French conjugation explanation

Forming the imparfait verb forms

<p>To find the stem of the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/26/" target="_blank">Imperfect</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">l'imparfait</span>), take the <strong>first-person plural</strong> (<span style="font-style: italic;">nous</span>) form of the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/25/" target="_blank">Present Indicative</a>

and remove the ending <span class="brown_emphasis">-ons</span>. The standard imperfect endings are then added to this stem.</p>

<p>For example, the <span style="font-style: italic;">nous</span> form of the verb

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/faire/" title="Click to see conjugations for faire" target="_blank">faire</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to do/make</span>) is <span style="font-style: italic;">nous faisons</span>. By removing <span style="font-style: italic;">-ons</span>, we get the stem <span class="green_emphasis">fais-</span>:</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/26/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imparfait</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

je

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fais<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ais</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fais<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ais</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

il

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fais<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ait</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nous

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fais<span style="text-decoration: underline;">ions</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vous

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fais<span style="text-decoration: underline;">iez</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ils

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">fais<span style="text-decoration: underline;">aient</span><span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>This rule applies to the vast majority of verbs, even those that have irregular conjugations in the present tense.</p>

<div class="table_container">

<div class="three_column_table">

<div><strong>Verb</strong></div>

<div><strong>Present (<span style="font-style: italic;">nous</span>)</strong></div>

<div><strong>Imperfect Stem</strong></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/aller/" title="Click to see conjugations for aller" target="_blank">aller</a>

<br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">to go</span>)</div>

<div>all<span class="brown_emphasis">ons</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">all-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/finir/" title="Click to see conjugations for finir" target="_blank">finir</a>

<br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">to finish</span>)</div>

<div>finiss<span class="brown_emphasis">ons</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">finiss-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/avoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for avoir" target="_blank">avoir</a>

<br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">to have</span>)</div>

<div>av<span class="brown_emphasis">ons</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">av-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/prendre/" title="Click to see conjugations for prendre" target="_blank">prendre</a>

<br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">to take</span>)</div>

<div>pren<span class="brown_emphasis">ons</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">pren-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/voir/" title="Click to see conjugations for voir" target="_blank">voir</a>

<br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">to see</span>)</div>

<div>voy<span class="brown_emphasis">ons</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">voy-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/boire/" title="Click to see conjugations for boire" target="_blank">boire</a>

<br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">to drink</span>)</div>

<div>buv<span class="brown_emphasis">ons</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">buv-</span></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/%C3%A9crire/" title="Click to see conjugations for écrire" target="_blank">écrire</a>

<br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">to write</span>)</div>

<div>écriv<span class="brown_emphasis">ons</span></div>

<div><span class="green_emphasis">écriv-</span></div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Spelling Changes</div>

<p>For verbs ending in <span style="font-style: italic;">-cer</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">-ger</span>, spelling changes occur before endings that start with <span style="font-style: italic;">a</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">-ais, -ait, -aient</span>) in order to preserve the soft pronunciation of the consonant.</p>

<ul>

<li>

<p><strong>Verbs ending in <span style="font-style: italic;">-cer</span>:</strong> The <span style="font-style: italic;">c</span> becomes <strong>ç</strong> (

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/french_cedilla/" target="_blank">cedilla</a>

) before endings starting with <span style="font-style: italic;">a</span> to keep the soft /s/ sound. Before <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">-ions, -iez</span>), the cedilla is not needed.</p>

<p>Example:

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/commencer/" title="Click to see conjugations for commencer" target="_blank">commencer</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to start</span>)</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/26/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imparfait</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

je

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">commençais<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">commençais<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

il

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">commençait<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nous

</span>commencions

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vous

</span>commenciez

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ils

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">commençaient<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</li>

<li>

<p><strong>Verbs ending in <span style="font-style: italic;">-ger</span>:</strong> An extra <strong>e</strong> is added after the <span style="font-style: italic;">g</span> before endings starting with <span style="font-style: italic;">a</span> to keep the soft /ʒ/ sound. Before <span style="font-style: italic;">i</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">-ions, -iez</span>), the <span style="font-style: italic;">g</span> is already soft, so no extra <span style="font-style: italic;">e</span> is needed. (See

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/hard_and_soft_g/" target="_blank">hard and soft g</a>

).</p>

<p>Example:

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/manger/" title="Click to see conjugations for manger" target="_blank">manger</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to eat</span>)</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/26/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imparfait</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

je

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">mangeais<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">mangeais<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

il

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">mangeait<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nous

</span>mangions

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vous

</span>mangiez

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ils

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">mangeaient<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Exceptions</div>

<ul>

<li>

<p>The verb

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/%C3%AAtre/" title="Click to see conjugations for être" target="_blank">être</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to be</span>) is the only verb with an irregular stem. Its present <span style="font-style: italic;">nous</span> form is <span style="font-style: italic;">nous sommes</span>, but its imperfect stem is <span class="green_emphasis">ét-</span>.</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/26/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imparfait</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun"><span>j'</span></span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">étais<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">étais<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

il

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">était<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nous

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">étions<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vous

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">étiez<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ils

</span><span class="irregular_conjugation" title="irregular conjugation">étaient<span class="irregularity_circle">&#9679;</span></span></span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</li>

<li>

<p><strong>Impersonal Verbs:</strong> Verbs that are only used in the 3rd person singular (<span style="font-style: italic;">il</span>) lack a <span style="font-style: italic;">nous</span> form, so their stem is based on the infinitive.</p>

<div class="table_container">

<div class="two_column_table">

<div><strong>Infinitive</strong></div>

<div><strong>Imperfect</strong></div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/falloir/" title="Click to see conjugations for falloir" target="_blank">falloir</a>

</div>

<div>il fallait</div>

<div>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/fra/pleuvoir/" title="Click to see conjugations for pleuvoir" target="_blank">pleuvoir</a>

</div>

<div>il pleuvait</div>

</div>

</div>

</li>

</ul>