Imperfect

Question 1

What is the Imperfect tense used for in French?

Answer 1

The French imperfect tense is used to describe states of being and habitual actions in the past.

Question 2

How do you form the imperfect tense in French?

Answer 2

1) Take the Nous form of the present tense
2) Drop the ONS
3) Add the following endings

Je: ais
Tu: ais
Il/Elle: ait
Nous: ions
Vous: iez
Ils/Elles: aient

Question 3

How would you say [They spoke] in the imperfect tense?

Answer 3

1) Take the nous form of the present tense [nous parlons]
2) Drop the -ons [parl]
3) add the ils/elles ending [ils/elles parlaient]

Question 4

How would you say [We swam] in the imperfect tense?

Answer 4

1) Take the nous form of the present tense[nous nageons]
2) Drop the -ons [nage]
3) Add the nous ending [nous nageions]
4) When conjugating for Nous and Vous drop the e in to get [nagions]