L'imparfait (The imperfect tense).

Question 1

How do you form the imperfect tense?

Answer 1

Present tense ‘nous’ form - ons + imperfect ending.
For example:
- finiss(ons).
- perd(ons).
- av(ons).
- jou(ons).

Question 2

What are the imperfect endings?

Answer 2

Je - ais.
Tu - ais.
Il - ait.
Elle - ait.
On - ait.
Nous - ions.
Vous - iez.
Ils - aient.
Elles - aient.

Question 3

I was playing.

Answer 3

Je jouais.

Question 4

He was finishing.

Answer 4

Il finissait.

Question 5

We were having.

Answer 5

Nous avions.

Question 6

You (plural) were doing.

Answer 6

Vous faisiez.

Question 7

They (masculine) were going.

Answer 7

Ils allaient.

Question 8

You were playing.

Answer 8

Tu jouais.

Question 9

What are the three exceptions of l’imparfait?

Answer 9

• For verbs that end in -cer, the c is changed to ç.
  For example: lancer - je lançais, tu lançais, il lançait, nous lançions.
• For verbs that end in -ger, remove the -r but leave the -e.
  For example: manger - je mangeais, tu mangeais, il mangeais, nous mangeais.
• The stem for être is -ét.
  For example: je étais, tu étais, il était, nous étions, vous étiez, ils étaient.

Question 10

You were eating.

Answer 10

Tu mangeais.

Question 11

They (feminine) were starting.

Answer 11

Elles commençaient.

Question 12

We were.

Answer 12

Nous étions.