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Imperfect tense for habitual actions Exercises in French language

The imperfect tense in French, known as "l'imparfait," is essential for describing habitual actions or ongoing states in the past. Unlike the passé composé, which highlights specific completed actions, the imperfect tense paints a picture of what was happening over a period of time. This grammatical structure is particularly useful for storytelling, setting scenes, and providing background information. For instance, you might use the imperfect to describe how you used to visit your grandmother every summer or how it often rained during your childhood vacations.
Mastering the imperfect tense allows you to convey a deeper sense of time and continuity in your narratives. It is formed by taking the nous form of the present tense, removing the -ons ending, and adding the appropriate imperfect endings (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient). This practice page will guide you through various exercises to help you recognize and correctly use the imperfect tense in different contexts. By the end, you'll be equipped to describe past habits, ongoing actions, and background circumstances with ease and accuracy in French.
Exercise 1
<p>1. Quand j'étais petit, je *jouais* au parc tous les jours (verb for playing).</p>
<p>2. Nous *allions* à la plage chaque été (verb for going).</p>
<p>3. Elle *lisait* un livre chaque soir avant de dormir (verb for reading).</p>
<p>4. Vous *mangiez* des crêpes tous les dimanches matins (verb for eating).</p>
<p>5. Ils *regardaient* la télévision après l'école (verb for watching).</p>
<p>6. Nous *faisions* du vélo dans le quartier (verb for doing or making).</p>
<p>7. Il *parlait* avec ses amis pendant des heures (verb for speaking).</p>
<p>8. Tu *écrivais* dans ton journal chaque soir (verb for writing).</p>
<p>9. Elle *chantait* sous la douche tous les matins (verb for singing).</p>
<p>10. Nous *étudiions* ensemble chaque après-midi (verb for studying).</p>
Exercise 2
<p>1. Chaque été, nous *allions* à la plage (verb for going).</p>
<p>2. Quand j'étais petit, je *jouais* souvent au football (verb for playing).</p>
<p>3. Elle *lisait* des livres tous les soirs avant de dormir (verb for reading).</p>
<p>4. Nous *mangions* toujours ensemble en famille le dimanche (verb for eating).</p>
<p>5. Vous *regardiez* la télévision chaque soir après le dîner (verb for watching).</p>
<p>6. Ils *prenaient* le bus pour aller à l'école tous les jours (verb for taking).</p>
<p>7. Mon frère *dessinait* des animaux quand il était jeune (verb for drawing).</p>
<p>8. Nous *chantions* des chansons de Noël chaque décembre (verb for singing).</p>
<p>9. Elle *écrivait* dans son journal tous les soirs (verb for writing).</p>
<p>10. Tu *faisais* du vélo tous les matins avant l'école (verb for doing).</p>
Exercise 3
<p>1. Every summer, we *allions* to our grandparents' house (verb for going).</p>
<p>2. When I was a child, I *regardais* cartoons every morning (verb for watching).</p>
<p>3. They *jouaient* soccer every weekend (verb for playing).</p>
<p>4. She *lisait* a book before bed every night (verb for reading).</p>
<p>5. We *prenions* the bus to school every day (verb for taking).</p>
<p>6. You (plural) *faisiez* your homework right after school (verb for doing).</p>
<p>7. He *écrivait* letters to his friend every month (verb for writing).</p>
<p>8. I *mangeais* lunch at noon every day (verb for eating).</p>
<p>9. They *parlaient* on the phone every evening (verb for talking).</p>
<p>10. We *visitons* the museum every year (verb for visiting).</p>