Object Pronouns Part 2

Question 1

What does l’imparfait describe?

Answer 1

The imperfect (l’imparfait) is a past tense used to describe continuous or habitual past actions or states. It is also used for descriptions in the past.

Question 2

What are the imparfait endings?

Answer 2

To form the imparfait, drop the -ons ending from the nous form of the present tense (regular and irregular verbs), and add the endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.

Question 3

Present tense
Imparfait and meaning

Danser

Answer 3

Nous dansons
Nous dansions (we were dancing)

Question 4

Present tense
Imparfait and meaning (Ils/elles)

faire

Answer 4

Nous faisons
Ils faisaient (they used to do, make)

Question 5

Present tense
Imparfait and meaning (tu)

Choisir

Answer 5

Nous choisissons
Tu choisissais (You were choosing)

Question 6

Present tense
Imparfait and meaning (je)

Reponder

Answer 6

Nous répondons

Je répondais (I answered)

Question 7

Present tense

Imparfait and meaning (vous)

Answer 7

Nous pouvons
Vous pouviez (you were answering)

Question 8

For verbs ending in -ger what do you need to do?

Answer 8

For verbs ending in -ger, insert an -e- before the ending when the ending starts with the letter -a or -o

Present: Nous mangeons
Imparfait: Nous mangions
-Ils maneaient

Question 9

For verbs ending in -cer what do you need to do?

Answer 9

For verbs ending in -cer, change -c- to -ç- before -a or -o. Four imparfait endings start with -a.

Present: Nous commençons
Imparfait: Nous commencions
Ils commençaient (we were starting)

Question 10

How are imparfait formed for all the verbs? How do they respond to reflexive and object pronouns? Negatives and interrogatives?

Answer 10

All conjugations, except for the verb être, are formed in the same way. Reflexive and object pronouns are placed as they are in the present tense; negatives and interrogatives also follow pres- ent tense patterns.

Question 11

The irregular imperfect stem of être is…

Answer 11

Ét-

Question 12

Imparfait
Parler

Je
Tu
Il
Nous
Vous
Ils

Answer 12

Je parlais
Tu parlais
Il parlait
Nous parlions
Vous parliez
Ils parlaient

Question 13

Imparfait
Finir

Je
Tu
Il
Nous
Vous
Ils

Answer 13

Je finissais
Tu finissais
Il finissait
Nous finissions
Vous finissiez
Ils finissaient

Question 14

Imparfait
Attendre

Je
Tu
Il
Nous
Vous
Ils

Answer 14

J’attendais
Tu attendais
Il attendait
Nous attendions
Vous attendiez
Ils attendaient

Question 15

Imparfait
Être

Je
Tu
Il
Nous
Vous
Ils

Answer 15

J’étais
Tu étais
Il était
Nous étions
Vous étiez
Ils étaient

Question 16

Imparfait meanings je parlais and nous étions?

Answer 16

The imparfait has several equivalents in English. Je parlais can mean I talked, I was talking, I used to talk, or I would (􏰄 used to) talk. Nous étions can mean we were or we used to be.

Question 17

À dix heures, je t’attendais au coin.

Answer 17

At ten o’clock, I was waiting for you at the corner

Question 18

Autrefois, nous ne nous écrivions pas.

Answer 18

In the past, we didn’t write to each other

Question 19

Où habitiez-vous en 1995? —En 1995, j’avais un petit appartement à Paris.

Answer 19

Where were you living in 1995? —In 1995, I had a small flat in Paris.

Question 20

Il était rue du Terrage.

Answer 20

It was on rue du Terrage

Question 21

J’allais chez ma tante le dimanche.

Answer 21

I used to go to my aunt’s on Sunday

Question 22

Nous faisions la cuisine ensemble.

Answer 22

We’d cook together.

Question 23

How is imparfait used?

Answer 23

1. ) In description, to set a scene
2. ) Fo habitual or customary past actions
3. ) To describe feelings and mental or emotional states in the past
4. ) To tell time of day or to express age in the past
5. ) To describe an action or situation that was happening when another event (usually in the passé composé) interrupted it

Question 24

In descriptions, to set a scene
C’était une soirée tranquille. Dehors, il neigeait et il faisait froid. Mme Dupont lisait un roman; M. Dupont regardait un DVD. Fido se reposait devant le feu.

Answer 24

It was a peaceful evening. Outside, it was snowing and it was cold. Mme Dupont was reading a novel; M. Dupont was watching a DVD. Fido was resting in front of the fire.

Question 25

For habitual or customary past actions
Quand j’étais jeune j’allais chez mes grands-parents en été. Nous nous amusions toujours très bien. Tous les soirs on faisait de belles promenades sur la plage.

Answer 25

When I was young I used to (would) go to my grandparents’ place in the summer. We always had a very good time. Every evening we used to (would) take lovely walks on the beach.

Question 26

To describe feelings and mental or emotional states in the past

Jean-Charles était mécontent; il avait envie de laisser tomber ses études

Answer 26

Jean-Charles was unhappy; he wanted to drop his studies

Question 27

To tell time of day or to express age in the past

Il était sept heures et demie. C’était l’anniversaire d’Iris; elle avait dix-huit ans

Answer 27

It was seven-thirty A.M. It was Iris’s birthday; she was eighteen years old.

Question 28

To describe an action or situation that was happening when another event (usually in the passé composé) interrupted it

Il prenait sa douche quand j’ai sonné

Answer 28

He was showing when I rang the bell