Indicatif: Imparfait Flashcards
(30 cards)
What English verb tenses does l’imparfait correspond to?
The simple past and the past progressive.
What other English structures of speaking about the past does l’imparfait translate to?
- used to
- would
Is l’imparfait used more common in written French or spoken French?
Written French.
What do “perfect” and “imperfect” mean with regard to grammatical tenses?
- Perfect = a completed action or state of being
- Imperfect = an incomplete (ongoing) action or state of being
Use l’imparfait for descriptions (of age, feelings, health, time, the weather, etc.):
- Quand j’avais six ans, j’étais souvent malade et j’étais heureux de passer du temps seul.
When I was six years old, I was often sick and I was happy to spend time alone. (avoir, être)
Use l’imparfait for habitual actions or states of being:
- Je m’ennuyais souvent.
I was often bored. (ennuyer)
Use l’imparfait for actions or states of being with unspecified endings:
- J’allais au parc parce que je voulais me promener.
I was going to the park because I wanted to take a walk.
Use l’imparfait for background information:
- Où étais-tu quand tu as appris la nouvelle ? J’étais au bureau.
Where were you (in.) when you heard the news? I was at the office.
Use l’imparfait for indirect speech:
- Il m’a dit qu’il allait à la banque.
He told me he was going to the bank. (aller)
Use l’imparfait for most verbs followed by the infinitive:
- J’allais te téléphoner.
- Je voulais vous poser une question.
I was going to call you. (aller)
I wanted/would like to ask you (for.) a question. (vouloir)
Use l’imparfait for repeated or simultaneously occuring actions in the past:
- Tous les jours, il faisait un gâteau avec son amie Florence.
Every day he made a cake with his friend Florence. (faire)
Use l’imparfait after “si” to express something unreal or unknown in the present or the future:
- Si seulement je gagnais au loto !
- Si on allait au ciné demain ?
In this exceptional case, l’imparfait is not a past tense.
If only I won the lottery! (gagner)
How about going to the movies tomorrow? (aller)
J’ai dû arrêter de me décolorer les cheveux parce que je les abîmais.
abîmer: to damage; to spoil; to ruin
I had to stop bleaching my hair because I was damaging it. (abîmer)
abîmer: to damage; to spoil; to ruin
Je ne t’ai pas dit parce que tu travaillais tard hier soir.
travailler: to work; to knead; to work on
I didn’t tell you because you were working late last night. (travailler)
travailler: to work; to knead; to work on
Il partageait souvent ses collations à l’école.
partager: to share; to divide
He often shared his snacks at school. (partager)
partager: to share; to divide
Deborah nous a vus ensemble alors que nous montions les escaliers.
monter: to go up; assemble; bring up; come up; set up; put up; take up
Deborah saw us together when we were going up the stairs. (monter)
monter: to go up; assemble; bring up; come up; set up; put up; take up
Vous chantiez si bien.
chanter: to sing
You (for.) were singing so well. (chanter)
chanter: to sing
Ils corrigaient les erreurs de la machine la nuit dernière.
corriger: to grade; to correct; to modify; to adjust (an estimate)
They were correcting the machine’s errors last night. (corriger)
corriger: to grade; to correct; to modify; to adjust (an estimate)
J’accomplissais tellement de choses à un si jeune âge.
accomplir: to carry out; to achieve; to accomplish; to fulfill
I was accomplishing so many things at such a young age. (accomplir)
accomplir: to carry out; to achieve; to accomplish; to fulfill
La congrégation s’est agenouillée pendant que tu les** bénissais**.
bénir: to bless
The congregation knelt while you (in.) were blessing them. (bénir)
bénir: to bless
Chaque jour, il guérissait un peu plus.
guérir: to recover; to cure; to heal
Every day he healed a little bit more. (guérir)
guérir: to recover; to cure; to heal
Je ne sais pas pourquoi elle avait mal au ventre ; nous lui nourrissions avec des aliments sains tous les jours.
nourrir: to feed; to breastfeed; to cherish (hope; figurative)
I don’t know why she got a stomach ache; we were feeding her healthy food every day. (nourrir)
nourrir: to feed; to breastfeed; to cherish (hope; figurative)
La dernière fois que nous vous avons interviewé, vous **grossissiez **pour la compétition.
grossir: to put on weight; to grow (fig.); to swell (river)
The last time we interviewed you, you (for.) were putting on weight for the competition. (grossir)
grossir: to put on weight; to grow (fig.); to swell (river)
Ils obéissaient aux ordres que leur donnait le commandant.
obéir: to obey
They were obeying the orders given to them by the commander. (obeir)
obéir: to obey
