The Imperfect Flashcards
(134 cards)
1
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) How is the imperfect formed?
A
The stem of the imperfect tense of all verbs (except ‘‘être’’) is found by dropping the ‘‘-ons’’ ending from the ‘‘nous’‘-form of the present indicative. The imperfect endings are:
- ais
- ais
- ait
- ions
- iez
- aient
2
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) How is the imperfect formed?
A
The stem of the imperfect tense of all verbs (except ‘‘être’’) is found by dropping the ‘‘-ons’’ ending from the ‘‘nous’‘-form of the present indicative. The imperfect endings are:
- ais
- ais
- ait
- ions
- iez
- aient
3
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''aller'' (1st person, singular)
A
j’allais
4
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''s'asseoir'' (1st person, singular)
A
je m’asseyais
5
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''avoir'' (1st person, singular)
A
j’avais
6
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''boire'' (1st person, singular)
A
Je buvais
7
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''craindre'' (1st person, singular)
A
je craignais
8
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''croire'' (1st person, singular)
A
je croyais
9
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''dire'' (1st person, singular)
A
je disais
10
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''dormir'' (1st person, singular)
A
je dormais
11
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''faire'' (1st person, singular)
A
je faisais
12
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''pouvoir'' (1st person, singular)
A
je pouvais
13
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''recevoir'' (1st person, singular)
A
je recevais
14
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Give imperfect form of the verb ''rire'' (1st person, singular)
A
je riais
15
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) Which is the only verb that has irregular stem in the imperfect tense?
A
être j'étais tu étais il était nous étions vous étiez ils étaient
16
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) it was necessary
A
il fallait
17
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) it was raining
A
il pleuvait
18
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) it was snowing
A
il neigeait
19
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) When is the imperfect used?
A
The imperfect is used to describe habitual, repetitive actions in the past.
f.e Le samedi, nous nous levions tard.
2. The imperfect is used for an action which was in progress for an unknown period of time, or for two actions that were going on simultaneously.
Tout le monde s’amusait.
The imperfect and the passé composé are used in the same sentence when the action in progress serves as background for another action, which took place while the first action was still going on. The interrumpting action is in the passé composé.
Il neigeait quand nous sommes partis.
3. The imperfect is used to give descriptions of people (including the indication of their names and ages) and things (including weather) in the past. In describes what someone or something was like rather than happened.
La jeune femme s’appelait Anne et elle avait vingt ans. Elle était petite et jolie.
4. the imperfect describes mental, physical or emotional states of unlimited duration.
J’ai cru un instant qu’il était fou.
5. The imperfect is used to indicate the time of day, the day of week, the date, the month, the year ans seasons in the past.
Il était dix heures quand je me suis réveillé.
6. The imperfect is used after ‘‘si’’
- in exlamations to express a wish
Si seulement j’étais riche.
- in questions to express a suggestion made in the present (English: What if…? How about…-ing?)
Si on dînait ensemble? - what if we had dinner together?
7. The imperfect is the only past tense used when the following expressions are in a past context.
j’allais sortir - I was going to go out.
20
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) in those days
A
à l’époque / a cette époque-là
21
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) formerly, in the past
A
autrefois
22
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) before
A
avant
23
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) every summer / winter
A
chaque été / hiver
24
Q
The Imperfect (l'imparfait) every week / year
A
chaque semaine / année
25
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
each time
```
chaque fois que
26
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
every day
```
chaque jour
27
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
every month
```
chaque mois
28
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
from time to time
```
de temps en temps
29
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
all the time
```
tout le temps
30
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
usually
```
d'habitude
31
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
generally
```
généralement
32
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
on Mondays/on Tuesdays, etc.
```
le lundi / le mardi, etc.
33
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
when I was a teenager
```
quand j'étais adolescent(e)
34
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
when I was a child
```
quand j'étais enfant
35
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
when I was young
```
quand j'étais jeune
36
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
when I was little
```
quand j'étais petit(e)
37
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
when I was student
```
quand j'étais étudiant(e)
38
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
sometimes
```
quelquefois / parfois
39
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
often
```
souvent
40
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
rarely
```
rarement
41
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
never
```
jamais
42
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
frequently
```
fréquemment
43
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
toujours
```
always
44
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
every year
```
tous les ans
45
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
every day/month
```
tous le jours / mois
46
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
every morning
```
tous les matins
47
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
every evening
```
tous le soirs
48
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
every Monday, Tuesday
```
tous les lundis, mardis
49
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
You koved every year.
```
Vous déménagiez tous les ans.
50
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
When I was little, I used to have a dog and a cat.
```
Quand j'étais petit, j'avais un chien et un chat.
51
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
School would start at 8 o'clock every morning.
```
L'école commençait à huit heures tous les matins.
52
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
she was doing the dishes while the children were playing in the yard.
```
Elle faisait la vaisselle pendant que les enfants jouaient dans le jardin.
53
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I had been waiting for Paul for an hour when he arrived.
```
J'attendais Paul depuis une heure quand il est arrivé.
54
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
He had known Eve for two years when he married her.
```
Il connaissait Ève depuis deux ans quand il l'a épousée.
55
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
Last Monday, she turned sixty.
```
Elle a eu soixante ans lundi dernier.
| Whe used with age, the passé composé expresses to turn a certain age
56
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
The weather was good for a week.
```
Il a fait beau pendant une semaine.
| With weather, the passé composé is used when a specific or limited time is mentioned.
57
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
Suddenly, he was (=became) afraid.
```
Tout à coup, il a eu peur.
58
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
It was winter.
```
C'était l'hiver.
59
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
It was the 25th of January.
```
C'était le 25 janvier.
60
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
How about having a drink?
```
Si on prenait un verre?
61
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
to be going to (do sth)
```
aller+inf
62
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I was going to go out.
```
J'allais sortir.
63
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
to have just (done sth)
```
venir de + inf.
64
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
He had just come home.
```
Il venait de rentrer.
65
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
to be in a process of (doing sth)
```
être en train de + inf
66
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
We were in the process of eating.
```
Nous étions en train de manger.
67
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
to be about to (do sth)
```
être sur le point de + inf
68
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
They were about to leave.
```
Ils étaient sur le point de partir.
69
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
We spent our vacation in Paris every summer.
```
Nous passions nos vacances à Paris chaque été.
70
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
Last summer, we spent our vacation in Paris.
```
L'été dernier, nous avons passé nos vacances à Paris.
71
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I used to (would) visit my parents every day.
```
J'allais voir mes parents tous les jours.
72
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
Between May and August, I visited my parents three times.
```
Entre mais et âout, je suis allé voir mes parents trois fois.
73
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
In those days, I lived in Switzerland.
```
À la époque, j'habitais en Suisse.
74
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I lived in Switzerland for four years.
```
J'ai habité en Suisse pendant quatre ans.
75
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
The weather was beautiful.
```
Il faisait beau.
76
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
The weather was beautiful in September.
```
Il a fait beau en septembre.
77
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
It was snowing when the plane landed.
```
Il neigeait quand l'avion a atterri.
78
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
When I was little, I believed in Santa Claus.
```
Quand j'étais petit, je croyais au père Noël.
79
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
While I was reading my sister was playing.
```
Pendant que je lisais, ma soeur jouait.
80
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I got up, I took a shower and I left.
```
Je me suis levé, j'ai pris une douche et je suis parti.
81
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
When I was little, I believed in Santa Claus.
```
Quand j'étais petit, je croyais au père Noël.
82
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
When I woke up, I believed that the earth was shaking.
```
Quand je me suis reveillé(e), j'ai cru que la terre tremblait.
83
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I thought I would never have any children.
```
Je pensais ne jamais avoir d'enfants.
84
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
For a moment, I thought I would never have any children.
```
Un moment, j'ai pensé ne jamais avoir d'enfants.
85
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
He was thirsty.
```
Il avait soif.
86
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
Suddenly, he got thirsty.
```
Tout à coup, il a eu soif.
87
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
We were tired.
```
Nous étions fatigués.
88
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
We were tired at that moment.
```
Nous avons été fatigués à ce moment-là.
89
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
She was slim and pretty.
```
Elle était mince et jolie.
90
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
She fell on the stairs.
```
Elle est tombée dans l'escalier.
91
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
She was fifteen (years old).
```
Elle avait quinze ans.
92
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
My daughter turned twelve yesterday.
```
Ma fille a eu douze ans hier.
93
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I always used to pay my bills on time (but I no longer do).
```
Je payais toujours mes factures à temps.
94
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I have always paid my bills on time (and I still do).
```
J'ai toujours payé mes factures à temps.
95
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I had
```
j'avais
96
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I became, I got, I received
```
j'ai eu
97
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I had my driver's license.
```
J'avais mon permis de conduire.
98
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I got my driver's license.
```
J'ai eu mon permis de conduire.
99
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I was
```
j'étais
100
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I went
```
j'ai été
101
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I went
```
j'ai été
102
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
Yesterday, I was in Lyon.
```
Hier, j'étais à Lyon.
103
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
Yesterday, I went to Lyon.
```
Hier, j'ai été à Lyon.
104
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I went
```
j'ai été
105
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
Yesterday, I was in Lyon.
```
Hier, j'étais à Lyon.
106
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
Yesterday, I went to Lyon.
```
Hier, j'ai été à Lyon.
107
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I was supposed to, I owed.
```
je devais
108
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I had to
```
j'ai dû
109
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
He was supposed to do it.
```
Il devait le faire.
110
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
He had to do it.
```
Il a dû le faire.
111
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I knew
```
je savais
112
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
j'ai su
```
I found out
113
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I knew where he lived.
```
Je savais où il habitait.
114
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I found out where he lived.
```
J'ai su où il habitait.
115
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I knew
```
je connaissais
116
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I met (for the first time)
```
j'ai connu
117
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I knew this man.
```
Je connaissais cet homme.
118
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I met this man yesterday.
```
J'ai connu cet homme hier.
119
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I wanted (state of mind)
```
je voulais
120
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I wanted (=I tried)
```
j'ai voulu
121
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I wanted to call you.
```
Je voulais vous appeler.
122
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I tried to call you.
```
J'ai voulu vous appeler.
123
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I didn't want.
```
je ne voulais pas
124
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I didn't want to (=I refused to and didn't )
```
je n'ai pas voulu.
125
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I didn't want to come.
```
Je ne voulais pas venir.
126
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I didn't want to come (=refused) to come.
```
Je n'ai pas voulu venir.
127
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I could (had the possibility)
```
je pouvais
128
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I could (and did)
```
j'ai pu
129
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I could go there.
```
Je pouvais y aller.
130
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I could go there (=I succeeded in going there).
```
J'ai pu y aller.
131
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I couldn't
```
je ne pouvais pas
132
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I couldn't (=I failed to after trying)
```
je n'ai pas pu
133
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I couldn't do it.
```
Je ne pouvais pas le faire.
134
```
The Imperfect (l'imparfait)
I couldn't do it (although I tried)
```
Je n'ai pas pu le faire.
