Imparfait basics
Use the imparfait for background, repeated past actions, and ongoing states in the past.
Examples
FrenchTranslation
Quand j’étais petit, je lisais tous les soirs.
When I was little, I read every evening.
Il faisait froid et la rue était vide.
It was cold and the street was empty.
Nous travaillions là à cette époque.
We were working there at that time.
Pattern
imparfait for habit or background
How it works
Use the imparfait for background, repeated past actions, and ongoing states in the past. This pattern typically appears as imparfait for habit or background and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- The imparfait often paints the scene rather than advancing the event.
- It commonly answers “what was it like?” or “what used to happen?”
Why it matters
Talk about what happened and what was going on.
Use in context
This is the first step toward reading French narration with more confidence.