When to use the imparfait
It i is tricky to speak in the past in French because you have to choose between the imparfait and the passé composé. Use the imparfait when you are talking about a habit in the past, something that kept on happening. Also use the imparfait when talking about what you used to do, when describing the weather, when telling time, talking about age, when you are setting a story in place or talking about emotions.
Use the imparfait with these narrating verbs:
avoir, être, pouvoir, savoir and vouloir
Use the imparfait with these words:
fréquemment, d’habitude, souvent, bien des fois, parfois, quelquefois, toujours, tous les jours/lundis, en ce temps-là, chaque année, le mardi, en été, etc…
How to use the imparfait – Formation
In order to conjugate a verb at the imparfait – imperfect in English, you need to find its root. The root is the nous form of the present tense of a given verb, without its ending –ONS.
| present | root |
| nous chantons | chant |
| nous finissons | finiss |
| nous recevons | recev |
Once you have the root, apply the corresponding imparfait endings
| pronoun | root | ending |
| je | root | ais |
| tu | root | ais |
| elle | root | ait |
| il | root | ait |
| on | root | ait |
| nous | root | ions |
| vous | root | iez |
| ils | root | aient |
| elles | root | aient |
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Mots Croisés – Crossword Puzzle
Définitions – Clues
Horizontal ………………………………………Vertical
2. we used to laugh, nous (rire)…………1. we used to study, nous (étudier)
5. you used to go, tu (aller)………………..2. we used to receive, nous (recevoir)
6. you used to clean, vous (nettoyer)…..3. they used to know, ils (savoir)
7. I used to eat, je (manger)……………….4. you used to go forward, vous (avancer)
9. we used to do, on (faire)…………………8. I used to be, j’(être)
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