The Imperfect Tense
L'Imparfait
Used for describing ongoing past actions, habitual actions ('used to'), and setting scenes. Think 'was doing' or 'used to do'.
Nous form (present) − ons + imparfait endings
Example: nous parlons → parl- → je parlais
Être is the ONLY truly irregular verb in imparfait. It uses the stem ét- (not from nous form).
parler
Examples:
Je parlais français
I was speaking/used to speak French
finir
Examples:
Je finissais mes devoirs
I was finishing/used to finish my homework
vendre
Examples:
Il vendait des fruits
He was selling/used to sell fruit
avoir
Examples:
J'avais un chien
I had/used to have a dog
être
Examples:
J'étais fatigué
I was tired
faire
Examples:
Il faisait beau
It was nice weather
aller
Examples:
J'allais à l'école
I was going/used to go to school
manger
Examples:
Je mangeais à midi
I was eating/used to eat at noon
commencer
Examples:
L'école commençait à 9h
School started/used to start at 9am
prendre
Examples:
Je prenais le bus
I was taking/used to take the bus
vouloir
Examples:
Je voulais partir
I wanted to leave
pouvoir
Examples:
Je ne pouvais pas dormir
I couldn't sleep