Imparfait
L’imparfait (the imperfect) is a French past tense. It describes states and actions that were ongoing or repeated in the past. The imperfect can correspond to the English simple past tense, but also to structures such as used to and would and even the past progressive.
To form the imparfait, take the nous form of the verb in the present tense and drop the -ons ending to get the stem. Then add the imparfait endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez and –aient to the stem.
- nous prenons (la forme du verbe prendre au présent)
- pren
ons➢ pren- - ajoutez les terminaisons:
| je prenais | je | -ais |
| tu prenais | tu | -ais |
| il / elle / on prenait | il / elle / on | -ait |
| nous prenions | nous | -ions |
| vous preniez | vous | -iez |
| ils / elles prenaient | ils / elles | -aient |
Use
Here is a summary of the usage of the imperfect.
- to emphasise the duration of an event ➢ L’eau était froide. The water was indeed cold over a period of time.
- to describe an event, a situation ➢ Les oiseaux chantaient, les enfants jouaient…etc.
- when an action is repeated in the past ➢ Tous les jours j’allais à la piscine; le lundi je pratiquais le piano...etc.
- when the time in the past is not mentioned ➢ Je regardais la télé et je faisais mes devoirs.
- when one more one action is taking place in the past, the first action might be expressed in the imperfect ➢ Il pleuvait, j’ai pris mon parapluie.
Another way way to look at the imperfect is to look at actions, situations or events with the notion of no control.
When weather is mentioned, the imperfect might be used to emphasise the fact that no one has control over it.
☞ Il faisait beau
When emotion is mentioned, the imperfect might be use to emphasise the fact that no one has control over emotion.
☞ Les gens riaient.
