6.3.1

Regular ER Verbs

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Regular ER Verbs

To form the imperfect tense in French with ER verbs, you take the present tense 'nous' form, take off the present tense ending and add the imperfect endings. Here is the example for 'parler':

Illustrative background for Tu parl=ais= - you were talking/used to talkIllustrative background for Tu parl=ais= - you were talking/used to talk ?? "content

Tu parlais - you were talking/used to talk

  • 'Tu' means 'you' (singular).
Illustrative background for Vous parl=iez= - you were talking/used to talkIllustrative background for Vous parl=iez= - you were talking/used to talk ?? "content

Vous parliez - you were talking/used to talk

  • 'Vous' means:
    • You (plural).
    • You (singular, formal).

5 Common ER Verbs

Illustrative background for Aimer - to likeIllustrative background for Aimer - to like ?? "content

Aimer - to like

  • J'aimais - I was liking/used to like.
  • Tu aimais - you (singular) were liking/used to like.
  • Il/elle aimait - he/she was liking/used to like.
  • Nous aimions - we were liking/used to like.
  • Vous aimiez - you (plural/formal) were liking/used to like.
  • Ils/elles aimaient - they were liking/used to like.
Illustrative background for Travailler - to workIllustrative background for Travailler - to work ?? "content

Travailler - to work

  • Je travaillais - I was working/used to work.
  • Tu travaillais - you (singular) were working/used to work.
  • Il/elle travaillait - he/she was working/used to work.
  • Nous travaillions - we were working/used to work.
  • Vous travailliez - you (plural/formal) were working/used to work.
  • Ils/elles travaillaient - they were working/used to work.
Illustrative background for Aider - to helpIllustrative background for Aider - to help ?? "content

Aider - to help

  • J'aidais - I was helping/used to help.
  • Tu aidais - you (singular) were helping//used to help.
  • Il/elle aidait - he/she was helping/used to help.
  • Nous aidions - we were helping/used to help.
  • Vous aidiez - you (plural/formal) were helping/used to help.
  • Ils/elles aidaient - they were helping/used to help.
Illustrative background for Demander - to askIllustrative background for Demander - to ask ?? "content

Demander - to ask

  • Je demandais - I was asking/used to ask.
  • Tu demandais - you (singular) were asking/used to ask.
  • Il/elle demandait - he/she was asking/used to ask.
  • Nous demandions - we were asking/used to ask.
  • Vous demandiez - you (plural/formal) were asking/used to ask.
  • Ils/elles demandaient - they were asking/used to ask.
Illustrative background for Rester - to stayIllustrative background for Rester - to stay ?? "content

Rester - to stay

  • Je restais - I was staying/used to stay.
  • Tu restais - you (singular) were staying/used to stay.
  • Il/elle restait - he/she was staying/used to stay.
  • Nous restions - we were staying/used to stay.
  • Vous restiez - you (plural/formal) were staying/used to stay.
  • Ils/elles restaient - they were staying/used to stay.

Jump to other topics

1Everyday Activities

2Personal & Social Life

3The World Around Us

4The World of Work

5The International World

6Common Tenses

7Advanced Tenses

8Extra Grammar

8.1Articles

8.2The Passive Voice

8.3Pronouns

8.4Asking Questions

8.5Nouns

8.6Prepositions

8.7Adverbs

8.8Adjectives

8.9Negative

8.10Conjunctions

8.11Miscellaneous

8.12Verbs

8.13Numbers

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