L'Imparfait: Description (Imperfect: Description)

Learning ObjectivesLearn how to form the imparfait (imperfect tense) [lam-par-FEH] for verbs ending in -er, and for être (to be) [ET-ruh] and avoir (to have) [ah-VWAR].Use the imparfait (imperfect tense) [lam-par-FEH] to describe memories and scenes from the past.Understand the difference between a description (using the imparfait [lam-par-FEH]) and a completed action (using the passé composé [pah-say com-poh-ZAY]).Imagine you're telling a friend a memory from your childhood. 🖼️ You don't just say what you did, but also what it was like. For example, 'Le soleil était chaud et le ciel était bleu (The sun was warm and the sky was blue) [luh soh-LAY ay-tay SHOH ay luh see-EL ay-tay BLUH].' The imparfait (imperfect tense) [lam-par-FEH] helps us do that!Real-World ApplicationsTelling family sto...

This lesson uses vocabulary you already know so you can focus on the new grammar. Here's a reminder of some useful words for describing things.French TermEnglish MeaningExample Sentencegrand / grande (big / tall) [grahn / grahnd]This adjective means 'big' or 'tall'.La maison était grande (The house was big) [la may-ZOHN ay-tay GRAHND].petit / petite (small) [puh-TEE / puh-TEET]This adjective means 'small'.Mon frère était petit (My brother was small) [mohn frair ay-tay puh-TEE].beau / belle (beautiful / handsome) [boh / bell]This adjective means 'beautiful' or 'handsome'.Le parc était beau (The park was beautiful) [luh park ay-tay BOH].content / contente (happy) [kohn-TAHN / kohn-TAHNT]This adjective means 'happy'.J'étais toujours content (I was always happy) [zhay-tay too-ZHOOR kohn-TAHN]....

1. The Imparfait for DescriptionsRule: We use the imparfait (imperfect tense) [lam-par-FEH] to describe people, places, feelings, or situations in the past. It's the tense for setting the scene and describing the background of a story.2. Forming Verbs Ending in -ERRule: For verbs ending in -er, we take the 'nous' (we) [noo] form in the present tense, remove the '-ons' [ohn] ending, and add the imparfait (imperfect tense) [lam-par-FEH] endings: -ais [ay], -ais [ay], -ait [ay], -ions [ee-OHN], -iez [ee-AY], -aient [ay].Example (jouer (to play) [zhoo-AY]): nous jouons (we play) [noo zhoo-OHN] → jou- [zhoo] → je jouais (I was playing) [zhuh zhoo-AY], tu jouais (you were playing) [too zhoo-AY], il/elle jouait (he/she was playing) [eel/ell zhoo-AY], nous jouions (we were playing) [noo zhoo-ee-OH...