Déterminions

Déterminions is a conjugated form of the French verb determiner (to determine, to set, to decide). It is used in two distinct grammatical contexts: the imperfect indicative for the first-person plural and the present subjunctive for the first-person plural.

In the imperfect indicative, déterminions means "we were determining" or "we used to determine." It describes ongoing or habitual action in the past. Example: Nous déterminions les paramètres au cours de la journée. In the present subjunctive, débordant of the mood used after certain verbs or conjunctions, déterminions means "that we determine." It appears in clauses introduced by expressions like il faut que or pour que: Il faut que nous déterminions les paramètres avant l’expérience.

The two forms share the same spelling, and context is required to distinguish them. The distinction is a common feature of French verb conjugation, where identical endings can appear in multiple moods or tenses.

Etymology traces déterminions to the Latin determinare, meaning to fix, bound, or decide. Related linguistic terms include détermination (the act of determining) and déterminant (determinant) in mathematics or logic, though these are separate words with related roots.

Usage notes: because the present subjunctive is more formal and less frequent in everyday speech, speakers may rephrase with que nous déterminions in formal writing, while in informal speech one might use a paraphrase or different construction. The imperfect form remains mostly a written or literary tool for past narration.

See also: déterminer, détermination, déterminant.