A2 French GrammarPast Tense (Simple Past)
Learn the French imparfait (imperfect) tense for describing past habits, ongoing states, and background actions. Understand how it differs from passé composé, master its regular formation, and know when to use each past tense for natural storytelling.
1Forming the Imparfait
Form the imparfait from the nous form of the present tense: drop -ons and add endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. The only irregular verb is être: j'étais. The stem for all other verbs comes from nous: nous parlons→parl-, nous finissons→finiss-.
Imparfait Endings
| Person | Ending | Parler | Finir |
|---|---|---|---|
| je | -ais | parlais | finissais |
| tu | -ais | parlais | finissais |
| il/elle | -ait | parlait | finissait |
| nous | -ions | parlions | finissions |
| vous | -iez | parliez | finissiez |
| ils/elles | -aient | parlaient | finissaient |
Examples
Quand j'étais petit, j'aimais les bonbons.
When I was little, I loved candy.
être is irregular: étais
Nous habitions à Paris.
We used to live in Paris.
nous form -ions
Il faisait beau ce jour-là.
The weather was nice that day.
faire→faisait (weather)
Vous travailliez beaucoup.
You used to work a lot.
vous form -iez
2When to Use Imparfait
Use imparfait for: 1) Habits in the past (I used to...), 2) Descriptions and states (It was raining), 3) Background actions in stories, 4) Age, time, weather in the past, 5) Ongoing actions interrupted by another event. Think of it as 'setting the scene'.
Imparfait Uses
| Use | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Past habit | Je jouais au foot | I used to play soccer |
| Description | Elle était belle | She was beautiful |
| Weather | Il pleuvait | It was raining |
| Age | J'avais dix ans | I was ten years old |
| Time | Il était midi | It was noon |
Examples
Avant, je fumais.
I used to smoke.
past habit
La maison était grande et blanche.
The house was big and white.
description
Il avait les yeux bleus.
He had blue eyes.
physical description
Quand j'avais 20 ans, j'habitais seul.
When I was 20, I lived alone.
age + circumstance
3Imparfait vs Passé Composé
Passé composé is for completed actions (what happened). Imparfait is for background/ongoing states (what was happening). In stories, passé composé moves the action forward while imparfait sets the scene. Often used together: 'Je dormais quand le téléphone a sonné.'
Comparing Past Tenses
| Passé Composé | Imparfait | Use |
|---|---|---|
| J'ai mangé | Je mangeais | completed vs ongoing |
| Il a plu | Il pleuvait | event vs background |
| Elle est arrivée | Elle arrivait | single vs repeated |
| J'ai vu un film | Je voyais un film | finished vs interrupted |
Examples
Je lisais quand tu as appelé.
I was reading when you called.
imparfait + passé composé
Il faisait froid et il neigeait.
It was cold and it was snowing.
both background = imparfait
Hier, j'ai travaillé toute la journée.
Yesterday, I worked all day.
completed = passé composé
Avant, je travaillais tous les jours.
I used to work every day.
habit = imparfait
4Common Expressions with Imparfait
Certain expressions often trigger imparfait: avant (before/in the past), quand j'étais jeune (when I was young), tous les jours (every day), souvent (often), d'habitude (usually), pendant que (while). These signal repeated or ongoing past situations.
Imparfait Trigger Words
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| avant | before/in the past | Avant, j'habitais ici |
| d'habitude | usually | D'habitude, je me levais tôt |
| tous les jours | every day | Je travaillais tous les jours |
| pendant que | while | Pendant que je dormais... |
Examples
D'habitude, nous dînions à huit heures.
Usually, we would have dinner at eight.
d'habitude triggers imparfait
Quand j'étais étudiant, je sortais souvent.
When I was a student, I often went out.
past context + habit
Pendant qu'il parlait, je pensais à autre chose.
While he was talking, I was thinking of something else.
pendant que = simultaneous
Tous les étés, nous allions à la plage.
Every summer, we would go to the beach.
repeated past action