42. Imperfect Tense
This past tense corresponds to "was, were or used to." This tense is used for repeated, continuous, or ongoing actions; as well as for verbs that describe background and circumstances, such as weather, time, and physical, mental, and emotional states. (Use the passé composé for actions that happened once and are done.) Verbs that express mental and emotional states that are descriptive in nature are generally used in the imperfect more than the passé composé. These verbs are: aimer, avoir, croire, détester, espérer, être, penser, and préférer.
To form the stem, use the nous form of the present tense and drop the -ons. Then add these endings:
|
-ais
|
/ɛ/
|
-ions
|
/jɔ̃/
|
|
-ais
|
/ɛ/
|
-iez
|
/je/
|
|
-ait
|
/ɛ/
|
-aient
|
/ɛ/
|
The only exception is être for which you must use the stem ét-, but still the same endings. Verb stems that end in -c must use a cedilla (ç) under the c to make it soft. Verb stems ending in -g keep the e before all forms except nous and vous.
|
être
|
|
étais
|
/etɛ/
|
étions
|
/etjɔ̃/
|
|
étais
|
/etɛ/
|
étiez
|
/etje/
|
|
était
|
/etɛ/
|
étaient
|
/etɛ/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
commencer
|
manger
|
|
commençais
|
/kɔmɑ̃sɛ/
|
commencions
|
/kɔmɑ̃sjɔ̃/
|
mangeais
|
/mɑ̃ʒɛ/
|
mangions
|
/mɑ̃ʒjɔ̃/
|
|
commençais
|
/kɔmɑ̃sɛ/
|
commenciez
|
/kɔmɑ̃sje/
|
mangeais
|
/mɑ̃ʒɛ/
|
mangiez
|
/mɑ̃ʒje/
|
|
commençait
|
/kɔmɑ̃sɛ/
|
commençaient
|
/kɔmɑ̃sɛ/
|
mangeait
|
/mɑ̃ʒɛ/
|
mangeaient
|
/mɑ̃ʒɛ/
|
Avoir, Devoir, Pouvoir, Savoir, and Vouloir
These verbs change meanings, according to whether they are used in the imperfect or the passé composé.
| |
Imperfect
|
Passé Composé
|
|
avoir
|
j'avais
|
I had
|
j'ai eu
|
I got, received
|
|
devoir
|
je devais
|
I was supposed to
|
j'ai dû
|
I must have, I had to (and did)
|
|
pouvoir
|
je pouvais
|
I was capable
|
j'ai pu
je n'ai pas pu
|
I was able to (and did), succeeded
I couldn't, failed
|
|
savoir
|
je savais
|
I knew
|
j'ai su
|
I found out, discovered
|
|
vouloir
|
je voulais
|
I wanted to
|
j'ai voulu
je n'ai pas voulu
|
I tried, decided, insisted
I refused
|
The imperfect tense is also used with these constructions:
|
être en train de + infinitive = to be in the middle of doing something
|
|
J'étais en train d'étudier quand vous êtes arrivés.
|
I was (in the process of ) studying when you arrived.
|
|
être sur le point de + infinitive = to be just about to do something
|
|
J'étais sur le point de vous rappeler.
|
I was just about to call you back.
|
|
aller + infinitive = going to do something
|
|
J'allais sortir quand le téléphone a sonné.
|
I was going to leave when the phone rang.
|
|
venir de + infinitive = to have just done something
|
|
Je venais de manger, alors je n'avais plus faim.
|
I had just eaten, so I wasn't hungry anymore.
|
|
