L’imparfait: formation The imperfect is a simple tense. It consists of one word. It is formed as follows: Imperfect Stem + Imperfect Endings For all verbs (except etre)_ the imperfect stem is derived as follows: Imperfect Stem = nous form of Present minus –ons The Imperfect Endings are the same for all verbs. Imperfect Endings are: ais, ais, ait, ions, iez, aient

Imparfait VS. Passé Compose 1.Imparfait- events that happen over along period of time. Ex: Quand j’etais en vacance… I went on vacation. 2.Passe Compose- describe specific events that happened during that time Ex: j’ai casse la jambe… I broke my leg. 3.Imparfait- reoccurring events during the past. Ex: Je nageais…I was swimming the whole time. 4.Imparfait- describing surroundings. Ex: Il faisait beau..It was nice outside. 5.Imparfait- describing people(clothing, emotional, etc.) Ex. J’ etais beaucoup d’energie..I had a lot of energy. 6.Imparfait- other events happening Ex: Mon cousin allait a’ l’ universite..My cousin went to college.

J’ étais I wasNous étions---- we were Tu étais you wereVous étiez you were il/ elle/ on était----- he/she/one wasIls/elles étaient--- they were The imperfect of etre has an irregular stem ét-. The endings are regular. The imperfect of etre is used to tell where people were or how they were feeling. It is NOT used to describe what they WERE DOING. IMPERFECT of EtreImperfect of verb of action J’ étais chez moi. - I was at home.J’ étudais. – I was studying. Alice était malade – Alice was sickElle regardait la télé. – She was watching TV. L’imperfait du verbe Etre

Habituellement (Usually) …..Un jour ….. Je regardais les matchs de foot. J’ai regardé un film. Nous allions au cinéma. Nous sommes allés à un concert. Jill sortait avec Paul. Il est sorti avec Nathalie. One the left, people are describing what they used to do regularly. On the right, they are describing what they did on a particular occasion. Although both the IMPERFECT and the PASSE COMPOSE are used to talk about the past, each has a different function. The imperfect us used to describe habitual actions and conditions that existed in the past. It descirbes what people USED TO DO, what USED TO BE. Quand j’ étais jeune, nous habitions à la campagne. When I was young, We used to live in the country. The PASSE COMPOSE is used to describe specific past events. It describes what people DID, what TOOK PLACE, What HAPPENED. Heir, nous sommes allés en ville. Yesterday we went downtown. L’usage de l’imperfait: événement habituels

Adverbs that set off imparfait: Adverbs that set off Passé Compose: Tous les jours, Tous les months Chaque jour, Chaque matin, Chaque mais En general, generalement, d’habitude Autrefois, a le paque… Toujours, Souvent Rarement Un Jour, Un matin, Un soir une fois, deux fois, plusieurs fois

When you need to put a verb in the passé compose you start with 1 of 2 verbs: Avoir: this is the most common verb. You will use 95% of time. Etre: this will be used under 2 circumstances: with “coming” and “going” verbs naitre, mourir, monter, descendre, sortir, passer, retourner, venir, devenir, revenir, partir, aller, arriver, rentrer, rester, tomber. With reflexive verbs(things you do to yourself) se laver, se reveiller, se maquiller, se brosser, etc.