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9.5. Les habitudes au passé

Using the Imparfait to Express Habitual Actions in the Past

9.5.1. The Main Idea

Use the imparfait to talk about actions that happened regularly or repeatedly in the past.

Quand j’étais enfant, je jouais dehors tous les jours.	When I was a child, I used to play outside every day.
Avant, je regardais des dessins animés le matin.	Before, I used to watch cartoons in the morning.
À l’époque, nous habitions dans une petite maison.	Back then, we lived in a small house.

The imparfait often means used to or would in English when describing past habits.

9.5.2. Common Habit Expressions

quand j’étais enfant	when I was a child
quand j’étais jeune	when I was young
avant	before
à l’époque	at the time / back then
tous les jours	every day
tous les matins	every morning
tous les soirs	every evening
souvent	often
toujours	always
d’habitude	usually
parfois	sometimes
rarement	rarely
le week-end	on weekends

9.5.3. Forming the Imparfait

To form the imparfait, start with the nous form of the present tense, remove -ons, and add the imparfait endings.

nous parlons	parl-
nous habitons	habit-
nous regardons	regard-
nous finissons	finiss-

Then add:

je	-ais
tu	-ais
il / elle	-ait
nous	-ions
vous	-iez
ils / elles	-aient

9.5.4. Example: Parler

je parlais	I spoke / I used to speak
tu parlais	you spoke / you used to speak
il parlait	he spoke / he used to speak
elle parlait	she spoke / she used to speak
nous parlions	we spoke / we used to speak
vous parliez	you spoke / you used to speak
ils parlaient	they spoke / they used to speak
elles parlaient	they spoke / they used to speak

9.5.5. Example: Habiter

j’habitais	I lived / I used to live
tu habitais	you lived / you used to live
il habitait	he lived / he used to live
elle habitait	she lived / she used to live
nous habitions	we lived / we used to live
vous habitiez	you lived / you used to live
ils habitaient	they lived / they used to live
elles habitaient	they lived / they used to live

9.5.6. Examples of Past Habits

Quand j’étais enfant, je jouais dehors.	When I was a child, I used to play outside.
Tous les matins, je prenais le petit-déjeuner avec ma famille.	Every morning, I used to have breakfast with my family.
Le soir, je faisais mes devoirs.	In the evening, I used to do my homework.
Le week-end, nous regardions des films.	On weekends, we used to watch movies.
Avant, j’allais à l’école à pied.	Before, I used to go to school on foot.
À l’époque, je dormais tôt.	Back then, I used to sleep early.

9.5.7. Useful Verbs in the Imparfait

j’allais	I went / I used to go
je faisais	I did / I used to do
je prenais	I took / I used to have
je regardais	I watched / I used to watch
j’écoutais	I listened / I used to listen
je jouais	I played / I used to play
je lisais	I read / I used to read
je dormais	I slept / I used to sleep
je sortais	I went out / I used to go out
j’étudiais	I studied / I used to study

9.5.8. Negative Habit Sentences

Place ne… pas around the verb.

Je jouais dehors.	I used to play outside.
Je ne jouais pas dehors.	I did not use to play outside.
Je regardais la télé.	I used to watch TV.
Je ne regardais pas la télé.	I did not use to watch TV.
Je faisais mes devoirs le soir.	I used to do my homework in the evening.
Je ne faisais pas mes devoirs le soir.	I did not use to do my homework in the evening.

9.5.9. Asking About Past Habits

Quand tu étais enfant, tu faisais quoi ?	When you were a child, what did you use to do?
Tu jouais dehors souvent ?	Did you often play outside?
Tu regardais la télé le matin ?	Did you use to watch TV in the morning?
Tu faisais du sport à l’époque ?	Did you use to exercise back then?
Le week-end, tu sortais avec tes amis ?	On weekends, did you use to go out with your friends?

9.5.10. Core Patterns

imparfait	used to / would / was doing
Quand j’étais enfant, je ___ .	When I was a child, I used to ___.
Avant, je ___ .	Before, I used to ___.
À l’époque, je ___ .	Back then, I used to ___.
Tous les jours, je ___ .	Every day, I used to ___.
Le week-end, nous ___ .	On weekends, we used to ___.
Je ne ___ pas.	I did not use to ___.

9.5.11. Practice

When I was a child, I used to play outside. |

Before, I used to watch cartoons. |

Every morning, I used to have breakfast. |

In the evening, I used to do my homework. |

On weekends, we used to watch movies. |

Back then, I used to sleep early. |

I did not use to watch TV. |

What did you use to do when you were a child? |

9.5.12. Answers

When I was a child, I used to play outside.	Quand j’étais enfant, je jouais dehors.
Before, I used to watch cartoons.	Avant, je regardais des dessins animés.
Every morning, I used to have breakfast.	Tous les matins, je prenais le petit-déjeuner.
In the evening, I used to do my homework.	Le soir, je faisais mes devoirs.
On weekends, we used to watch movies.	Le week-end, nous regardions des films.
Back then, I used to sleep early.	À l’époque, je dormais tôt.
I did not use to watch TV.	Je ne regardais pas la télé.
What did you use to do when you were a child?	Quand tu étais enfant, tu faisais quoi ?

9.5.13. Short Dialogue

A : Quand tu étais enfant, tu faisais quoi le week-end ?	A: When you were a child, what did you use to do on weekends?
B : Le week-end, je jouais dehors et je regardais des dessins animés. Et toi ?	B: On weekends, I used to play outside and watch cartoons. And you?
A : Moi, je lisais beaucoup et je faisais du sport.	A: I used to read a lot and exercise.
B : Très bien !	B: Very good!

9.5.14. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to use the imparfait to describe repeated or habitual actions in the past, especially with time expressions such as quand j’étais enfant, avant, à l’époque, tous les jours, souvent, and le week-end.

9.5.15. Try It Out

Try saying this in French:

When I was a child, I used to play outside.

I did not use to watch TV.

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Possible answer:

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Back to Module 9: Ma maison d’enfance