French I - The Imperfect - Quick Guides

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Study GuideFrench I–The Imperfect1.Imperfect Tense and Regular Verbs1. What the Imperfect Tense IsTheimperfect tense (l’imparfait)is used to describepast actions that were ongoing, repeated, orhabitual. It often corresponds to English expressions such as:•was doing•used to do•would do (in the past)Example:•Je jouais au tennis.I was playing tennis / I used to play tennis.

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Study Guide2. How to Form the ImperfectTo form the imperfect tense formost verbs, follow these steps:Step 1: Use the nous form of the present tenseExample verbs:•jouer→ nousjouons•finir→ nousfinissons•rendre→ nousrendonsStep 2: Remove-onsThis gives theimperfect stem:•jou-•finiss-•rend-Step 3: Add the imperfect endingsSubjectEndingje-aistu-aisil / elle / on-aitnous-ionsvous-iezils / elles-aient

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Study Guide3. Examples with Regular Verbsjouer (to play)SubjectFormjejouaistujouaisil/ellejouaitnousjouionsvousjouiezils/ellesjouaientfinir (to finish)SubjectFormjefinissaistufinissaisil/ellefinissaitnousfinissionsvousfinissiezils/ellesfinissaient

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Study Guiderendre (to return)SubjectFormjerendaisturendaisil/ellerendaitnousrendionsvousrendiezils/ellesrendaient4. Important Note About Irregular VerbsAlmost all verbs follow the same rule for forming the imperfect.Theonly completely irregular verbis:être (to be)Imperfect forms:•j’étais•tu étais•il était•nous étions•vous étiez•ils étaientThe stemét-is used instead of the normal rule.

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Study GuideKey TakeawayTo form theimperfect tense:1.Take thenous form of the present tense.2.Remove-ons.3.Add the imperfect endings:•-ais•-ais•-ait•-ions•-iez•-aientThe imperfect is commonly used to describeongoing actions, repeated habits, and backgrounddescriptions in the past.2.Imperfect Verbs with Spelling Changes1. Why Spelling Changes OccurSome French verbs slightlychange their spelling in the imperfect tenseto keep thecorrectpronunciation.These changes happen mainly with verbs ending in:•-cer•-gerThe spelling change ensures that thesoft sound of the consonant is preserved.2. Verbs Ending in-cerFor verbs ending in-cer, thec becomes çbefore the lettera.This keeps thesoft “s” soundof the letterc.

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Study GuideThis change occurs only in the“shoe” formsof the verb (je, tu, il/elle/on, ils/elles).Example:avancer (to advance)SubjectImperfect Formjeavançaistuavançaisil/elleavançaitnousavancionsvousavanciezils/ellesavançaientNotice:•nous avancionsandvous avanciezdonotneedçbecause theialready keeps the softsound.3. Verbs Ending in-gerFor verbs ending in-ger, add asilent ebetweenganda.This keeps thesoft “zh” soundofg.Again, the change occurs mainly in the“shoe” forms.Example:nager (to swim)SubjectImperfect Formjenageaistunageais

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