Year 10 - French
Quand j'étais petit : the imperfect tense with regular verbs ('used to')
My personal world: Mes amis
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit introduces verbs that follow the pattern of connaître in the present and perfect tense and extends pupils' use of impersonal verbs. It also develops mastery of the imperfect tense of regular verbs, set in the context of past and present friendships and activities.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe what you and others used to do when we were younger using the imperfect tense of regular verbs.
Key Notes
- The imperfect tense is used to describe what you 'used to' do when you were younger/in the past.
- For imperfect of regular verbs remove -ons from 'nous' present tense and add:-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
- Most final consonants are silent, and this is important in imperfect verb endings e.g. -ais, -ait
Vocabulary To Learn
- imperfect tense: tense used to describe how things were or used to be in the past, or to say what was happening
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- The imperfect tense is only translated by 'was doing' in English e.g. I was listening to the radio.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
The imperfect tense is used to describe what you 'used to' do when you were younger/in the past. For imperfect of regular verbs remove -ons from 'nous' present tense and add:-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'imperfect tense'
tense used to describe how things were or used to be in the past, or to say what was happening. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: The imperfect tense is only translated by 'was doing' in English e.g. I was listening to the radio. Correction: The imperfect tense has more than one translation in English according to its use in French. Students need to be aware of the different meanings that might be conveyed when they encounter the imperfect tense e.g. I listened, I used to listen.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Activités avant et aujourd'hui: extended speaking, photo description Study Guide
- Avec mes amis : extended writing and speaking Study Guide
- Avec mes amis: verbs like connaitre in present and perfect tense Study Guide
- Ce week-end: impersonal verbs Study Guide
- On se retrouve : impersonal verbs Study Guide
- Projets pour le week-end: extended writing and speaking Study Guide
- Que faisais-tu quand ... ? The imperfect tense with regular verbs ('be' + ing) Study Guide
- Une rencontre : verbs like 'connaitre' in present tense Study Guide
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