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All 14 Flashcards — Imperfect
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Question
l'imparfait
Answer
the imperfect (the past for habits, description and ongoing actions)
Question
parler → je
Answer
je parlais (I used to speak / I was speaking)
Question
finir → je
Answer
je finissais (I used to finish) — stem from nous finissons → finiss-
Question
habiter → nous
Answer
nous habitions (we used to live)
Question
parler → ils / elles
Answer
ils parlaient (they used to speak)
Question
manger → je
Answer
je mangeais (I used to eat) — soft g kept: mange-
Question
être → imparfait (je)
Answer
j'étais (I was) — the only irregular stem, ét-
Question
aller → nous (imparfait)
Answer
nous allions (we used to go)
Question
faire → il (imparfait)
Answer
il faisait (it was — e.g. il faisait froid, it was cold)
Question
The six imperfect endings?
Answer
-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient — the same for every verb.
Question
How do you build the imperfect stem?
Answer
Take the nous form of the present and drop -ons: parlons → parl-, finissons → finiss-, prenons → pren-. Only être is irregular (ét-).
Question
When do you use the imperfect?
Answer
For past habits, descriptions and background, age/time/weather, and « was -ing » — actions that repeat, stretch or describe rather than finish once.
Question
Habit in the past: passé composé or imperfect?
Answer
Imperfect — « tous les jours j'allais à l'école ». Using the passé composé « je suis allé » would mean it happened just once.
Question
What is the only irregular imperfect stem?
Answer
être → ét- (j'étais, tu étais, il était, nous étions, vous étiez, ils étaient). Every other verb builds its stem from the nous form.
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Full study notes for Imperfect
Topic 3.2 hub
Past tenses
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French B exam skills
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