L’imparfait · spelling at a glance
1 · Match the ending to the subject
Use -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. The verb follows person and number; a feminine subject adds no extra e.
| je / tu → -ais | first and second person singular |
| il / elle / on → -ait | third person singular |
| nous → -ions ; vous → -iez | the two plural address forms |
| ils / elles → -aient | third person plural |
La voisine parlait. Les voisins parlaient.The neighbour was speaking. The neighbours were speaking.
2 · For -ger, keep e before a
The e keeps the soft sound of g before a. Before i, the spelling g already gives that sound. Compare the start of the ending before adding a letter.
Je mangeais. Nous mangions. Vous mangiez.I was eating. We were eating. You were eating.
3 · For -cer, use ç before a
A cedilla keeps the soft sound before a. Before i, use plain c. The same contrast appears in je plaçais and nous placions.
Elle commençait. Nous commencions. Vous commenciez.She was starting. We were starting. You were starting.
4 · Keep the stem’s i before -ions and -iez
étudi- + -ions gives étudiions. Oubli- + -iez gives oubliiez. Removing one letter can turn an imparfait form into a present form.
Nous étudions ici. Avant, nous étudiions chez nous.We study here. Previously, we used to study at home.
5 · Keep the checked stem
Nous faisons gives fais-. être has ét-: keep the accent. These are stem decisions; check them separately from a cedilla or an ending.
Nous faisions une pause. Vous étiez là.We were taking a break. You were there.