L’imparfaitL’imparfaitThe imperfect tenseThe imperfect tense

Talking about events in the Talking about events in the past - 2past - 2

Talking about events in the pastTalking about events in the past

French is made easy by the fact that, French is made easy by the fact that, whereas in English we have five ways whereas in English we have five ways of changing verbs to talk about the of changing verbs to talk about the past, in French there are only two.past, in French there are only two.

These two forms are called:These two forms are called: LE PASSE COMPOSE (PERFECT TENSE)LE PASSE COMPOSE (PERFECT TENSE) L’IMPARFAIT (IMPERFECT TENSE)L’IMPARFAIT (IMPERFECT TENSE)

Talking about events in the pastTalking about events in the past The passThe passé composé (Perfect Tense) é composé (Perfect Tense)

communicates:communicates:1.1. I playedI played2.2. I have playedI have played3.3. I did playI did play The imparfait (Imperfect Tense) The imparfait (Imperfect Tense)

communicates:communicates:1.1. I was playingI was playing2.2. I used to playI used to play3.3. I played (but I don’t anymore)I played (but I don’t anymore)

L’imparfait - formationL’imparfait - formation

The imperfect is easy to form but The imperfect is easy to form but requires a good knowledge of verbs requires a good knowledge of verbs and how to conjugate them.and how to conjugate them.

To achieve real fluency and To achieve real fluency and competence in French, you must competence in French, you must learn all the parts of the verb:learn all the parts of the verb:

Vous

IlsJe

Il

OnElle

Elles

Nous

Tu

Formation of the imperfect tenseFormation of the imperfect tense

In order to form the imparfait, you In order to form the imparfait, you need to follow three simple steps:need to follow three simple steps:

1. Look up the infinitive form of the 1. Look up the infinitive form of the verb. You will find this form in the…verb. You will find this form in the…

……DICTIONARYDICTIONARY2. Find the ‘nous’ form of the verb2. Find the ‘nous’ form of the verb3. Add an imperfect ending3. Add an imperfect endingThere is only one important There is only one important exception! exception!

Step 1 – InfinitivesStep 1 – Infinitives Find the infinitive forms of the following Find the infinitive forms of the following

verbsverbs to playto play to danceto dance to finishto finish to chooseto choose to sellto sell to waitto wait to haveto have to doto do to beto be

jouerjouer danserdanser finirfinir choisirchoisir vendrevendre attendreattendre avoiravoir fairefaire êtreêtre

Step 2 – Find the ‘nous’ form of the Step 2 – Find the ‘nous’ form of the verbsverbs

We playWe play We danceWe dance We finishWe finish We chooseWe choose We sellWe sell We waitWe wait We haveWe have We doWe do We areWe are

Nous jouonsNous jouons Nous dansonsNous dansons Nous finissonsNous finissons Nous choisissonsNous choisissons Nous vendonsNous vendons Nous attendonsNous attendons Nous avonsNous avons Nous faisonsNous faisons Nous sommesNous sommes

Step 3 – adding the correct endingStep 3 – adding the correct ending

Take the –ons off the nous endingTake the –ons off the nous ending e.g. Nous jouonse.g. Nous jouons Take the ‘nous’ awayTake the ‘nous’ away e.g. Nous joue.g. Nous jou You now have your imperfect ‘stem’ You now have your imperfect ‘stem’

and are ready to add the correct and are ready to add the correct endingsendings

Step 3 – Adding the correct endingStep 3 – Adding the correct ending

Je jouJe jou Tu jouTu jou Il/Elle/On jouIl/Elle/On jou Nous jouNous jou Vous jouVous jou Ils jouIls jou Elles jouElles jou

-ons-ons

-ons-ons

-ons-ons

-ons-ons

-ons-ons

-ons-ons

-ons-ons

ais

ais

ait

ions

iez

aient

aient

PracticePracticeFor the following verbs, can you follow the For the following verbs, can you follow the

steps and write them in the correct imperfect steps and write them in the correct imperfect

formform?? Je (parler)Je (parler) Tu (aller)Tu (aller) Il (partir)Il (partir) Elle (sortir)Elle (sortir) Nous (faire)Nous (faire) Vous (prendre) (careful!)Vous (prendre) (careful!) Ils (boire) (careful!)Ils (boire) (careful!) Elles (manger) (careful!)Elles (manger) (careful!)

Je parlJe parlaisais Tu allTu allaisais Il partIl partaitait Elle sortElle sortaitait Nous faisNous faisionsions Vous prenVous prenieziez Ils buvIls buvaientaient Elles mangeElles mangeaientaient

Remember: These phrases mean was …ing and used to …

The big exception!!The big exception!! You will notice that one ‘nous’ form You will notice that one ‘nous’ form

does not end ‘-ons’does not end ‘-ons’ Nous sommesNous sommes You need to use a different stem:You need to use a different stem:J’J’étaisétais Tu étaisTu étaisIl/Elle/On Il/Elle/On étaitétaitNous Nous étionsétions Vous étiezVous étiezIls/Elles Ils/Elles étaientétaient You will notice the endings are the You will notice the endings are the

same as for other verbssame as for other verbs

PracticePractice You are now ready to write some You are now ready to write some

sentences in Frenchsentences in French Check your answers by answering Check your answers by answering

the following questions:the following questions: Have you got the correct ‘nous’ Have you got the correct ‘nous’

form?form? Have you replaced the ‘nous’ with Have you replaced the ‘nous’ with

the correct subject?the correct subject? Have you replaced ‘-ons’ with the Have you replaced ‘-ons’ with the

correct ending?correct ending?

Translate the following sentences Translate the following sentences into French…into French…

I was playingI was playing You were speakingYou were speaking He used to winHe used to win She used to drinkShe used to drink We were havingWe were having You were doingYou were doing They(men) were They(men) were

swimmingswimming They(women) were They(women) were

going outgoing out When she was young When she was young

she played tennisshe played tennis

Je jouaisJe jouais Tu parlaisTu parlais Il gagnaitIl gagnait Elle buvaitElle buvait Nous avionsNous avions Vous faisiezVous faisiez Ils nageaientIls nageaient

Elles sortaientElles sortaient

Quand elle Quand elle était jeune, était jeune, elle jouait au tenniselle jouait au tennis

Maintenant Maintenant à vous!à vous!

You should now be able to make up You should now be able to make up some sentences of your ownsome sentences of your own

Write 5 sentences to say what you Write 5 sentences to say what you used to do when you were younger.used to do when you were younger.

You can start your sentences…You can start your sentences… Quand j’ Quand j’ étais jeune…étais jeune…