Limparfait ~ the imperfect tense

Limparfait is a past tense.

Whereas the pass compos (also a past tense) is used to recount events
which occurred in the past
and are completed,
the imparfait is used
1.
2.
3.

for descriptions
to talk about repeated events in the past (events which used to happen)
to describe an event which was happening (limparfait) when it was interrupted by
another event (le pass compos)

examples
1.
2.
3.

Les montagnes taient couvertes de

neige.
Lanne dernire jallais chez mes grandsparents tous les week-ends.
Quand je regardais la tl ma mre est
rentre.

The mountains were covered with snow.

Last year I used to go to my grandparents
place every weekend.
While I was watching TV my mother came
home.

Formation of limparfait
For all verbs except tre
1.
2.
3.

take the nous form of the present tense

drop the -ons to get the stem of the verb
add the imparfait endings

Examples:
A. dormir
1.
2.
3.

take the nous form of the present tense nous dormons

drop the -ons dorm this is the stem of the verb
add the imparfait endings
Je dormais
Tu dormais
Il/elle/on dormait
Nous dormions
Vous dormiez
Ils/elles dormaient

I was sleeping, I used to sleep

You were sleeping, you used to sleep
He/she/one was sleeping, he/she/one used to sleep
We were sleeping, we used to sleep
You (plural) were sleeping, you used to sleep
They were sleeping, they used to sleep

B. tre the stem of tre is t

Jtais
Tu tais

I was, I used to be
You were, you used to be

Il/elle/on tait

He/she/one was, he/she/one used to be

Nous tions

We were, we used to be

Vous tiez
Ils/elles taient

You (plural) were, you used to be

They were, they used to be

More examples:
endings
Je
ais
Tu
ais
Il/elle/on ait
Nous
ions
Vous
iez
Ils/elles
aient

avoir
Javais
Tu avais
Il avait
Nous avions
Vous aviez
Ils avaient

aimer
Jaimais
Tu aimais
Il aimait
Nous aimions
Vous aimiez
Ils aimaient

finir
Je finissais
Tu finissait
Il finissait
Nous finissions
Vous finissiez
Ils finissaient

entendre
Jentendais
Tu entendais
Il entendait
Nous entendions
Vous entendiez
Ils entendaient

NOTES:
1. For some verbs, spelling changes must occur for correct pronunciation.
Verbs ending in -ger (manger) will need an e placed before the endings which start with an
a, for example Je mangeais
Verbs ending in -cer (commencer) will need a c cdille placed before the endings which start
with an a, for example Je commenais
2. Verbs which end in -ier have a stem which ends in i. This means that in the nous and the
vous forms they contain a double i. This looks strange but is perfectly correct. For example,
tudier (to study) Nous tudiions we were studying, we used to study.
3. Three verbs commonly used in descriptions (which you have already met in Year 10) are the verbs
faire, avoir and tre.
Faire and avoir are often used in weather-related descriptions: Il faisait beau, il y avait du vent
tre is used with ce in sentences such as : Ctait amusant, ctait difficile
Exercise: Complete the table below with the imparfait for each verb:
ranger (to tidy)
Je
Tu
Il
Nous
Vous
Ils

se lever (to get up)

crier (to shout)

Exercises
A. Below are sentences expressing repeated actions. Using the expression in brackets [which
indicate continuance] put the sentence into the past tense. Start each sentence with Lanne
dernire... [for rules on the position of adverbs see your Adverb note in this book]
1. Je fais mes devoirs dans le bureau de mon pre. [toujours] Lanne dernire ........................
...........................................................................................................................
2. Mon frre sort le chien. [frquemment] .....................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
3. Ma copine et moi, nous nous rencontrons au cinma. [parfois] ..........................................
...........................................................................................................................
4. Je mentrane pour rester en forme. [tout le temps] ......................................................
...........................................................................................................................
5. Mon pre lit le journal avant le dner. [souvent] ...........................................................
...........................................................................................................................
6. Damien aide son pre avec le jardinage. [de temps en temps] ..........................................
...........................................................................................................................
7. Ma mre nous prpare des crpes comme dessert. [quelquefois] .......................................
...........................................................................................................................
8 . Je vois ma cousine qui habite en Australie. [rarement] ..................................................
...........................................................................................................................
9. Ma sur est en retard parce quelle se couche tard ! [tous les lundis] ..................................
...........................................................................................................................
10. Je me brosse les dents deux fois par jour. [dhabitude] .................................................
...........................................................................................................................
B. Below are sentences which involve descriptions of feelings, mental activity or conditions. All of
these are processes which involve duration (not single events which take place and are complete)
and so require the use of the imparfait. Rewrite the sentences in the past.
1. Je ne veux pas sortir. ...........................................................................................
2. Vous regrettez les jours passs. ...............................................................................
3. Nous pouvons venir tous les samedis. ..........................................................................
4. Il ne sait pas les rponses. ......................................................................................
5. Elles croient que vous avez raison. ............................................................................

6. Nous esprons recevoir de bonnes notes. ....................................................................

7. quoi penses-tu ? ................................................................................................
8. Nous sommes dsols de ne pas pouvoir venir. ..............................................................
...........................................................................................................................
9. Elle prfre voyager en avion. .................................................................................
10. Je le dsire beaucoup. .........................................................................................

C. Join the following pairs of sentences using the correct verb tenses. The action in the sentence in
Column A is interrupted by the action in the sentence in Column B. Use the word quand to join the
sentences.

Column A

Column B

1.

Je fais du vlo.

Je tombe de mon vlo.

2.

Le prof parle son lve.

La cloche sonne.

3.

Nous regardons la tl.

Il y a une panne dlectricit.

4.

Patrice attend le bus.

Son copain arrive.

5.

Je lis mon livre sur la plage.

Jentends un oiseau qui chante.

6.

Je suis en train denvoyer un texto ma copine.

Elle arrive la porte.

1. .......................................................................................................................
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2. ........................................................................................................................
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3. .......................................................................................................................
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4. .......................................................................................................................
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5. .......................................................................................................................
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6. .......................................................................................................................
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