Qu’est-ce que c’est l’imparfait ?
L’imparfait is a fundamental past tense in French used to describe ongoing actions, habits, background situations, and states of mind in the past. Unlike the passé composé, which focuses on completed events, the imparfait sets the scene and explains what was happening. It is formed by taking the nous form of the present tense, removing -ons, and adding the imperfect endings. In this lesson, we will explore when to use the imparfait, how to form it correctly, and how to distinguish it clearly from other past tenses.
L’imparfait – Overview & Exercises:
1. Qu’est-ce que c’est l’imparfait ?
2. The imperfect: Past Progessive
3. The imperfect: Equivalent of used to + infinitive
4. The imperfect: Description
5. Activity 1: Video Practice: Describing My Childhood Home in the Imperfect
6. Activity 2: Practice Sentences
7. Quizzes
1. Qu’est-ce que c’est l’imparfait ?
Limparfait is a simple tense in the past; the conjugated verb consists of a stem and an ending. The stem is obtained by dropping the -ons ending of the nous form of the present tense of the verb. This is true for both regular and irregular verbs.
| ER Verb | RE Verb | IR Verb |
|---|---|---|
| Regarder (to watch) |
Descendre (to go down) |
Rougir (to blush) |
| Regardons (regard) |
Descendons (descend) |
Rougissons (rougiss) |
| The endings of the conjugated forms of the verb are as follows: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. The only verb for which the stem for the imparfait is not obtained in that way is the verb être (to be). |
||
| Regarder | Descendre | Rougir |
|---|---|---|
| Je regardais | je descendais | Je rougissais |
| tu regardais | tu descendais | tu rougissais |
| il regardait | il descendait | il rougissait |
| elle regardait | elle descendait | elle rougissait |
| nous regardions | nous descendions | nous rougissions |
| vous regardiez | vous descendiez | vous rougissiez |
| ils regardaient | ils descendaient | ils rougissaient |
| elles regardaient | elles descendaient | elles rougissaient |
Think of the imparfait as the past tense of calm, beauty, and thought: it paints portraits and scenes, thoughts and memories; it does not busy itself with actions. If you were on stage, the imparfait would not be the tense of the actors but rather of the stage manager who oversaw the set, the lighting, and everything that prepared the stage for the actors to act. Use the imparfait when:
2. The imperfect: Past Progessive
The past progressive in French is expressed using the imparfait. It describes an action that was ongoing in the past, similar to “was/were + verb-ing” in English. Instead of using a separate progressive structure, French simply uses the imparfait to show that the action was in progress. For example, I was studying becomes j’étudiais. The imparfait emphasizes duration, continuity, or background context in the past, especially when another action interrupts it, often expressed with the passé composé.
The English verb is or could be was/were + -ing, without changing the meaning.
Elle conduisait prudemment parce qu’il pleuvait. She was driving slowly because it was raining.
3. The imperfect: Equivalent of used to + infinitive
In French, the equivalent of “used to + infinitive” is expressed with the imparfait. The imparfait describes habitual or repeated actions in the past without needing a separate structure. For example, I used to play the piano becomes je jouais du piano. The tense itself indicates that the action happened regularly or over a period of time in the past. This use of the imparfait emphasizes past habits, routines, or repeated behaviors that are no longer happening.
The English verb is or is the equivalent of used to + infinitive, with the same meaning in both languages.
Il mangeait toujours à Mcdonald’s quand il était étudiant.
He always ate (used to eat) at McDonald’s when he was a student.
4. The imperfect: Description
In French, the imparfait is commonly used for descriptions in the past. It sets the scene by describing people, places, weather, time, physical conditions, and emotional states. Rather than focusing on a completed action, the imparfait provides background information. For example, It was cold, the sky was gray, and everyone was tired would use the imparfait in French. This tense helps create context and atmosphere while other actions, often expressed in the passé composé, move the story forward.
The sentence has a verb that describes (as opposed to listing an action or actions).
Describing the weather, the time and the date
Tout était calme. Une brise légère soufflait, Julie se sentait bien.
All was quiet. A light breeze was blowing, Julie was feeling good.
Describing a setting (how things were)
Il était midi et nous avions faim.
It was noon and we were hungry.
Describing a state of mind or of being
Il a pris un cachet d’aspirine parce qu’il avait mal à la tête.
He took an aspirin because he had a headache.
Describing physical characteristics
Quand il était jeune il avait les cheveux longs.
When he was young he had long hair.
Limparfait
5. Activity 1: Video Practice: Describing My Childhood Home in the Imperfect
Grammar: Practice Sentences
| French | English |
|---|---|
| 1. Nous avions une maison à la campagne. | 1. We had a house in the countryside. |
| 2. C’était une maison à trois étages. | 2. It was a three-story house. |
| 3. Moi, je dormais dans la mansarde. | 3. I slept in the attic. |
| 4. Il y avait un jardin autour de la maison. | 4. There was a garden around the house. |
| 5. Ma mère y cultivait des légumes. | 5. My mother grew vegetables there. |
| 6. Mes grand-parents habitaient avec nous. | 6. My grandparents lived with us. |
| 7. La maison était entourée d’une clôture. | 7. The house was surrounded by a fence. |
| 8. Nous gardions notre voiture dans le garage. | 8. We kept our car in the garage. |
| 9. Mon père travaillait dans le village. | 9. My father worked in the village. |
| 10. Ma mère restait à la maison avec les enfants. | 10. My mother stayed at home with the children. |
| 11. Nous mangions dans la salle à manger. | 11. We ate in the dining room. |
| 12. La salle à manger était au rez-de-chaussée. | 12. The dining room was on the ground floor. |
| 13. On utilisait le salon seulement pour recevoir. | 13. The lounge was used only to receive. |
| 14. Ma soeur et moi nous faisions nos devoirs dans nos chambres. | 14. My sister and I were doing our homework in our rooms. |
| 15. Nous aimions beaucoup notre maison. | 15. We loved our house very much. |
6. Practice Sentences using l’imparfait:
7. QUIZZES : L’imparfait & Présent-Imparfait-Passé composé
Grammar for Level 2 – List
1. French Reflexive verbs:
a) Only verbs: Verbes pronominaux (part 1) (part 2)
b) Sentences : Verbes pronominaux(Phrases)
c) Practice : Verbes pronominaux(Practice)
2. Word order for showing possession:
Ordre des mots pour montrer la possession
3. Adjectives:
a) Adjectives and Nouns : Adjectifs et noms
b) Adjectives Endings : Types of adjectives
c) Descriptive Adjectives : Les adjectifs qualificatifs
d) Describing Personality: Les adjectifs de la personnalité
e) Practice 1 : Flashcard of important adjectives
f) Practice 2 : Choosing the right answer
g) Practice 3 : 16 Sentences practice
4. IRREGULAR Verbs:
a) Only verbs: Verbes irréguliers(verbes)
b) Sentences: 15 verbes irréguliers (phrases)
c) Practice: 15 verbes irréguliers (practice)
d) To be able to – To want – To have to – To know:
Pouvoir, Vouloir, Devoir et Savoir (Test)
5. Compound Past (The preterit):
a) Definition: Le Passé composé
b) Dr Mrs Vandertramp: Dr Mrs Vandertramp
c) Auxiliary to be or to have: Auxiliaire être ou avoir (Test)
d) Sentences ER verbs passé composé: Phrases ER verbes passé composé
e) Sentences IR verbs passé composé: Phrases IR verbes passé composé
f) Sentences RE verbs passé composé: Phrases RE verbes passé composé
6. Imperfect tense (L’imparfait):
a) Definition: L’imparfait
b) Imparfait practice 1: La maison de mon enfance
c)
d) Sentences ER verbs imparfait: Phrases ER verbes imparfait
e) Sentences IR verbs imparfait: Phrases IR verbes imparfait
f) Sentences RE verbs imparfait: Phrases RE verbes imparfait
7. Prepositions: (verb to go and to come in passé composé):
Les prépositions et le verbe aller et venir au passé composé
8.French expressions with the verb to have (avoir):
Expressions françaises avec Avoir
9. 5 Most common French Grammar mistakes:
Les 5 erreurs de grammaire française les plus courantes
10. Quiz Game Level 2: Quiz
11. The use of “t” in French questions : L’utilisation du ‘t’ dans les questions en français
Conjugation practice for Level 2
1. French verbs starting with a-b-c:
Verbes français commençant par a-b-c
2. Sentences with French verbs starting with a-b-c (Présent):
Phrases avec verbes français commençant par a-b-c (Présent)
3. Sentences with French verbs starting with a-b-c (Imparfait):
Phrases avec verbes français commençant par a-b-c (Imparfait)
4. Sentences with French verbs starting with a-b-c (Passé Composé):
Phrases avec verbes français commençant par a-b-c (Passé Composé)
5. Sentences with French verbs starting with a-b-c (Future Proche):
Phrases avec verbes français commençant par a-b-c (Future Proche)
6. Sentences with French verbs starting with a-b-c (Future Simple):
Phrases avec verbes français commençant par a-b-c (Future Simple)
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