French (Imperfect Tense)

how to form imperfect tense with common regular verbs and irregular verbs

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  • Created by: Alex
  • Created on: 28-03-09 16:26

Introduction

Use imperfect tense to say you used to do something, e.g. je regardais - I used to watch

To form imperfect tense, you need:

  • time phrase to intrpduce tense (e.g. quand j'etais dix ans)
  • pronoun (je, tu, il, elle, on, nous, vous, ils, elles)
  • nous form of present tense
  • ending (same as conditional)
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Imperfect tense Time Phrases

quand j'etais jeune - when I was young

quand j'etais 10 ans - when I was 10

il y a 10 ans - 10 years ago

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Imperfect Tense Endings (using regular -er verb ec

je ecoutais

tu ecoutais

il ecoutait

elle ecoutait

on ecoutait

nous ecoutions

vous ecoutiez

ils ecoutaient

elles ecoutaient

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Nous form of regular verbs in imperfect tense

acheter -> achet + ending

aimer -> aim + ending

aller -> all + ending

devoir -> pouv + ending

écouter -> ecout + ending

faire -> fais + ending

rester -> rest + ending

visiter -> visit + ending

vouloir -> voul + ending

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Nous form of irregular verb in imperfect tense

être -> ét + ending

manger -> mange + ending

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