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An ODERSA resource · Knowledge programmeA book only goes online once it is whole and read by someone else.

Chapter 8 of 17 · Conjugating French Without Hesitating

Chapter 7. The imparfait of verbs that change

The places where the imparfait is written otherwise than it is heard: the i that is not pronounced, the cedilla, the e of the person nous, and a review of the présent.

Where the ear stops helping

The endings of the imparfait (the imperfect) never change, but their meeting with certain stems produces spellings that come as a surprise. "Nous criions" carries two i in a row, "nous gagnions" carries an i that is not pronounced, "nous mangions" loses the e of "nous mangeons", "je commençais" keeps a cedilla that "nous commencions" gives up. None of these facts can be heard, and all of them can be seen.

This chapter deals with those three places, then mixes the présent (the present tense) and the imparfait. That mixture is not a punishment: when spoken, "nous chantons" and "nous chantions" are barely told apart, and that is why, in writing, you have to know which one you mean.

Reminder · the i of the persons nous and vous

Three families of stems swallow that i to the ear, and it is written in all three. The first is the family of stems that already end in an i: the ending adds its own, and the two are written one after the other. Nous crions in the présent becomes nous criions in the imparfait; vous criez becomes vous criiez. It is the only case that gives two i side by side.

The second is the family of stems that end in y or in the group ill. There is then only one i, the one from the ending, and it slips in behind: nous payions, vous payiez, nous travaillions, vous travailliez. The third is the family of stems that end in the group gn, such as gagner and soigner: there again one i only, and it cannot be heard at all. Nous gagnions, vous gagniez, nous soignions, vous soigniez.

The sure way of not going wrong is never to write these forms by ear, but to build them: stem of the imparfait, then the whole ending stuck on. The i of -ions and of -iez never disappears, whatever the ear may say about it.

Exercise 29. The i that is not heard

Copy out each sentence, writing the verb in the imparfait. Build the form instead of writing it by ear: the first four give two i in a row, the next four a single i behind y or ill, the last two a single i behind the group gn.

  1. Nous (crier) très fort.
  2. Vous (crier) dans le couloir.
  3. Nous (oublier) toujours quelque chose.
  4. Vous (étudier) le soir.
  5. Nous (payer) chacun notre part.
  6. Vous (essuyer) la table après le repas.
  7. Nous (travailler) le samedi.
  8. Vous (réveiller) toute la maison.
  9. Nous (gagner) souvent.
  10. Vous (soigner) les animaux.

Reminder · the cedilla and the e in front of the endings

Verbs in -cer and in -ger take up again in the imparfait the touch-up they were already making in the présent, but not in the same persons. The rule is always the same: the touch-up is kept in front of a and in front of o, it is given up in front of i and in front of e.

That gives, for commencer: je commençais, tu commençais, il commençait, nous commencions, vous commenciez, ils commençaient. And for manger: je mangeais, tu mangeais, il mangeait, nous mangions, vous mangiez, ils mangeaient. The persons "nous" and "vous" are the only ones to lose the touch-up, because they are the only ones whose ending begins with an i.

Exercise 30. The cedilla and the e

Copy out each sentence, writing the verb in the imparfait. Look at the letter that follows before deciding.

  1. Je (manger) à la cantine.
  2. Nous (manger) à la cantine.
  3. Tu (commencer) toujours par la fin.
  4. Vous (commencer) trop tard.
  5. Il (avancer) sans regarder.
  6. Nous (avancer) en file.
  7. Elles (nager) tous les matins.
  8. Vous (nager) mieux que moi.
  9. On (lancer) des cailloux dans l'eau.
  10. Nous (partager) tout.

Two forms are alike to the point of merging: "nous chantons" is a présent, "nous chantions" is an imparfait. The only difference is an i, and it is hardly heard. Before writing one of these forms, ask yourself which moment you are speaking of, not what you are hearing.

Exercise 31. Présent or imparfait

Copy out each sentence, writing the verb in the tense that the rest of the sentence imposes: présent or imparfait. The word or the group that places the moment is your only guide.

  1. En ce moment, nous (travailler) sur un autre projet.
  2. À l'époque, nous (travailler) sur le même projet.
  3. Autrefois, les rues (être) éclairées au gaz.
  4. Aujourd'hui, les rues (être) éclairées à l'électricité.
  5. Chaque été de mon enfance, nous (aller) au bord de la mer.
  6. Cette année, nous (aller) à la montagne.
  7. Quand j'étais petit, je (avoir) peur du noir.
  8. Maintenant, je ne (avoir) plus peur du tout.
  9. Il y a dix ans, ce quartier (être) désert le dimanche.
  10. Ce dimanche, le quartier (être) plein de monde.
  11. En ce temps-là, on (prendre) le bateau pour y aller.
  12. De nos jours, on (prendre) le pont.

Exercise 32. Review · the présent and the imparfait mixed

Copy out each sentence, writing the verb in the tense called for in square brackets. Verbs from all the earlier chapters are mixed in.

  1. Vous (faire) [présent] beaucoup de bruit.
  2. Vous (faire) [imparfait] moins de bruit avant.
  3. Nous (venir) [imparfait] chaque semaine.
  4. Nous (venir) [présent] pour la dernière fois.
  5. Les enfants (finir) [présent] leur repas.
  6. Les enfants (finir) [imparfait] toujours par s'endormir.
  7. Tu (pouvoir) [imparfait] me le dire plus tôt.
  8. Tu (pouvoir) [présent] encore changer d'avis.
  9. On (dire) [imparfait] qu'il ne reviendrait pas.
  10. On (dire) [présent] qu'il est déjà là.
  11. Elles (vouloir) [présent] toutes la même chose.
  12. Elles (vouloir) [imparfait] partir avant la fin.
  13. Je (être) [imparfait] persuadé du contraire.
  14. Je (être) [présent] d'accord avec toi.
  15. Nous (avoir) [imparfait] le temps.
  16. Nous (avoir) [présent] cinq minutes.