In L'Imparfait, almost all the verbs follow the same pattern of conjugation. See Conjugate regular verbs in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense).
However (as usual!), the verb être (to be) is slightly irregular.
Have a look:
J'étais déjà mariée quand j'avais 20 ans.
I was already married when I was 20.
Tu étais rayonnante pendant ta grossesse.
You were beaming during your pregnancy.
C'était le plus beau jour de ma vie.
It was the most beautiful day of my life.
Nous étions en vacances lorsqu'ils nous ont cambriolés.
We were on holidays when they robbed us.
Vous étiez déjà amoureux à cette époque ?
Were you already in love at that time?
Ils étaient meilleurs amis cette année-là.
They were best friends that year.
Note that the irregular stem ét- (and NOT êt-) is followed by the regular Imparfait endings:
| je / j' | -ais |
| tu | -ais |
| il/elle/on | -ait |
| nous | -ions |
| vous | -iez |
| ils/elles | -aient |
Notice that L'imparfait is used in a variety of ways where we use very different tenses in English!
When to use the French Imperfect Tense (L'Imparfait)
Expressing continuing action in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense)
Expressing habits or repeated actions in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense)
Describing and expressing opinions in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense)
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Tu étais rayonnante pendant ta grossesse.
You were beaming during your pregnancy.
Ils étaient meilleurs amis cette année-là.
They were best friends that year.
J'étais déjà mariée quand j'avais 20 ans.
I was already married when I was 20.
Vous étiez déjà amoureux à cette époque ?
Were you already in love at that time?
Nous étions en vacances lorsqu'ils nous ont cambriolés.
We were on holidays when they robbed us.
C'était le plus beau jour de ma vie.
It was the most beautiful day of my life.
Q&A
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
17/07/18
Hi Karen,
No, in the case of c'est (or c'était) you will always use the masculine form of the adjective and this is a common error.
So, C'était effrayant! C'était petit.....
Hope this helps!
dave
Kwiziq community member
20 February 2018
3 replies
best/better?
dave
Kwiziq community member
20/02/18
Chris
Kwiziq community member
21/02/18
Hi Dave,
"Meilleurs amis" is a pretty fixed phrase meaning "best friends".
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
dave
Kwiziq community member
22/02/18
Ron
Kwiziq community member
2/11/17
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
19/03/18
Sherry
Kwiziq community member
5 January 2017
2 replies
"J'étais mariée quand j'avais 20 ans."
"I was married when I was 20." Does that mean that during my 20s I was married and not that I got married when I was 20? Thanks!
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
6/01/17
Sherry
Kwiziq community member
6/01/17
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
23/08/16
Doraida
Kwiziq community member
24/08/16
carole
Kwiziq community member
15 September 2018
1 reply
Translation question
In a test the sentence "Nous étions toujours ensemble à cette époque." was translated as
We were still together at that time. Does "toujours" mean "still?" Or should the translation be We were always together at that time. ?
Merci.
Chris
Kwiziq community member
16 September 2018
16/09/18
Toujours can be "still" or "always".
Here is a useful lesson on this topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7arUdbwovo