Imparfait (Imperfect)
The imparfait is a past tense used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, background descriptions, or states of being.
Mood:
The indicative mood is used to express facts and realities. The imparfait allows speakers to describe past actions without indicating their completion or specifying when they occurred.
- Indicative mood = certainty, facts, reality
Usage:
- To describe ongoing actions in the past: Je lisais un livre. (I was reading a book.)
- To express habitual actions: Quand j'étais jeune, je jouais au football. (When I was young, I played soccer.)
- To provide background descriptions: Il faisait beau. (The weather was nice.)
- To indicate emotions or states of being: J'étais triste. (I was sad.)
Formation:
The imparfait is formed by taking the nous form of the present tense, dropping the -ons, and adding the appropriate endings.
Conjugation:
| Person | Ending | Verb: parler (to speak) | Verb: finir (to finish) | Verb: vendre (to sell) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je | -ais | parlais | finissais | vendais |
| Tu | -ais | parlais | finissais | vendais |
| Il/Elle/On | -ait | parlait | finissait | vendait |
| Nous | -ions | parlions | finissions | vendions |
| Vous | -iez | parliez | finissiez | vendiez |
| Ils/Elles | -aient | parlaient | finissaient | vendaient |
Common Irregular Verbs:
Most verbs are regular, but here are some common irregular verbs:
- Être (to be): j'étais, tu étais, il/elle/on était, nous étions, vous étiez, ils/elles étaient
Common Time Expressions:
- Quand j'étais enfant (when I was a child)
- Tous les jours (every day)
- Souvent (often)
- Chaque fois (each time)
Examples:
- Je lisais tous les soirs. (I used to read every evening.)
- Elle regardait la télévision. (She was watching television.)
