⏳ Imparfait (Imperfect Tense) — The imparfait is used to describe ongoing, habitual, or incomplete actions in the past. It is often used to describe background situations, states of being, repeated actions, and to set the scene in the past. This tense is very common in storytelling and descriptions.
🔊 Click the Listen button next to each example to hear the pronunciation using Text-to-Speech.
💡 Key Rule: The imparfait is formed by taking the nous form of the present tense, removing the -ons ending, and adding -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
📊 Formation of Imparfait
The imparfait is formed from the nous form of the present tense (stem) + imparfait endings.
| Pronoun | Stem (nous form) | Ending | Conjugation | Pronunciation (English) | تلفظ (Urdu) | Meaning (English) | معنی (Urdu) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| je | parl- | -ais | parlais | par-lay | پارلے | I was speaking | میں بول رہا تھا | |
| tu | parl- | -ais | parlais | par-lay | پارلے | you were speaking | تو بول رہا تھا | |
| il/elle/on | parl- | -ait | parlait | par-lay | پارلے | he/she/one was speaking | وہ بول رہا/تی تھا | |
| nous | parl- | -ions | parlions | par-lee-on | پارلیون | we were speaking | ہم بول رہے تھے | |
| vous | parl- | -iez | parliez | par-lee-ay | پارلیے | you were speaking | آپ بول رہے تھے | |
| ils/elles | parl- | -aient | parlaient | par-lay | پارلے | they were speaking | وہ بول رہے تھے |
📌 Endings:
-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
🔑 Note: The stem is the nous form of the present tense without -ons.
📝 Conjugation Examples
Examples of imparfait conjugation for regular and irregular verbs.
| # | Verb (infinitive) | je | tu | il/elle/on | nous | vous | ils/elles | Meaning | معنی (Urdu) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | parler | parlais | parlais | parlait | parlions | parliez | parlaient | was speaking | بول رہا تھا | |
| 2 | finir | finissais | finissais | finissait | finissions | finissiez | finissaient | was finishing | ختم کر رہا تھا | |
| 3 | vendre | vendais | vendais | vendait | vendions | vendiez | vendaient | was selling | بیچ رہا تھا | |
| 4 | être | étais | étais | était | étions | étiez | étaient | was being | تھا | |
| 5 | avoir | avais | avais | avait | avions | aviez | avaient | was having | تھا | |
| 6 | aller | allais | allais | allait | allions | alliez | allaient | was going | جا رہا تھا | |
| 7 | faire | faisais | faisais | faisait | faisions | faisiez | faisaient | was doing | کر رہا تھا |
📌 Note:
• For être, the stem is ét- (from nous sommes → ét-ons → ét-).
• The endings are the same for all verbs!
📌 Usage of Imparfait
The imparfait is used in four main situations in the past.
| # | Use | Explanation | Example | ترجمہ (Urdu) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Habitual actions | Actions that happened regularly | Je jouais au foot tous les jours. | میں ہر روز فٹ بال کھیلتا تھا۔ | |
| 2 | Background description | Setting the scene | Il faisait beau et les oiseaux chantaient. | موسم اچھا تھا اور پرندے گا رہے تھے۔ | |
| 3 | Ongoing actions | Actions in progress | Je lisais quand il est arrivé. | میں پڑھ رہا تھا جب وہ آیا۔ | |
| 4 | States/Feelings | Mental/physical states | Elle était très heureuse. | وہ بہت خوش تھی۔ |
📌 Memory Aid:
• Imparfait = in-progress or incomplete actions in the past.
• Passé Composé = completed actions in the past.
📊 Imparfait vs Passé Composé
Understanding when to use each tense is essential.
| # | Tense | Use | Example | ترجمہ (Urdu) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Imparfait | Background, habit, ongoing | Je marchais dans la rue. | میں سڑک پر چل رہا تھا۔ | |
| 2 | Passé Composé | Completed action, interruption | J'ai vu un ami. | میں نے ایک دوست دیکھا۔ | |
| 3 | Combined | Ongoing + interruption | Je marchais quand j'ai vu un ami. | میں چل رہا تھا جب میں نے ایک دوست دیکھا۔ |
📌 Key Distinction:
• Imparfait = what was happening (background, ongoing)
• Passé Composé = what happened (event, interruption)
❌ Negative Form
To make the imparfait negative, put ne... pas around the conjugated verb.
| # | Affirmative | Negative | Pronunciation | تلفظ (Urdu) | Meaning | معنی (Urdu) | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Je parlais | Je ne parlais pas | zhuh nuh par-lay pah | ژے نو پارلے پا | I wasn't speaking | میں نہیں بول رہا تھا | |
| 2 | Il était | Il n'était pas | eel nay-tay pah | ایل نی تے پا | He wasn't | وہ نہیں تھا | |
| 3 | Nous allions | Nous n'allions pas | noo na-lee-on pah | نو نا لیون پا | We weren't going | ہم نہیں جا رہے تھے |
📖 Important Rules
• nous parlons → parl- + -ais/-ais/-ait/-ions/-iez/-aient
• nous finissons → finiss- + endings
nous کے ساتھ حال سے stem لے کر آخرے لگائیں
• Stem: ét- (from nous sommes)
• j'étais, tu étais, il était, nous étions, vous étiez, ils étaient
Être بے قاعدہ ہے
• Habits (every day, always)
• Descriptions (weather, age, feelings)
• Ongoing actions (was doing)
• Background (scene setting)
عادت، وضاحت، جاری عمل، منظر
• "Je marchais quand j'ai vu un ami."
• "Il dormait quand le téléphone a sonné."
منظر کے لیے Imparfait، واقعے کے لیے Passé Composé
📝 Practice Tips:
- Learn the endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient — they are the same for all verbs!
- Find the stem: Always use the nous form of the present tense.
- Practice with être: Memorize the irregular forms of être.
- Practice combined sentences: Use imparfait + passé composé together.
- Describe scenes: Practice describing what was happening in a past situation.
- Listen and repeat: Use the audio buttons to hear each verb and practice repeating it.
💡 Quick Reference — Endings:
📌 Key: Same endings for ALL verbs! Just change the stem.