N’eût (en. Had not)

/nœt/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicates an unrealized past condition.

If he had known, he would not have acted that way.

S'il avait su, il n'eût pas agi ainsi.

Used in conditional constructions.

I would have liked to come, but I was busy.

Je eusse aimé venir, mais j'étais occupé.

Expresses regret for an action that did not take place.

It would have been preferable to stay.

Il eût été préférable de rester.

From the verb 'avoir' in the past perfect, used in a conditional context.

if I had known

si j’eusse su

would have been

eût été

if it had been necessary

s'il eût fallu

to have

auxiliary verb in French

avoir

conditional

verbal mood expressing a condition

conditionnel

regret

feeling of disappointment for what has not been done

regret

Used in literary or formal contexts.

In more common language, he would say 'it was necessary'.

Dans un langage plus courant, il dirait 'il a fallu'.