🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What is the Imparfait?

The imparfait is the French imperfect tense, used to describe actions that were ongoing, repeated, or habitual in the past. It contrasts with the passé composé, which marks single completed events. Mastering the imparfait is essential for fluent past-tense storytelling.

Short answer

The imparfait expresses ongoing or repeated past actions. It is formed by taking the nous form of the present tense, removing -ons, and adding -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient endings.

Imparfait Conjugation Steps

1
Step 1: Nous Form
Find the nous present tense (e.g., nous parlons)
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2
Step 2: Remove -ons
Drop the -ons ending (parl-)
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3
Step 3: Add Imparfait Ending
Add -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient based on subject
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4
Step 4: Complete Conjugation
je parlais, tu parlais, il parlait, nous parlions...

Step-by-step worked examples

Conjugate 'parler' (to speak) in the imparfait for the subject 'je'.

Find nous form: nous parlons
Remove -ons: parl-
Add -ais: je parlais (I was speaking / I used to speak)

Conjugate 'lire' (to read) in the imparfait for 'nous'.

Find nous form: nous lisons
Remove -ons: lis-
Add -ions: nous lisions (we used to read)

What is the imparfait form of 'aller' (to go) for the subject 'il'?

Find nous form: nous allons
Remove -ons: all-
Add -ait: il allait (he was going / he used to go)

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.How is the imparfait stem formed?

Correct answer: B. The imparfait stem comes from the nous present form minus -ons.

Q2.Which imparfait endings match je, tu, and il?

Correct answer: B. je parlais, tu parlais, il parlait.

Q3.What does 'Elle étudiait' mean?

Correct answer: C. The imparfait expresses ongoing or repeated past actions.

Q4.Which verb has an irregular imparfait stem?

Correct answer: B. Être has stem ét- (from Latin: ét-ais, ét-ait), not from nous sommes.

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Common mistakes

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Using passé composé for habitual past actions. — Correct: Use imparfait for habits: Je lisais souvent. (not J'ai lu souvent.)

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Forgetting that être has an irregular imparfait stem. — Correct: Être → ét-ais, ét-ait, etc. Not from nous sommes.

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Confusing imparfait with conditional present forms. — Correct: Imparfait: -ais, -ait. Conditional: -rais, -rait (uses future root).

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Using imparfait for a sudden, completed action. — Correct: Use passé composé: Il a eu un accident. (for sudden events)

FAQ

What is the imparfait used for?

To describe actions that were ongoing, repeated, or habitual in the past. Example: Je lisais chaque jour (I used to read every day).

How is the imparfait formed?

Take the nous form of the present tense, remove -ons, then add -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

What is the difference between imparfait and passé composé?

Imparfait describes ongoing/repeated past actions; passé composé describes single completed actions.

Which verb is irregular in the imparfait?

Être is irregular. Its stem is ét- (from Latin), not from nous sommes. All other verbs follow the regular pattern.