French 2 / Unit 4: The Imparfait
4.3 Habits and Repeated Actions
Notes
Use the imparfait for things you used to do or did regularly in the past.
- It can mean "used to", "would" or "was ... -ing": Je jouais au foot = I played / used to play soccer.
- Signal words: souvent (often), toujours (always), tous les jours (every day), chaque été (every summer), le samedi (on Saturdays), d'habitude, autrefois, quand j'étais petit(e), à cette époque-là.
- Example: Quand j'étais petite, nous allions chez ma grand-mère tous les étés.
- Compare: Hier, j'ai mangé une pizza (one time, passé composé). Le samedi, je mangeais une pizza (habit, imparfait).
Practice
Which sentence describes a habit in the past?
Le samedi with an imparfait verb describes a repeated action.
How do you say "When I was little, I watched cartoons every morning"?
Both clauses describe a habit, so both use the imparfait.
Which word signals the imparfait?
D'habitude (usually) signals repeated or habitual action.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 4 test.