Écrivions

Écrivions is a French verb form of écrire. It corresponds to the first-person plural in two different tenses or moods: the imperfect indicative form nous écrivions (we were writing or we used to write) and the present subjunctive form que nous écrivions (that we write or that we may write). The spelling is identical, and the intended meaning is determined by context and accompanying particles.

In the imperfect indicative, nous écrivions is used to talk about ongoing or repeated past action: Nous écrivions des lettres chaque soir. In the present subjunctive, que nous écrivions appears after expressions that require the subjunctive, such as il faut que nous écrivions, bien que nous écrivions, or pour que nous écrivions. The form thus serves different grammatical functions depending on whether it appears in an indicative frame or a subjunctive clause.

Usage and notes: Écrivions is relatively common in literary or formal contexts due to its occurrence in both moods. The same spelling can express a past action or a present-subjunctive nuance, so speakers rely on syntactic cues and auxiliary structures to convey the intended time and mood.

Etymology: The form derives from the verb écrire, itself from Latin scribere, meaning “to write.” The root étend across related French forms, with analogous endings for other persons in corresponding tenses and moods.

See also: écrire, conjugation of écrire, French verb conjugation.