Conjugating the imparfait, the French tense for past states, repeated habits and story background. Learn how to tell stories about the past in French.
je parlais
I was speaking / I used to speak
tu parlais
you were speaking / you used to speak (sing.)
il parlait
he was speaking / he used to speak
elle parlait
she was speaking / she used to speak
nous parlions
we were speaking / we used to speak
vous parliez
you were speaking / you used to speak (pl./formal)
ils parlaient
they were speaking / they used to speak (masc. or mixed)
elles parlaient
they were speaking / they used to speak (fem.)
j'étais
I was
tu étais
you were (sing.)
il était
he was
elle était
she was
nous étions
we were
vous étiez
you were (pl./formal)
ils étaient
they were (masc. or mixed)
elles étaient
they were (fem.)
j'avais
I had
tu avais
you had (sing.)
il avait
he had
elle avait
she had
nous avions
we had
vous aviez
you had (pl./formal)
ils avaient
they had (masc. or mixed)
elles avaient
they had (fem.)
je faisais
I was doing / I used to do
tu faisais
you were doing / you used to do (sing.)
il faisait
he was doing / he used to do
elle faisait
she was doing / she used to do
nous faisions
we were doing / we used to do
vous faisiez
you were doing / you used to do (pl./formal)
ils faisaient
they were doing / they used to do (masc. or mixed)
elles faisaient
they were doing / they used to do (fem.)
je pouvais
I could / I was able to
tu pouvais
you could (sing.)
il pouvait
he could
elle pouvait
she could
nous pouvions
we could
vous pouviez
you could (pl./formal)
ils pouvaient
they could (masc. or mixed)
elles pouvaient
they could (fem.)
je voulais
I wanted
tu voulais
you wanted (sing.)