Tu fusses sorti(e) (You would have gone out)
• Il fût sorti / Elle fût sortie (He/She would have gone out)
• Nous fussions sorti(e)s (We would have gone out)
• Vous fussiez sorti(e)(s) (You would have gone out)
• Ils fussent sortis / Elles fussent sorties (They would have gone out)

Important Notes

1. This form is identical to the pluperfect subjunctive.
2. Past participle agreement rules apply, just as in other compound tenses.
3. While it's crucial to recognize this form when reading, it's rarely necessary to use it in your own writing unless you're aiming for a very formal or literary style.

Examples in Context

1. "J'eusse aimé vivre à Paris au 19ème siècle." (I would have liked to live in Paris in the 19th century.)
2. "Eussiez-vous étudié davantage, vous eussiez réussi l'examen." (Had you studied more, you would have passed the exam.)

Why Learn This Form?

While the second form of conditional perfect isn't essential for everyday French, it's valuable for:

1. Understanding classic French literature
2. Appreciating formal French writing
3. Enhancing your overall French language sophistication

By familiarizing yourself with this form, you'll be better equipped to comprehend a wider range of French texts and appreciate the nuances of formal written French.

Conclusion

The second form of conditional perfect adds depth to your French language skills. Recognizing it will enrich your reading experience of formal French texts.