2-2 3 Imparfait in French

Key Concepts

1. Definition of Imparfait

The imparfait is a past tense in French used to describe ongoing, repeated, or habitual actions in the past. It is often translated as "was" or "were" in English.

2. Formation of Imparfait

The imparfait is formed by taking the present tense stem of the verb and adding the appropriate ending for the subject pronoun. The endings are:

• Je: -ais
• Tu: -ais
• Il/Elle/On: -ait
• Nous: -ions
• Vous: -iez
• Ils/Elles: -aient

3. Usage of Imparfait

The imparfait is used to describe:

• Habitual actions in the past (e.g., "I used to walk to school.")
• Descriptive or background actions (e.g., "The sun was shining.")
• Ongoing actions in the past (e.g., "I was reading a book.")

Examples and Analogies

Formation of Imparfait

To form the imparfait, take the present tense stem of the verb and add the appropriate ending. For example:

• Parler (to speak): parl- + -ais = je parlais (I was speaking)
• Manger (to eat): mang- + -ait = il mangeait (he was eating)
• Finir (to finish): finiss- + -ions = nous finissions (we were finishing)

Usage of Imparfait

The imparfait is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past. For example:

Practical Application

To practice, try forming the imparfait of the following verbs:

• Boire (to drink)
• Vivre (to live)
• Ecrire (to write)

Then, use the imparfait to describe a habitual action, an ongoing action, and a descriptive action in the past.

By understanding and practicing these concepts, you will become more proficient in using the imparfait in French.