Imparfait: stem from nous − ons + universal endings
The Imparfait — Introduction
Good news: the Imparfait is much easier than the Passé Composé!
The imparfait is the past tense used for:
- Habitual actions → things you did regularly
- Ongoing actions → things that lasted a while
- Descriptions → setting the scene
It’s different from the passé composé:
- Imparfait = context, description, background
- Passé composé = single, completed action
(We’ll return to this difference in more detail later.)
The Big Idea: Find the Stem
To form the imparfait, start with the “nous” form of the verb in the present tense.
Rule:
Stem = [Nous + Present] − ons
Examples:
| Present Nous | Stem |
|---|---|
| finissons | finiss- |
| buvons | buv- |
Add the Universal Endings
Once you have the stem, simply add the same six endings for all verbs:
-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
Example with parler:
| Subject | Imparfait |
|---|---|
| je | parlais |
| tu | parlais |
| il/elle | parlait |
| nous | parlions |
| vous | parliez |
| ils/elles | parlaient |
Sound Tip 🔊
The first three endings (-ais, -ais, -ait) and the last one (-aient) are all pronounced the same: “è”. This makes the imparfait easy to recognize in listening.
Key Points
- The imparfait is very regular.
- Golden rule: always start from the “nous” form in present tense.
- The endings are universal: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
- Once you know the stem, you can conjugate any verb in the imparfait.
Important Note 2
When forming the Imparfait, never start from the infinitive. Always use the "Nous" form of the present tense as your base.
Why? It automatically provides the correct stem for 2nd group verbs (the "-iss-" part) and irregular 3rd group verbs. Just drop the -ons and add your ending.
- Finir (to finish) → Nous finissons → Je finissais
- Prendre (to take) → Nous prenons → Je prenais
- Boire (to drink) → Nous buvons → Je buvais
💡 The Only Exception: The verb être (which uses the stem ét-).
Key Takeaways
- Imparfait = past for habit, duration, description.
- Form the stem: nous form of present − ons.
- Add universal endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
- Pronunciation tip: -ais, -ait, -aient all sound like “è”.
- Very reliable: once you know the stem, you can conjugate any verb.
In the app, you will find interactive exercises and quizzes tailored for this intermediate level.
Practice French conjugation for free in the Croissant Verbs app
Quizzes and spaced repetition for every tense, for free on your phone—plus short grammar guides on our Learn hub.
