Language
French
Level
A2
Unit
Verbes et temps verbaux
Practice types
0

What this grammar point covers

The imparfait is a French past tense used to talk about ongoing actions, habits, or situations in the past.

When to use it

Use the imparfait to describe what was happening, repeated actions, habits, descriptions, or background information in the past.

Key forms

  • Take the present tense 'nous' form of the verb.
  • Remove the '-ons' ending.
  • Add these endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

Examples

Je mangeais une pomme.

English: I was eating an apple.

Nous regardions la télévision tous les soirs.

English: We watched TV every evening.

Il faisait froid.

English: It was cold.

Vous jouiez dans le jardin.

English: You were playing in the garden.

Tips

  • Do not use the imparfait for a single, completed action in the past.
  • Remember to use the correct endings for each subject.
  • The verb 'être' is irregular: j'étais, tu étais, il/elle était, etc.

Exceptions and edge cases

  • The verb 'être' is irregular in the imparfait: its stem is 'ét-'.

Keep exploring

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