L'Imparfait is very easy to conjugate in French, as MOST verbs follow the same pattern of conjugation (EXCEPT for être - Conjugate être in L'Imparfait (imperfect tense)).
Learn how to conjugate (most) verbs in L'Imparfait in French
Look at these examples:
How to form the L'Imparfait
1. Take the nous form of the verb in Le Présent Indicatif
2. Drop the -ons ending
3. Add the following endings:
| je / j' | -ais |
| tu | -ais |
| il/elle/on | -ait |
| nous | -ions |
| vous | -iez |
| ils/elles | -aient |
Examples:
- parler : nous parlons (we are talking) -> je parlais
- finir : nous finissons (we are finishing) -> je finissais
- faire : nous faisons (we are doing) -> je faisais
- prendre : nous prenons (we are taking) -> je prenais
When to use the French Imperfect Tense (L'Imparfait)
L'Imparfait is used in a variety of ways where we use very different tenses in English!
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)
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